[Steamboat Springs, CO – Oct. 17, 2022]
The Routt County Humane Society (RCHS) has received a $7500 grant from the Yampa Valley Community Foundation Community Grants Fund and the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation Employee Environmental Fund to fund operations of their new Spay/Neuter/Disaster Relief trailer.
In 2021 RCHS purchased a mobile spay-neuter/disaster response trailer to provide veterinary care and/or triage capabilities for disasters in the rural areas and outlying communities of northwest Colorado.
“Our new fully equipped, spay-neuter/disaster response trailer enables RCHS to take its services “on the road” and to expand our reach beyond Steamboat Springs. This trailer gives us the ability to hold sterilization and vaccination clinics in underserved communities while also being available to mobilize veterinary services in disaster situations, such as wildfires, or other crises where companion animals are in need” said Elaine Hicks, Executive Director at RCHS.
Until now, Routt County did not have a fully equipped surgical suite available to triage animals in crisis situations and, as with any disaster, damage mitigation is always a fast response to the situation. The multi-faceted uses of a fully equipped surgical suite would provide a much-needed service to the outlying communities who have previously identified lack of access to affordable veterinary care as a major challenge in Routt County.
“This grant will allow us to staff and operate the trailer so that we can bring low-cost vaccinations, grant-funded spay/neuter services and emergency triage to the people and pets who need them most,” says Hicks.
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The Yampa Valley Community Foundation is the primary source for philanthropic resources and education for both donors and nonprofit organizations in Northwest Colorado. The mission of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation is to provide leadership in raising funds, in partnership with community members, to support innovative programs that benefit the community.
The Steamboat Ski Corp. Environmental Fund funds nonprofit organizations across the Yampa Valley based on environmental needs. Since its inaugural year in 2004, more than 60 projects have been granted more than $330,000, representing a variety of nonprofit organizations across the Yampa Valley. In addition, the fund is supported with donations from Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. employees, special sales of chairs from removed lifts and through YVCF Passport Club memberships.
Media Contact
Elaine Hicks, MA, CAWA
Executive Director, Routt County Humane Society
ehicks@routthumane.org, 970-879-7247
