Programs
Brooke’s Medical Fund
Through Brooke’s Medical Fund, FFOCAS provides financial assistance to help our partner shelter (FCAC) treat shelter pets who are ill or injured. The county budget covers only the veterinary basics for shelter pets: spay/neuter, vaccinations, and other preventatives. But shelter animals need everything from diagnostics to dental extractions to emergency abdominal surgery. Medical procedures like these can save lives, reduce pain and discomfort, and promote adoption by reducing initial veterinary expenses for adopters.
Brickle’s Behavior Fund
This program aims to cover the cost of professional training/behavior consultation to help shelter pets who struggle with behavior issues such as fear, anxiety, or reactivity. In addition to addressing specific behavior challenges, this kind of assistance can help pets hang in there through a long shelter stay, can promote adoption and reduce returns, and can help shelter staff better learn how to help other pets in future.
Project Hope
Through our shelter intake prevention program, Project Hope, FFOCAS helps struggling pet parents, including those who are considering giving up their pets. We help pet owners navigate local resources and/or provide guidance that may enable them to resolve problems and keep their pets or rehome their pets safely with expert help. When those options don’t work, we help pet owners decide whether surrendering a pet to the shelter is the best or only option.
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Learn more about Project Hope.
Cats with Character
Senior pets and those with special needs tend to have a tough time at a stressful open-admission animal shelter. Through Cats with Character, we have limited space to take in cats—typically seniors and those with behavioral and/or medical special needs—from our partner shelter (FCAC). We place them in loving foster homes and provide much needed TLC before making these kitties available for adoption.
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Animal Shelter Fund
Frederick County Animal Control (FCAC) will be undergoing a major renovation and expansion, set to begin in early 2025. We established our Animal Shelter Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Frederick County, to ensure that the renovated shelter is the best it can be.
Donations to this fund will be earmarked for the new shelter.
Shelter Supply Program
Through the Shelter Supply Program, FFOCAS provides supplies and equipment needed by FCAC when county funds are unavailable for this purpose. We primarily provide items needed for enrichment (e.g., specific types of food puzzles for various species, scratching pads for cats, etc.) or anxiety reduction (e.g., supplements). Occasionally, larger items are needed, such as veterinary equipment.
