In essence, DogsInDanger has reached out to the nation asking each citizen a simple question: When you look in the eyes of a dog scheduled to die, do you remain comfortable with our society's methods of animal control? Thankfully, many of you responded with a resounding NAY!

DogsInDanger is now 369 shelters strong, spread across 44 states, and committed more than ever to ending the practice of killing dogs for lack of a home. We promise not to tire or give up, and with your invaluable support, fight on fearlessly until that day arrives. And when it does, we promise to close our little shop, content with a job well done. Until then, we carry on.

In the ensuing months we will be reporting to you, our friends, about many new and exciting directions that The Buddy Fund will be engaging in. Yet our perspective here will be wider, even reporting on key animal control issues facing us as a humane society. But for now we will be content that 5,472 of our best friends walk this earth because of DogsInDanger and you! Come along for what we hope will be a journey of discovery, for when we do things just because “it’s the right thing to do,” we change the world and ourselves in the process.

The Buddy Fund, Inc. that operates DogsInDanger is a completely transparent organization. It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that was first formed by a large donation made in 2005. DogsInDanger is the first project of The Buddy Fund. We were very fortunate to build the DogsInDanger website for very little money, through the efforts of many old and new friends who donated their invaluable skills and time to our cause. Currently, Brenda and I do most of the graphics and technology.

We of course incur server costs, but we have reduced our operating expenses radically by cutting paid staff of one, to zero, thus doing most of the work ourselves. A little known fact… in addition to DogsInDanger, Brenda and I both have full time careers and receive zero compensation from The Buddy Fund.

Financially we are in the process of building a “war chest.” Fundraising is extremely difficult for animal causes. For each dollar that is given to human related issues, animal issues receive less than one tenth of one penny. We indeed are a self-serving species! However, The Buddy Fund remains courageous and is in the process of producing a Public Service Announcement, commencing a radical legislative effort in California, and is preparing a groundbreaking lawsuit in New York. Additionally in this issue we announce our program to distribute money back to the shelters that have had the courage to participate most in DogsInDanger.

The aforementioned efforts will require substantial funding and we plan on two fundraising events in California as well as several small events nationally through our PawerSquad. The only thing we fear is that of dwindling our war chest before the accomplishment of our goals. In face of this fear we remain confident in you and the power of your compassion to conquer all.

More than 2,000 dogs enter the Bladen County Shelter each year and previously less than 30% made it out alive. Sylvia Kim volunteers for the Bladen County shelter, working tirelessly every day to save as many shelter dogs as possible. In an effort to save more lives, shelter volunteers had recently begun listing Bladen County dogs on DogsInDanger in order to get them more exposure to get them adopted. When Sylvia received a call from Britt about adopting a dog named Carrie that she found on DogsInDanger, Sylvia had no idea how dramatically life at their small rural shelter was about to change. Sylvia along with many other good samaritans in the local animal rescue community helped with the transport as one by one the 37 anxious dogs were loaded into airline crates and onto a cargo van for their journey to safety in Florida, and a second chance at life.

The Bladen County shelter appreciates the national exposure their dogs now get through DogsInDanger, and it has meant homes for many more pets than previously possible. They continue to make progress and expand their network of volunteers and rescue groups. They have rescue transports leaving the shelter with dogs at regular intervals now. Bladen County has reduced its euthanasia rate and continues to work hard to bring that number down to zero. Next, Britt hopes to sponsor the animal control officers to take a course on humanely euthanizing animals by lethal injection, and make the gas chamber obsolete in Bladen County.

And Bladen County is not the only shelter that Britt has become personally involved with helping. She recently bought a van for the Lindsay CA shelter to help them get more of their dogs safely transported outside the local area to adopters and rescues offering help. In addition, Britt has personally helped pay for dogs to leave the Lindsay shelter and be adopted in different states as well as paid for new crates.

Britt has developed relationships with staff and volunteers at several shelters that are working hard to make a difference in the areas of supporting and saving animals and creating a positive outlook and role model for other groups trying to accomplish a similar goal. Britt says she bought the van for the Lindsay shelter because she feels that they are working hard to move in the right direction at that shelter and she wants to do what she can to support those efforts. Lindsay shelter volunteer BJ Motko works tirelessly to save as many animals as possible at that shelter, and the new van helps them give more animals a chance at life.

Bravo Britt for giving, unasked, giving of yourself and your money to those that are trying to find a better way. Together with people like Britt, we are building a more compassionate community.

The shelters will have constant access to their credit balances through an online interface. “One dollar doesn’t seem like much but remember over 7,000 dogs have been uploaded to DogsInDanger just since October” said Alex Aliksanyan, adding “we worry about the costs of the program and fundraising. We hope to raise the awarded money during the year. Wouldn't that be nice?”

Checks will be cut directly to the participating shelters at the end of each calendar year. DogsInDanger hopes that this program will provide additional funds to those shelters in the front lines, allowing them to expand their adoption outreach efforts.

	Did you know  (continued) The use of gas chambers and other extreme kill methods are still used in many states.