2020 Annual Report
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Message from the President
As we all know, 2020 was an unusual and difficult year for everyone. The COVID pandemic prevented FOMAR from holding the sterilization clinics that it intended and, in general, prevented much of the personal interaction that would have brought increased animal rescues. But despite that, rescues continued. When Rebecca was in the US for several months (for health reasons), she was able to refer numerous needy pups brought to her attention via FOMAR’s website, Facebook, and Instagram pages to other rescue organizations in Oaxaca, as well as to FOMAR’s vet Luciano, where they were well-handled. None of those rescues are, of course, reflected in our statistics. But the beneficial result was increased interaction with other rescue operations, including one in nearby Teotitlan, where FOMAR funded vaccinations monthly. We intend to continue to develop those relationships as well as re-energize our sterilization and vaccination efforts. The latter is already happening, I am pleased to report.
Rescues are once again on the rise, and we have also seen a sustained level of donations—for which we are most grateful! Many donations this past year came through Network for Good, the Facebook vehicle for fundraising, as well as through the PayPal Giving Fund. Almost 50% of our donations arrived through these platforms and we are SO thankful for those who donated. I encourage everyone to “like” and “follow” our Facebook (Friends of Megan) and Instagram (friendsofmegan) pages, as well as visit our website (www.fomanimalrescue.org). There are so many wonderful pups in Oaxaca that would never have survived and found Forever Homes if it weren’t for Rebecca and Friends of Megan Animal Rescue!
Finally, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you!” to Jane Vaught, our trusted secretary since FOMAR’s founding. For personal reasons, she has asked to resign from the Board, and we reluctantly agreed to her wishes. She will remain a Board Member emeritus as well as a committed supporter and fan of FOMAR. In her place, we welcome to the Board Chloe Tousignant, who lives very close to Casa Raab in Oaxaca, is an ongoing supporter of FOMAR, and daily helper to Rebecca. Among other tasks, she will use her tech expertise to help keep our social media up to date.
Thank you,
Judy Anderson
President, Board of Directors
Friends of Megan Animal Rescue
Message from the Executive Director
Well, it appears that we all made it through 2020. Down here in Oaxaca, the pandemic affected our quiet little village and reduced the demand for domestic adoptions. On the other hand, demand from the United States remained high, and we were thrilled to be able to send some dogs to their forever homes in the north.
2021 has started out with a lot of new rescues. In fact, we’ve taken in almost non-stop litters of puppies since the year began! Many of these puppies are already at their new homes, and I am pleased to say local adoptions are picking back up again as the pandemic eases and vaccinations become available. While puppies are always fun, we make sure to focus on rescuing and sterilizing mothers as well, wherever possible. To this end, we’ve found homes for two mothers already this year.
As many of you have noticed (and commented—thank you!), we have been working hard to improve our social media presence over this past year. As a result, we have been able to make more connections through Facebook and Instagram. As our President, Judy, mentioned I have been taking this opportunity to network with more animal rescues in Oaxaca. Together, we are able to make more efficient use of resources and provide broader coverage—ultimately rescuing more animals! FOMAR has been working with Teo Tails (in Teotitlan), providing vaccinations for adults and, more recently, for puppies as well. In addition, Caitlin from Caravana Canina(in Oaxaca) has found homes in Seattle for two of my pups as well as helping with domestic placements.
As we look forward to 2021, we have identified three major goals:
- Raise enough extra funds (beyond our necessary baseline operating costs) to improve our existing puppy pen, improving quality of life for the increasing number of puppies cared for by FOMAR;
- Fundraise for a sterilization clinic to be conducted in conjunction with our village, focusing on street dogs but also providing services at no charge to the many pet owners from the local area (as many of you know, the majority of dogs in Oaxaca are unsterilized, and many roam the streets freely around their owners’ homes); and
- Continue to develop our social media presence and use these tools to engage better with our donors and supporters, to network with other animal rescue organizations in Oaxaca, and to develop new avenues of fundraising.
With your continued support, I am optimistic we can achieve all of these goals. That is, of course, the most important reason for writing this letter: to thank all of you for caring about the animals of Oaxaca, and for your ongoing support. Here’s to 2021 being a great year!
Many thanks,
Rebecca Durden Raab
Executive Director
Friends of Megan Animal Rescue
Support FOMAR Today!
Your generous support is critical in enabling FOMAR to assist animals in Oaxaca.
For our U.S. supporters, all donations to Friends of Megan Animal Rescue are fully tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Service guidelines in every state. Donations are designated directly for the food, care, and treatment of rescued animals.
Our preferred method of receiving donations is securely through PayPal. Alternatively, you can send a check to:
Tom Poe, Treasurer
4169 Woodside Drive
Rockingham, VA 22801
USA
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