When I first moved to San Antonio in 2010, I was deeply moved by the heartbreaking sight of stray animals struggling to survive on the streets. Witnessing their plight on my daily route to work compelled me to take action, leaving food and water out for them and finding homes for some of the friendly dogs I encountered. Eventually, I couldn’t resist taking in two of the strays from my neighborhood and calling them my own.
Still, the situation troubled me greatly, and I was determined to do more to make a difference. When the pandemic hit, and I was working in the service industry, I felt a strong urge to become part of the philanthropic community in San Antonio. That’s when I came across a job opportunity at an animal rescue called SNIPSA. I’ve always admired the sense of community in San Antonio, and the role of an outreach coordinator at SNIPSA seemed like the perfect way for me to give back and make a positive impact.
Every day at SNIPSA I feel the dedication and compassion of our team, driven by our collective mission: the well-being of our rescue animals. It truly takes a village, and each animal’s journey is nurtured with utmost care and love.
The moment we get word of an animal needing to be taken in, our intake coordinator springs into action, making arrangements for their safe arrival at our office, often coordinating with our amazing volunteer community for assistance.
Once in our care, the priority is their health and welfare. Comprehensive vet care ensures they are in the best possible shape for their next chapter. Our marketing department captures their essence through heartwarming photographs and thoughtfully assigns a name, creating compelling profiles that showcase each rescue in the best light.
The next crucial step is finding suitable foster care, and our beloved foster community plays an integral role in acclimating the animals to home life. Our skilled adoption coordinator scours our diverse pool of rescue dogs, searching for the perfect match based on personality traits, energy levels, and the potential bond between adopter and dog.
As the outreach coordinator, my role is to amplify our mission within the community. Getting the word out about our events is very important. We do this through social media and community calendars, and by hanging flyers around the city.
When planning outreach events for SNIPSA, our goals are to find loving homes for animals, educate the community on responsible pet ownership, make a positive impact and have fun. Collaborating with fosters, volunteers and the public, we build connections through adoption events and special outreach events, like Puppy Yoga or Puppy Races with the San Antonio Spurs.
For adoption events, we carefully consider our target audience, choosing venues where they will be and that are animal-friendly. We want a place that has good foot traffic but will be comfortable for our rescues. These events provide opportunities for people to meet and bond with our animals, leading to better socialization and increased chances of finding suitable adoptive families.
We also educate the community on responsible pet ownership by providing a free spay and neuter clinic called The Big Fix, which happens twice a year. This event is a huge undertaking where we work from sunrise to sunset to spay and neuter almost 500 animals.
Race for the Rescues is our annual 5K charity run where participants can run, walk or jog with their pets. It serves as our largest fundraiser and takes place on Sept. 30 this year. The event is a grassroots effort that relies on the support of our dedicated volunteers.
I consider all of our events successful because we are helping provide a better life for the stray animals in our city. The outpouring of support from the community is awe-inspiring, and together, we create a brighter future for these vulnerable creatures.
Working at SNIPSA has been incredibly rewarding as I witness rescue animals transform from vulnerable to thriving in loving homes. We once had a dog in our care for 287 days. Finding the perfect match for him was challenging due to his specific personality quirks and picky nature. However, he formed a strong bond with his foster family, who were first-time pet owners, and they chose to adopt him. Now, he is thriving in his new home, enjoying hiking adventures and even has a kitten brother that his adoptive family welcomed into their household.
I encourage you to take on the fulfilling challenge of fostering a dog or cat to help address the issue of strays in our community. Visit our website for volunteer opportunities and pets in need of foster care. Together, we can create a place where every animal receives the love and care they deserve.
