Letter from Anne Stockton

November 13, 2011

Dear Friends of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society,

I’m writing to share some very exciting news for SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society.
We are announcing today that Furkids, one of the most successful nonprofit animal rescue organizations in the southeast, is acquiring SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society. This is a very positive step for SDR, representing the next step in the evolution of our beloved organization.

Like any leaders of successful organizations, our board members – including me as executive director; Pat Bittinger, secretary and Linda Gill, treasurer — have wanted SDR to evolve and grow beyond our tenure. Our founder, Brenda Kyle, planned for the organization to evolve beyond her lifetime. Following her lead, we thought carefully about succession planning, and considered many options. Ultimately, we decided that an acquisition by Furkids represented the best fit for SDR. And it represents a strong step for Furkids, as well.

Since its inception, Furkids has rescued and enfolded a handful of abandoned dogs at a time in its program, but the organization hasn’t had the resources available to care for a large number of dogs. Our work for SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society makes this capability possible for Furkids. The acquisition will ensure that our work to rescue homeless dogs will continue to flourish when Pat, Linda and I retire from active daily involvement in the organization.

Furkids, Inc., which was founded in 2002, operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter for homeless cats in Georgia. During the past several years, SDR and Furkids have had a loose affiliation in which we have exchanged selected animals, each helping the other rescue or place cats or dogs into adoptive homes. Culturally, both organizations are well-matched. We both have passionate leaders and volunteers, dedicated donors, exacting adoption and animal care processes and a commitment to the highest level of care, including shelter and foster home care, for homeless animals in our programs. The combined forces of Furkids and SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society are vastly stronger and with a greater reach than either organization alone. The move will allow Furkids to rescue and care for the growing number of homeless dogs and cats in metro Atlanta and make Furkids one of the most successful and respected animal welfare organizations in the Southeast.

Your work has been instrumental in building SDR into the organization it has become. Without you, it would not have been possible for us to have rescued and placed so many hundreds of homeless animals in loving homes, built a model facility and become a respected leader in the Atlanta rescue community. Pat, Linda and I sincerely hope you will continue to support Furkids as you have supported SDR in the past. Until there are no more homeless dogs and cats, Furkids needs volunteers, donors and adopters more than ever.

This transition is a bittersweet experience for all of us. Certainly, we are pleased and proud to turn over the daily management and operation of our thriving animal rescue organization to the next generation, and we’re also nostalgic about the past. SmallDog Rescue & Humane society has been a vital part of our lives, and we will miss the day-to-day involvement with our animals and all of you.

We take this step firmly and with resolution, knowing it will ensure that our labor of love for homeless animals will continue. And to help facilitate the transition and ensure that the work of SDR continues through Furkids, Pat, Linda and I already have agreed to serve on the new Furkids board of advisors, whose other members will be appointed soon. Furkids founder and executive director Samantha Shelton will continue to lead the organization in her current capacity.

On behalf of Pat and Linda, I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude, and we all look forward to your continued support in making sure that homeless dogs and cats are not reduced to living in hunger, fear and danger.

Sincerely,

Anne Stockton, Executive Director
SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society