Exploring The World of Animal Shelters: An Inside Look At You Can Make A Difference, Inc.

/ Florida, Interviews, Tallahassee / By Emma

An interview with You Can Make A Difference, Inc. From Tallahassee, Florida.

Table Of Content

Introducing You Can Make A Difference, Inc.
How Did The You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Started? What Are The Challenges Encountered Along The Way?
Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Has Ever Taken.
Tell Us About The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns Your Rescue Has Done.
Tell Us About The Most Rewarding Part of Running An Animal Shelter.
What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge of Running An Animal Rescue?
Tell Us More About The Volunteers in You Can Make A Difference, Inc.
Tell Us More About The Animals In You Can Make A Difference, Inc.
What Are The Busiest Periods And How Does Laps and Naps Home for Senior Cats Cope?
What Animals Does You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Focus On?
Working With The Local Community
Tell Us More About Your Events
Programs And Services That You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Offers.
How Was You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?
Share With Us Some Of The Heartwarming Stories Of Animals Rehabilitated And Rehomed By You Can Make A Difference, Inc.
What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?
Connect With You Can Make A Difference, Inc.:

Introducing You Can Make A Difference, Inc.

My name is Norma Torres. I am the Founder and President of YOUCANMAKEADIFFERENCE, INC. I started this organization with the sole purpose of preventing animal neglect, abuse and abandonment.

How Did The You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Started? What Are The Challenges Encountered Along The Way?

My involvement in animal welfare began early in my life basically at age 3 when a frog with a severe leg was brought to me for “healing”. I used two popsicle sticks to secure the severed leg parts and keep it clean for about two weeks, upon removal the leg was viable and the frog was able to jump and walk. Can you share a brief storyline about the organization’s founding, including any challenges or obstacles that had to be overcome and how the founder’s vision for the shelter came to reality? YCMAD was founded after years of private animal welfare work in a county where animals are not considered as having any needs. Gadsden Co. lacks an animal shelter, they functioned primarily as a place where the animals are brought to be euthanized. Prior to YCMAD’s inception, word-of-mouth information was that more than 4000 animals were euthanized in the county, and not always in the most humane manner. With this in mind, we took it upon ourselves to create an organization that would (1) prevent the birth of unwanted animals by providing residents with free/low-cost spay-neuter vaccination vouchers (2) began an intensive animal welfare education program in schools (from kindergarten thru high school), and attempted to change the County’s administration perception of animals as creatures with no needs. Our biggest challenge is changing the County’s administration’s perception of their role in animal welfare, it is still ongoing.

Tell Us About The Most “Unusual” Animal That You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Has Ever Taken.

We were asked to house an Emu who had been capture by animal control and they had no place to keep him. In time, we located a farmer who had other large animals and was willing and able to provide him with a home.

Tell Us About The Most Unique And Creative Fundraising Campaigns Your Rescue Has Done.

Our most challenging fundraiser was the collection of used shoes to sell to a company that would in turn distribute them amongst the needy. It was labor intensive, and challenging as the drop-off facilities were all over the county and the shoes many times came in a state that didn’t meet the requirements.

Tell Us About The Most Rewarding Part of Running An Animal Shelter.

I am always in awe of the resiliency demonstrated by the animals we rescue. Even those who have been badly neglected and abused are able to show kindness and compassion when they realize that there is no longer a need to strike back. Their faces are where their souls shine, it is because of their faces of joy that we continue to rescue, rehabilitate and adopt out.

What Do You Think Might Be The Greatest Challenge of Running An Animal Rescue?

Financial resources are undoubtedly the greatest challenge for any animal shelter. Followed very close by the communities’ attitudes and expectations toward animals.

Tell Us More About The Volunteers in You Can Make A Difference, Inc.

Catherine and Tony Plouffe are the most dedicated and passionate volunteers. Their initial interaction with us was based on their interest to adopt one of our rescues. They did. Following the adoption, they became volunteers for our monthly adoption booth at one of the local Petsmart Stores. It was here that they met the second dog they wanted to adopt from us. Since then, they have become advocates for the rescue and are pivotal with their assistance at the adoption booths, making home visits, and overall chores associated with a rescue facility.

Tell Us More About The Animals In You Can Make A Difference, Inc.

Our rescues come primarily from the streets in Gadsden Co., occasionally they come from adjacent counties such as Decatur and Cairo (Georgia). Once they are in our possession each animal is taken to the veterinarian for the initial evaluation. It is here where they are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped. If the animal is in need of a more complex intervention same is scheduled and attended to when indicated. We do not limit the services the animals receive, they are provided with the best care based on the veterinarian’s advice.

What Are The Busiest Periods And How Does Laps and Naps Home for Senior Cats Cope?

January thru March are high intake times. Many people receive animals as Christmas presents and then they realize they are unable or unwilling to handle the additional chores and expenses, some relinquish them to shelters, others abandon them to their luck. May thru June is another time of high intake but this time is primarily kittens. People don’t take advantage of spay/neuter services available to them, the momma cat gets pregnant and there is no place for her or the kittens, hence, they are disposed of on the streets. Like many other rescues/shelters, we have become accustomed to these trends and prepare accordingly. As a private shelter, we are able to control better animal intake and we are able to say “no” even though it breaks our hearts.

What Animals Does You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Focus On?

We do not focus on any specific breed or type of animal. We do have a weight limit for the dogs we accept in our program and this is based on health reasons our founder and primary caregiver encounters.

Working With The Local Community

We collaborate with other animal rescues/shelters by sharing resources and materials we may come in possession of. We also accept some of their rescues if they meet our criteria to alleviate their census. Animals and people served by these other facilities are joyous of sending some of their animals to our rescue as they know they will receive all the services they need and tons of love and care.

Tell Us More About Your Events

We will be participating in a new project sponsored by a private company which we have named “Destress with Pups”. It includes bringing loving pups to their facility and allowing employees and staff interact with the animals during a specific period of time. The companies that chose to participate in this project contribute financially to the rescue/organization.

Programs And Services That You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Offers.

We offer free pick-up and transportation to and from the veterinary clinic to dogs/cats whose guardians are physically challenged or lack means of transportation. We also offer free pet food assistance for residents in need.

How Was You Can Make A Difference, Inc. Adapted To The Challenges Presented By The Pandemic?

We encountered no difficulty adapting to the pandemic. Using technology for good, what used to be in-person home visits prior to adoption became “Zoom, Google meet” conferences where we were able to take a peek at the potential adopter’s yard, get to know them, and interact. This proved very effective and indeed our adoptions skyrocketed during this time. At the time of delivery, both parties wore masks, and we meet at a mutually convenient location to effectuate the delivery.

he story of Pearl. Pearl is a Miniature Poodle who was taken to a kill facility after she was struck by a vehicle and was unable to walk due to the injury sustained in her spinal column and back legs. A plea was made for us to bring Pearl into our program, which we did. Re-evaluation by our veterinarian revealed that the spinal column was not severed, but it was unclear whether or not she would ever walk again. I took it upon myself to develop a therapy program for her. In the mornings, I would place a strap around her back legs and assist her in her movement. She would use her front legs primarily to ambulate and would attempt to move her back legs. This, accompanied by aqua therapy, and some anti-inflammatories continued for about two months. She was housed in a padded location where she could use her front legs to move. Slowly, she began to stand up on all four legs, then began to walk with minimal assistance, and finally did what no one was expecting, she ran! Pearl has since been adopted by one of our prior adopters who had lost her dog. She resides in comfort and her care is outstanding. She is loved and has become her parent’s love.

What Are The Help Needed From The Local Community?

We would love our community to be responsive to our offers and to proactively engage in spaying/neutering/vaccinating their companion pets. Contact us prior to throwing their pets on the road, or call animal control. We would also love it if they were willing to assist in walking some of our rescues and/or volunteering to be ambassadors in our adoption events.