The Animal Rescue Federation helps hundreds of furry friends each year.
This time it's ARF that needs the help.
In October, the ARF board of directors applied for a grant from Hamburger Helpers' My Hometown Helper program.
Communities and organizations across the nation can apply to the program, which is giving $15,000 per month in grants to winning projects. It began in September, runs through June and has awarded seven grants so far.
ARF has applied for a $10,000 grant to start its dream project, an assistance program helping low-income people to spay or neuter their pets.
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The project would pay all or part of the cost, but it's something ARF can't afford to offer without help, said Karen O'Keefe, ARF board member.
"It's a wonderful worthy cause because Superior needs some help and their animals need help," she said.
People can help ARF's grant application by showing their support. My Hometown Helper online at www.myhometownhelper.com has a place where people can add comments to the grant application. The grant funds are awarded to projects based on merit, impact and community support.
ARF has plenty of competition for the grant money. About 200 organizations from Wisconsin alone have applied.
If ARF receives the grant, it would help the shelter, low-income people and the animals, O'Keefe said. Spay and neuter assistance for low-income families would help to decrease animal overpopulation in the city. It would decrease the number of cats and dogs both in the shelter and on the street.
Overpopulation causes stress for ARF workers, who must sometimes make the decision to put animals to sleep because there aren't homes for them, she said.
It's estimated that 6 to 8 million animals enter shelters each year in the United States, and 3 to 4 million are euthanized each year, according to the Humane Society of the United States Web site.
Spay and neuter subsidized programs lead to a reduction in the number of animals euthanized in a community, according to the Web site.
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"It's a terrible thing to put an animal to sleep because there's no home," O'Keefe said.
People also can support ARF through donations or by purchasing its calendar. During the holiday season, ARF also has a Tree of Dreams. This fundraiser allows donators to add a remembrance of a loved one or pet to ARF's lobby tree. People can also leave gifts of food, treats or toys under the tree for sheltered animals.
