The Bluegrass Area Development District announces continued partnership with Joanie Bernard Foundation for Bluegrass Cat Project

Published 9:00 am Saturday, September 25, 2021

BLUEGRASS AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

News release

On Sept. 23, the Joanie Bernard Foundation, a Cincinnati, Ohio, based cat welfare funding organization officially announced funding for spay and neuter of community cats in 13 central Kentucky counties. This is the third year this grant, known as the Bluegrass Cat Project, has been awarded and is based on an animal welfare study conducted by Team Shelter USA, LLC in 2018.

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The Bluegrass Cat Project has been contracting with local veterinarians and the Woodstock Animal Foundation to provide the spay and neuter service through their local animal shelter or humane society and will be managed collaboratively between Dr. Sara Pizano, founder and consultant of Team Shelter USA and the Bluegrass Area Development District (Bluegrass ADD). The total amount of the grant will be $250,000 to fund Team Shelter USA’s continued oversight and mentorship for the 13 counties. The counties awarded funding for cat spay and neuter include Anderson, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell, and Scott Counties. The grant will cover approximately 3,000 spay/neuters throughout these counties with the long-term goal of continuing to reduce shelter intake of cats and the euthanasia for space of healthy cats.

Dr. Sara Pizano commented on behalf of the Joanie Bernard Foundation, ‘We continue to be impressed by the dedication of all the Service Providers and shelters despite the ongoing ramifications of Covid-19.  We are grateful to everyone who has made this regional program a success and look forward to another productive year.’

David Duttlinger, Executive Director of the Bluegrass ADD added, “The Bluegrass Area Development District was formed to bring regional solutions to problems that have no boundaries.  That is why we are excited about this opportunity to continue our mission of improving the quality of life for the citizens of the region through this unique and beneficial project.”

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The BGADD’s Mission: Enhance the economy of our communities through planning to maximize resources, projects to promote development, and programs to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the region.