TAILS OF HOPE, INC. NEWS RELEASE
DYNAMIC DUO RESUMES TAILS OF HOPE’s OPERATIONS
(literally!)
For Immediate Release: 07/27/2020
Hermitage, PA– Tails of Hope, Inc. is thrilled to announce a new collaborative partnership with Dr. Nicole Grable, DVM, owner of the mobile veterinary clinic Pet Set Go, which allowed it to re-open doors and to resume operations at the only low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Mercer County.
On June 25, 2020 Soraya Hejazi, Executive Director at Tails of Hope, sent out a proposal to veterinary clinics, veterinarians, and vet techs for a collaborative initiative in our area that would allow the organizations and professionals in our area to work together to provide maximum impact for the people and animals in our community.
“I contemplated several times about reaching out to Tails of Hope as a relief surgeon, to help out for high-volume special events,” explained Dr. Nicole Grable. “When I realized Tails of Hope had been completely shut down during COVID-19 quarantine, and then again due to need for a veterinarian, I knew it was time to step up to the plate.”
Dr. Grable strongly believes Tails of Hope’s ability to provide discounted rates for spay/neuter surgeries and required vaccines fills an enormous need in our community. “Pet overpopulation will continue to be a problem until people in my profession physically start to provide services and education in an affordable manner,” Dr. Grable said. “This is exactly what Tails of Hope is doing-getting the work done. I was compelled to join their collaborative initiative.”
Dr. Grable has been asked if, as a clinic owner herself, she was worried about losing business to the spay/neuter clinic. “The answer is unequivocally “No,” Dr. Grable said. “Tails of Hope is not direct competition for our local veterinary practices. They don’t provide an on-going Veterinary-Client-Patient relationship or life time medical services. Many of the animals provided for at spay/neuter clinics are those that wouldn’t normally receive much veterinary care, whether because they are strays or have lower-income owners. Non-profits like Tails of Hope allow rescue organizations and owners to provide a level of care that might normally be too expensive. If an owner can bring their pet to Tails of Hope, then at least we know that pet has received Rabies vaccination and has been spayed or neutered. Maybe that owner will have more resources available then if the animal becomes sick and needs to be treated at a general practice. Working with Tails also allows me to promote Pet Set Go and the services we offer for on-going veterinary care. Clients can see my mobile veterinary unit in the parking lot, and are given a Pet Set Go business card and information sheet when they leave. It gives them an immediate option should they need something. Collaborating with Tails of Hope is a win for their organization, my practice, the animals, and our community.”
Dr. Grable cannot accomplish the surgeries alone through, so she brought Certified Veterinary Technician Bonnie Kerleck with her to work with the Tails of Hope team and resume their services to the community. “Bonnie and I have worked together in the past. She is very knowledgeable, experienced, and has the energy of ten people,” said Dr. Grable. “Together with Tails of Hope’s Executive Director, Soraya Hejazi, and Tails of Hope’s Office Manager, Mark Sabino, we've started a great team with matched enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond to do the work and create a safe, efficient way to provide for the needs of the animals. And,” Dr. Grable added, “despite the super-fast pace in a high-volume setting, we have a lot of fun together while we work.”
“Dr. Nicole Grable and Bonnie Kerleck are a dynamic duo,” declared Tails of Hope Executive Director, Soraya Hejazi. “We are proud to welcome them to Tails of Hope. They are truly leading by example and we couldn’t be more grateful for their enthusiasm, positivity, forward-thinking and compassion for animals.” Tails of Hope is actively engaging with other clinics and professionals to increase the collaborative effort across our community and hopes to announce further additions in the future that allow their valuable services to be provided additional days per week, plus special high-volume day events. As a non-profit, just as every donation dollar counts, every day with collaboration or volunteers counts.
Pictured above: Dr. Nicole Grable, DVM and Bonnie Kerleck, CVT
Dr. Nicole Grable’s schedule was effective July 24, 2020 and includes surgeries at Tails of Hope on Mondays and Fridays. Dr. Grable will also be volunteering for Tails of Hope at their first cat/dog food distribution event on Saturday, August 1, funded by The Glenn and Jean Harnett Private Charitable Foundation.
About Tails of Hope, Inc.
Tails of Hope, Inc. (TOH), at The Thomas M. O’Brien Animal Care Center, opened in 2017 as a not for profit, 501 (c) (3) born from a love of animals and service to our community. TOH believes the world will be a better place when it values and ensures the well-being of companion animals, treating them with kindness and compassion. TOH exists to eliminate neglect, abuse and suffering of animals resulting in improved overall quality of animal life and strives to impact pet over-population through spay/neuter programs and supporting rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and education.
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Inquiries:
Media:
Diane O’Brien Webster
Consumer:
Tracy Jones
(724) 346-4673 (HOPE)
Follow TOH:
Website: https://tailsofhopewpa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tailsofhopepa/
June 25, 2020
People across our community, the nation and around the world are stepping up to do what they can to help humans and animals as we fight COVID-19. After two months of mandatory shut down due to COVID-19, Tails of Hope briefly resumed services.
Tails of Hope is a 501 (c) (3) charitable animal welfare organization who believes the world will be a better place when it values and ensures the well-being of companion animals, treating them with kindness and compassion. Tails of Hope exists to eliminate neglect, abuse and suffering of animals resulting in improved overall quality of animal life. We do this by striving to impact pet over-population through spay/neuter programs, and support of rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and education. We directly provide essential services of spay/neuter and rabies vaccines to the city shelters, rescue groups, and individuals in our area through our low-cost programs.
But, we must tell you, right now our programs are in trouble. And we are sad to inform you that the doors of Tails of Hope are currently closed. In addition to the reduction of public donations during this time of uncertainty and COVID-19 causing the cancellation of our fundraising events which provides revenue for the year, the nation is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians. Tails of Hope and other veterinary clinics in our community are not exempt from this challenge. As a low-cost, non-profit organization, Tails of Hope cannot compete in wages and benefits of full-service, for-profit veterinary clinics without the financial support of our community. We are actively reaching out to veterinary groups in our area to propose a collaborative solution to the shared challenge for talent. But this alone will not keep our programs going.
Tails of Hope does not receive government funding. We do not have endowments. We rely on individual donations from people just like you-people who care about animals and our community-to maintain our operations, attract and retain high-quality staff, and continue to provide low-cost to no-cost services for our city shelters, local rescue groups, and individuals in our community who otherwise struggle to afford the essential services for the animals.
We realize this is a stressful and uncertain time for us all. Please know the only way we can keep our programs alive is with your help.
Your tax-deductible gift today will make a huge difference to restart Tails of Hope operations, acquire and retain high-quality staff, and continue vital services for our city shelters, local rescue groups, and individuals in our community who depend on our low-cost programs.
Mail checks payable to “Tails of Hope” and mail to: 2450 Hoezle Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
We have never before asked for your assistance with this sense of urgency. Please help today so that we can continue to make a difference for the people and animals in our community tomorrow.
Stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Diane O’Brien Webster
Co-Founder & President
dk29obrien@gmail.com
Soraya Hejazi
Executive Director
soraya.h@tailsofhopewpa.com
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For Immediate Release: 06/25/2020
Hermitage, PA– Tails of Hope, Inc. (TOH) is excited to announce it has selected Soraya Hejazi to serve as the Executive Director for Mercer County, Pennsylvania’s only low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Her appointment was effective June 1, 2020.
Soraya Hejazi brings more than ten years of business consulting & development, human resources consulting & management, training & development, and marketing experience in both for-profit and non-profit sectors to Tails of Hope in the Executive Director position. In addition, she has a lifetime of experience serving community cats, volunteering at cat sanctuaries, and almost ten years of service at a wildly successful high-volume spay/neuter clinic in Los Angeles.
“Soraya brings a superb level of professionalism to the role of Executive Director at Tails of Hope with her management, human resources and marketing skills. Her passion as a true animal advocate surpasses her already high level of commitment to the mission and culture of the organization. The Board of Directors are proud to welcome Soraya and are anxious to support her as she heightens the awareness of the importance of Spay/Neuter in our communities,” said Tails of Hope President Diane O’Brien Webster. “We look to the future with great anticipation for what lies ahead and the success the future holds under her guidance.”
While the doors of Tails of Hope were mandated closed during COVID-19 from March 19-May 18, 2020, Soraya Hejazi played an instrumental role in writing a grant proposal to The Glenn & Jean Harnett Private Charitable Foundation. The grant was awarded to TOH on May 15, 2020. With this grant, in addition to its everyday low cost services, TOH is introducing The Harnett Spay & Neuter Angel Program (SNAP) and Growl & Purr Grub Club.
SNAP will ensure the essential veterinary care services of Spay or Neuter and Rabies Vaccination are made reasonably available to the household and community (homeless) pets of people in our area according on a sliding scale fee based on household size and income. Qualified TOH clients may receive a discount on top of the everyday low fees of 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the costs. A military discount has also been added to this program.
The Growl & Purr Grub Club events will provide $5,000 of cat and dog food distribution to our community. The first disbursement of food is scheduled for August 1, 2020. Details will be announced soon on Tails of Hope, Inc.’s Facebook page.
However, the excitement and opportunities new programs and funding offers for Tails of Hope and the community faces a challenge: a nationwide shortage of veterinarians. According to noted veterinary economist James Lloyd, DVM, PhD’s 2019 research, there were about 1,400 open positions with no one to fill them, or about 1.7 positions per candidate. Our community is not exempt from this challenge. To counter this, a Collaborative Program is being introduced by Soraya Hejazi and Tails of Hope to all veterinary service providers in our area. By implementing a shared rotation of veterinarians between for-profit and non-profit clinics, the city shelters, rescues, and individual pet guardians can efficiently and cost-effectively receive the essential services of spay/neuter and Rabies vaccines to ensure the well-being of companion animals in our community. This program also has the potential to expand and increase the availability of emergency services to companion animals in our area. The Program was recently reviewed by Hermitage City Manager Gary Hinkson, who shared his support with this statement, "It is only together, as a community, that we will be able to find solutions, overcome challenges, and find continued success. I believe collaborative initiatives between businesses and employers like this one for the veterinary industry will serve to enhance services for people and animals in our community and to further economic development in our area for everyone by attracting and retaining high-quality professionals." The list of benefits from this program is long, and includes benefits to the for-profit businesses, the city shelters, private rescue groups, and the community at large.
Tails of Hope is currently closed due to the veterinarian shortage. Tails of Hope does not receive government funding. It does not have endowments. It heavily relies on public donations. The veterinarian shortage is further compounded by the effects of COVID-19 which include cancellation of fundraising events and the revenue they bring for the year, and a donation downturn from private individuals as the world copes with the uncertainty of the pandemic. Tails of Hope asks for the community to consider a gift at this time to restart their operations, retain and acquire high-quality staff, and continue vital services for our city shelters, local rescue groups, and individuals in our community who depend on their low-cost programs.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead an organization whose mission is my passion,” said Soraya Hejazi. “In 2019, Tails of Hope, Inc. served 2,989 cats and dogs in our area. With support from grants, such as the Harnett Foundation, continued partnership with our local shelters and rescues, contributions from volunteers on our Board of Directors and community volunteers in the clinic, donations from the public, and the anticipated collaboration with veterinary groups in the community, we will together continue to make an impact in reducing the needless suffering of animals and unnecessary pet euthanasia while ensuring people and families of all backgrounds share in the joy of responsible pet guardianship.”
About Tails of Hope, Inc.
Tails of Hope, Inc. (TOH), at The Thomas M. O’Brien Animal Care Center, opened in 2017 as a not for profit, 501 (c) (3) born from a love of animals and service to our community. TOH believes the world will be a better place when it values and ensures the well-being of companion animals, treating them with kindness and compassion. TOH exists to eliminate neglect, abuse and suffering of animals resulting in improved overall quality of animal life and strives to impact pet over-population through spay/neuter programs and supporting rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and education.
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Inquiries:
Media:
Diane O’Brien Webster
Consumer:
Tracy Jones
(724) 346-4673 (HOPE)
Follow TOH:
Website: https://tailsofhopewpa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tailsofhopepa/
High Volume Spay/Neuter Veterinary Surgeon (DVM)
The Spay & Neuter Angel Program (SNAP) makes essential veterinary services and vaccines reasonably available to household and community pets in our area. The sliding scale fee schedule aligns with the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines.
Watch for Howl∙n∙Purr Grub Club pet food pantry event announcements.
Thanks to the Glenn & Jean Harnett Private Charitable Foundation for grant funds for these important programs.
