ANIMAL WATCHERS

Medical Mission

Two organizations target treatment: By Stephanie Stephens

Group Therapy

In Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, in Chattanooga, Tallulah Trice regularly chalks up 25-hour days for Homeless Animals Need Doctors (HAND). The organization raises funds, paid directly to veterinarians, to help city shelters, humane organizations and rescue groups meet the prohibitive cost of medical services. Trice is a veritable fixture at veterinarians’ offices. Her relationships with doctors, who often provide discount services, are key to implementing HAND’s mission. “These vets are my friends,” she says. “ We are working together. They show me how much everything cost; I understand that they are trying to make a

living, too.” In animal medicine, she laments, “We don’t have a lot of low-cost anything. I could spend $500,000 a year - people need that much help.”

HAND, with a board of directors and no employees, receives roughly 60 calls a day. One recent case involved a dog JB, who had been hit by a car. “The owner surrendered him,” remembers Trice. HAND arranged for medical treatment, including skin grafts. In addition to obtaining veterinarian care, she adds that Hand’s volunteers rehabilitate animals, too.

Trice has learned creative strategies to address shelters’ necessities, medical and otherwise. She found that some hard-to-adopt dogs are not chosen because “they’re just not physically attractive.” She places them in a cooperating clinic, where they act as blood donors for other animals in need. Later, the “Good Samaritan” dog appears on local television news show- and hundreds of viewers call to offer a home. Trice maintains an excellent relationship with both a news/talk and rock radio station, as well as newspapers.

Like many, Trice began funding with her own money, then networked with shelters and doctors before implementing her foundation. Although she’s obtained one grant, Trice has found more success with private donations - a single donor, for example, gave $34,000 in stock. She also utilizes mass e-mail marketing, maintains a website (www.handfoundation.com) and holds local fundraising events.

A member of Hand’s board of directors, Dr. Kevin Ade of Middle Valley Animal Hospital, says, “What happens here is a win/win situation.” He provides discount services for HAND, and may then gain a client from the responsible new owner of the discharged pet. Trice , he says, is skillful at working the system with local shelters. “She made great inroads,” he says, “and impacted hundreds of animals in a positive way.”

“So many people make this work,” says Trice. “We’re a team.”

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