Ahimsa House, Inc.

Description

Originally, Ahimsa House maintained a central shelter for animals at a secret location in metro Atlanta. In Fall 2006, we recognized the need to change our program model in an effort to operate more cost-effectively and to better serve victims statewide (see How We Help, below). In March 2007, Ahimsa House launched our redesigned direct services program, which houses animals via a network of foster homes and boarding facilities across the state.

To date (September 2014), Ahimsa House has provided over 40,000 nights of safe, confidential shelter for pets in need. In 2013, we took in 32% more animals than in 2012, and requests for our services went up by 26%. Over the past three years, calls to our 24-hour crisis line have more than tripled.

It costs us approximately $240 to care for one pet, though most cases involve more than one pet. Often, our cost is much higher when victims have multiple animals, when we receive exotic or unusual species such as horses, and/or when animals require extensive veterinary treatment due to injury or neglect. We have only four staff members; everyone else is a volunteer.

Ahimsa House relies heavily on individual donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. We are run almost entirely on volunteer labor and receive many in-kind donations of goods and services, making us highly cost-effective.