We’re a group of dedicated volunteers who help shelter animals and other strays in the community  that need our help.

Through our fund raising efforts, we help dogs and cats at the Upland Animal Shelter with medical treatment, antibiotics and other necessary supplies not funded by the shelter.  We also help to place dogs/cats through contact with rescue organizations and private individuals seeking adoption.  We also aid the public by providing funding to help them with their pets’ medical needs. 

• Volunteers from HOPE take rescued dogs/cats to PetSmart in the Colonies Crossroads Shopping Center every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and bring shelter impounded dogs/cats to Petco in Rancho Cucamonga in the Terra Vista Shopping Center the first through fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 am to 2pm in order to promote adoption. 

• We also rescue dogs/cats from the shelter and kennel them or place them in private foster homes until a home can be found.

• We also organize all of the events that happen at the shelter:
  Spay Day USA [February], Pet Theft Awareness Day [February] Pet Adoption Faire at Upland Memorial Park [May], Homeless Animals Vigil [August] Adoption A Shelter Cat Month [June], Adopt A Shelter Dog Month [October], Blessing of the Animals [October], Shelter Appreciation Week [November], and the Christmas Appeal [December].
   

Upland, CA — September 19, 2003    After many months of paperwork and red tape, it has become official, HOPE is now recognized by both the State of California and the Internal Revenue of the Federal Treasury Department as a tax exempt 501c3 organization.

     It took dedication and lots of hard work to obtain our tax exempt status.  We are grateful to a number of individuals for their generosity and support during this time.  We are committed to being good stewards of the funding we are provided by individual donors and businesses alike.  We do, however, work very hard to fund raise monies to supplement donations received from the private sector.

      We have held yard sales, craft sales, pet shows and candy sales.  We collect ink jet cartridges and promote adoptions at PETCO where we will be recipients of their Tree of Hope and Spring A Pet campaigns.  We just don’t sit back and expect donations.  We believe in working hard to raise funding in order to earn your trust along with your respect. 

     We are very actively involved at the Upland Animal Shelter.  We host all of the events at the shelter in order to raise public awareness that the shelter exists and without the benefit of adoptions, healthy companion dogs and cats will be euthanized because they have not made their human match of a best friend.

     It is HOPE that updates and maintains the Upland Animal Shelter page on www.Petfinder.com and the website linked to the City page.  The work involved in updating these websites over the past few years has led to countless adoptions and many happy endings. 

     It is HOPE that promotes Spay Day USA in February; it is HOPE that organizes the annual Pet Adoption Faire at Upland Memorial Park in May; it is HOPE that promotes Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month in June; it is HOPE that volunteers at the annual rabies vaccination clinic at the animal shelter in July; it is HOPE that hosts the National Homeless Animals Vigil in August; it is HOPE that hosts the Blessing of the Animals and Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month in October; it is HOPE that is present at downtown Upland’s Scary-A-Faire on Halloween; it is HOPE that promotes Adopt-A-Senior Pet Month in November; and finally,  it is HOPE that promotes the annual Christmas appeal to help publicize the plight of the impounded animals sitting at the shelter waiting for new homes.

     HOPE is a very dedicated organization with even more dedicated volunteers that spend countless hours lending their time, talent and own money because they are all striving for the very same goal:  to end the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals in the City of Upland. 

    What you may not realize is that all of this dedicated work takes its toll both mentally and physically on our volunteers.  This is hard work.  This is challenging work.  This is work that has lots of sadness sprinkled with few joys.  The joys are what keep us going.  We’re not going to give up, especially when there are still living and breathing dogs and cats out there that are counting on us.  For them it’s a matter of life and death.  We promised them that we wouldn’t let them down and we’re not about to break that promise!

~  Margaret Coffman, President