Al-Van Humane Society
Al-Van
C.A.R.E.S.
Campaign
Community
And
Resources
Enhance
Shelter
compassion for animals
concern for quality care
commitment to making a difference
Sadly, thousands of adoptable animals were euthanized
due to space constraints until 2012 when Al-Van
adopted no-kill best practices.
Al-Van has been able to increase its save rate
from 18% to 90% with the help of caring people
who adopt shelter animals and provide foster
homes for animals waiting to be adopted.
Our History
Al-Van Humane Society was founded in 1968 as a non-profit animal welfare
organization dedicated to providing emergency food and shelter for companion animals
from Allegan and Van Buren counties. From its humble beginnings on Dunkley Avenue
with a handful of cages to the 3000-square-foot shelter built in 1996, more than 75,000
unwanted animals have come through our doors. Before 2012, most of the animals were
humanely euthanized due to the overwhelming number of animals surrendered and the
shelter space constraints.
In 2012 the Al-Van Board of Directors refined its mission, adopting no-kill best
practices to ensure all adoptable animals would be cared for by Al-Van until a forever
home was found, no matter how long that took. As a result, Al-Van reached out to our
community to become active partners in saving the lives of companion animals. And
boy did our community step up! Al-Van has increased its number of foster families,
number of active volunteers and number of Meet & Greets held outside the shelter. Best
of all- we’ve increased our “save rate” from 18% in 2011 to an all-time high save rate of
90% in 2014.
Our vision
Although we’ve managed to more than
quadruple our save rate in the last three years,
the number of animals in our community in
need of shelter is still greater than the space
we have available. To help meet that need,
Al-Van purchased a building within 500 yards
of our current facility. Once renovated, this
new building will provide the space to help
save more animals and enhance our programs
and services while ensuring the health of all
our animals. With the generous assistance
of Richwood Construction and GMB
Architecture & Engineering, we have begun
work on design plans and renovations needed
to meet our objectives.
We need your support now more than
ever. We envision the new facility as a
community center with a focus on animal
welfare and a goal of bringing education,
volunteers, services and financial resources
together under one roof. The new building
will offer a separate adoption center from our
intake and isolation area which will remain at
the current shelter. This will provide a more
enriching environment for our adoptable
pets, resulting in decreased length of stay and
therefore increasing the number of animals
from our community that we will be able to
serve.
Al-Van is grateful to all our volunteers who enrich our
animals’ lives daily with loving human interaction.
George’s
Story
by Sandy C.
As a volunteer, every day I am touched by a shelter animal. So was true of old George, a tattered 13-year-old
black cat that came into the shelter and languished there, overlooked by all who came in. It was as if he didn’t
exist. On a scale of one to ten in the “appealing” department, he was pretty much a one. Overweight, tattered
ears, disheveled and matted long hair, he barely opened his eyes to look at you, and had no desire to interact. It
was as If he’d given up on life. After weeks of watching this, I decided to try my best to help promote him and
all the senior cats.
At a local festival I met a woman, Jenny, who stopped to look at shelter kittens we brought to adopt. She
commented on how cute the kittens were, but she felt it was the right thing to do to adopt an older cat, as
everyone wants kittens and they were bound to be adopted, while the older ones get passed by. I agreed. She
said she had lost her old, black cat the year before; that he’d lived to be 16 and she missed him terribly. She also
told me about her dog whose hind legs had just given way, so the vet suggested possibly trying a cart, as the
dog was otherwise healthy, but old. She and her husband found the perfect cart and the dog has learned to use
it and continues to enjoy life.
She seemed like such a compassionate person. So I told her about George, at the shelter, who desperately
needed a home. Her face lit up and she asked what time the shelter closed. I told her 4pm, the last of our
summer weekend hours. She would have to round up her friends and try to get to the shelter on their way
home to Kalamazoo. I said a little prayer that she might actually go look at George. The next day I learned she
indeed had adopted old George. I was thrilled beyond words.
A week after the adoption, Jenny called the shelter to say when they took George to the vet, he tested positive
for feline leukemia. I was devastated. But Jenny wasn’t bringing George back, and I wouldn’t have expected
that she would. She wasn’t the type. That night, I e-mailed her, saying how sorry I was that there had been that
diagnosis. She promptly replied, “You know, that’s really not a problem for us. Our last cat had feline leukemia
and lived a long and happy life. Our vet gave us the meds he needs; he’ll be fine and very loved. All is well.”
What a terrific person she is. We’ve continued to correspond. Her family has fallen in love with George, and
he’s come out of his shell, claiming a nice, damask chair in their living room as his own. When I hear from her,
she says George sits by her side as she catches up on her e-mails and what a joy he is to their family. He’s come
out of his state of depression, is healthy and happy, and enjoying life.
top 5 benefits
Increased space will allow us to care for more
animals and serve more people every year.
Opportunity to be a community resource
center where children and adults can better
understand humane care of animals and gain
skills to help them keep their pet in their
home.
A more enriching environment will reduce
stress to the animals so that they are healthier,
happier, and more adoptable.
Investing our financial resources back into
our own building puts funds right back to
work for the animals.
Separate buildings for intake and isolation
will help prevent disease and illness in the
animals in our care.
let the
animals
know
how much
you care
Contributions to the Al-Van C.A.R.E.S.
campaign will assist with renovations
to our newly acquired building needed
to provide space to care for more
adoptable animals, create a permanent
home for our resale shop and establish
a space for community education.
“We may never know why she
was brought to the shelter, but we
know in our hearts Daisy Mae was
meant to be a part of our family.”
– Denny & Vicky O.
Phases
Creating a Compassionate Caring Environment
Step by Step, Paw by Paw
Phase 1
Phase 3
Relocate Rescued Treasures
Resale Shop
Community Education Center
By relocating Rescued Treasures Resale Shop to
the new building we can eliminate paying rent and
increase square footage for resale merchandise
which will increase revenue for shelter expenses.
Roof repairs, HVAC, electrical, bathroom updates,
insulation, flooring, paint, windows, doors, signage
and some exterior repair work to be completed.
Phase 2
Cat Adoption Center
We will increase our capacity to house cats waiting for
adoption. Renovations for the cat adoption center will
include open cat play rooms and a visiting room for
potential adopters. Interior remodeling, additional cat
cages, flooring, paint, lighting, climbing and enrichment
equipment, plumbing for laundry and food prep, and
bathroom updates to be completed.
We plan to create a space to offer programs which
will ensure greater benefits to the companion
animals and people in our communities we serve.
HVAC, electrical, insulation, flooring, painting, and
equipment (tables and chairs) will be needed.
Phase 4
Dog Adoption Center
A safe and pleasant dog kennel area will be designed
with individual indoor kennels. An outdoor fenced
play area for adoptable dogs will also be constructed.
This phase will include significant interior
construction including major plumbing and exterior
concrete work, fencing and drainage.
Phase 5
Renovations to Current Facility
Minor remodeling will be needed to adequately
utilize the space at the current facility for intake and
medical isolation.
“I was lost after my husband passed.
Family and friends encouraged me to
adopt a pet. Bella is more than a pet;
she has brought such joy to my life.”
Rendering
of the new
Adoption Center
lobby and cat rooms
– Phyllis A.
Rendering of the new Adoption Center and Rescued Treasures Resale Shop
Q&A
Why are we having a capital campaign?
As a no-kill shelter, Al-Van’s ability to serve
the needs of our residents and companion
animals in our community can no longer be met
through operations at our current facility due to
space constraints and the number of animals in
need.
Who is being asked to support the campaign?
The entire Al-Van
family will be asked to
participate including
board members, longtime donors, adopters,
volunteers, staff, and the
community of animal
lovers at large. An
estimated $500,000 is
needed to complete all
phases of the renovation.
Has the Board of
Directors made its gift?
Yes, each member of the
Board of Directors has
already made a personal,
significant donation.
Will I be asked to
support Annual Giving
during the capital
campaign?
Yes. The ongoing expenses to operate our shelter
will continue to require your support. Because
we are 100% privately funded, annual giving will
remain vital to continue our ongoing operations.
Do other shelters have capital campaigns?
Yes. Capital campaigns are common for nonprofit organizations like Al-Van to fund building
expansion costs that cannot be met through
annual giving alone.
How much should I give to the capital
campaign?
We are asking everyone to be as generous as
possible, but only you can decide how much to
give. Pledges to the capital campaign may be
pledged over a 3-5 year period.
Will there be naming opportunities?
Yes. We will be delighted to acknowledge your
support through one
of several naming
opportunities that
will provide a lasting
public tribute to
your generosity. You
have an excellent and
meaningful opportunity
to forever honor a
beloved individual or
pet by demonstrating
your commitment to the
health and well-being of
animals in our care.
Is it possible to give
anonymously?
Yes. If a donor prefers
to remain anonymous,
we will respect their
wishes. All other donors
will be recognized in the
campaign gift report and in various publications.
Where is the new building located?
07591 Blue Star Highway, South Haven.
What will happen to the current
shelter building?
The current shelter at 73303 8th Avenue will
remain as Al-Van’s intake and isolation area and
shelter for animals under medical supervision.
making a
lasting gift
AL-VAN CARES...
We ask you to join
the C.A.R.E.S. campaign.
...about fulfilling our no-kill commitment by
compassionately serving all companion animals
that come through our shelter doors.
Every gift counts
because every animal
counts. Please be as
...about providing the cleanest, safest intake and
isolation area for animals arriving to the shelter,
allowing for immediate assessment and medical care.
generous as possible
and help create a place
...about educating our community to the ongoing importance
of spaying and neutering all companion animals and the direct
impact it has on reducing the number of homeless animals.
...about fulfilling our mission in a fiscally responsible
manner and securing sustainable revenue through a variety
of means, including our resale shop.
Al-Van Humane Society
where compassion lives.
...about providing an enriching shelter for our
adoptable animals and a positive adoption environment
for families looking to provide a forever home.
AL-VAN HUMANE SOCIETY
73303 8th Avenue
PO Box 421
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-5062
www.al-van.org
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