Animal-rescue group receives grant from rock star for spay, neuter assistance

A local animal-rescue organization’s efforts to control the pet population can continue with the help of a generous donation from a famous face.

The Bollinger County Stray Project (BCSP), a not-for-profit animal rescue near Zalma, Missouri, recently received a $20,000 grant from the Sidewalk Angels Foundation (SWAF) that was founded by Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas and his wife, Marisol Thomas, to provide assistance to animal rescue and advocacy organizations.

Marilyn Neville runs the stray rescue organization largely out of her home. There, she cares for dogs with no place to go and finds new homes for them.

“We’re not a sanctuary,” Neville said, though the 43 dogs she has on her 189-acre ranch and those being fostered by others may beg to differ.

The dogs frequently come to the organization from families who find themselves with too many pets. Other times, they were dumped on the side of the road or brought in as strays. About 5 percent of the time, Neville said, the animals are returned to their owners. The rest, they try to rehome, publicizing through social media and Petfinder.com, she said.

The BCSP adopts out about 250 dogs each year. It is adoption fees and donations that help keep her project running, Neville said, along with partnerships with local veterinary clinics and aid from local businesses and other rescue organizations.

Although a primary goal of the BCSP is to find homes for dogs in need, part of its mission is to educate people about the importance of controlling the dog and cat populations, Neville said.

“And that’s where the Sidewalk Angel Foundation comes in,” Neville said.

With the $20,000 grant, BCSP can help people in Bollinger County with spaying or neutering their pets, a cost many people otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.

According to the Sidewalk Angels Foundation website, the foundation was created to provide “critically needed funds and support to grassroots groups across the country that work diligently in animal rescue and advocacy.”

Neville said when Tammy Beck, who fosters dogs for BCSP, learned about the foundation, she began communicating with it on Facebook to let them know about the BCSP.

“I thought, ‘What are they going to do for me? I don’t even know who Rob Thomas is,’” Neville said.

But Beck had the attention of the Sidewalk Angels.

“They followed us on Facebook for over a year before we got our 501(c)(3) (tax-exempt not-for-profit status). And when we got it, our check came,” Neville said shakily. “All of the sudden, I had a check that I didn’t even know was coming.”

That was the beginning of the relationship between BCSP and SWAF. The recent grant is the third Neville’s organization has received from SWAF to provide spay and neuter assistance. But the demand for assistance was slow to build.

“It took us two years to convince people to ask us for money to help. It took them two years to call us and use that $20,000 to help them,” Neville said. “I don’t know if it was a pride thing, or if they just didn’t want to ask.”

But by the second year, the assistance program gained traction.

“And I’m expecting this $20,000 to run out before we can get another grant, because it’s become so popular,” Neville said.

Because of that popularity, Neville hopes those who seek help are those who need it.

While the BCSP rehomes only dogs, the spay and neutering assistance — which can cover more than half the cost — also is available for cats, because the feline population can get out of hand quickly.

“There’s no excuse not to start spaying,” Neville said.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

Zalma, Mo.