Since our founding in June 2001, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Almost Home has been able to pay for extensive medical procedures for more than 40 special dogs who have appeared on our Can You Help Me? page; you can read about some of them here. We were able to help dachshunds with intervertebral disc disease, provide surgery to correct birth defects and injuries caused by neglect and abuse, get several sick little strays through pregnancies, patch up a dachshund that had been shot and abandoned, pay for surgery and other health care for a number of dogs that had been used as breeders, and paid for expensive medical care and surgery for other exceptionally needy dogs. Most of these dachshunds are now living in loving, comfortable homes, doing the happy things dogs should do--running in the grass, chewing bones, curling up in soft laps--and rewarding the kind people who adopted them with unconditional love and devotion. Sadly, one dachshund was so badly neglected that she had to be euthanized before she was ever able to enjoy a full, happy life.

Almost Home has also provided medical grants to many of our rescuers, to help them pay some of the expenses they routinely incur for their foster dogs.

We have also been able to realize one of our original dreams, when AHDRS was founded, of helping other rescue groups with emergencies that demanded more funds than they had available. In the past year, we were able to make direct grants to rescue groups and individual rescuers, and we were also able to send money that was donated in response to information we posted on our Web site, for four special dogs in need.

None of this would have been possible if it had not been for the many, many kind and generous people who sent us donations, both large and small; who dropped dollar bills into the fishbowls at our booths; who bought the dog biscuits we baked; who came to our garage sales and went home with their bags full; who sponsored members who participated in races; who bought our lemonade, stuffed dachshunds, holiday cards, handmade collars, hand-etched glasses, handmade bandanas, calendars, and items we sold on eBay.

We are more grateful than we can say for your generosity, which helps us help dogs who otherwise would not have much of a chance. We can find homes for beautiful, healthy dogs pretty easily. But we can't help the special dogs without your help. The dogs keep coming, and they continue to need our help. Dogs rescued from the horrors of puppy mills, dogs thrown out of car windows or dumped on roadsides, old dogs whose families no longer want them because they aren't fun any more, young dogs who are left alone for most of the day every day and end up chewing the owner's belongings, dogs whose owners just can't afford the vet care they need, dogs whose elderly owners have died or had to go into nursing homes. Without us, they may end up dying in an overcrowded shelter, or dying where they are dumped, or having to be put down because there is no one to pay for their medical care.

It's easy to donate to Almost Home. If you would like to use a credit card, just click on the PayPal link below. If you would like to send us a check or money order, please make it out to AHDRS and send it to:

AHDRS PO Box 9671 Greensboro, NC 27429-9671

We are grateful to receive any donation, no matter how small. Every little bit helps! And if you see our booth at a show or fair, stop by and say hello!

PLEASE REMEMBER AHDRS IN YOUR WILL AND TRUSTS

DONATE STOCK, GET A TAX BREAK! Donating stocks to Almost Home can yield a big tax benefit for you and help our needy dogs at the same time. By donating the stocks instead of selling them, you not only avoid the taxes due on the profits you would realize--you also get to take a charitable deduction on the stocks' value. For example, if you bought 100 shares of a stock at $10 a share, and those shares are now worth $25 each, you would have to pay income tax on the $1500 profit you would receive if you sold the stocks. But if you donate those shares to Almost Home, you would owe no taxes on the profits and you can take a charitable deduction for the full current value of the stocks--$2500. If you would like to donate stocks to Almost Home, please contact our treasurer for more information.

Where Does Your Money Go? The watchdog group The American Institute of Philanthropy says that responsible charitable organizations spend at least 60% of their income from donations and sales on charitable programs. Because Almost Home is run entirely by volunteers, we were able to dedicate 90% of the money you donated or paid to us in 2005 to our charitable programs--helping dogs in the care of our rescuers and providing financial assistance to needy dachshunds cared for by other rescue organizations and shelters.

Support AHDRS Every Time You Search the Internet! Don't Google--GoodSearch! This is such an easy way to make money for AHDRS! When you want to perform an Internet search, just follow these steps, and AHDRS will get money for every search you do. 1. Click on the GoodSearch box. 2. When the GoodSearch page appears, type "AHDRS" in the box labeled Who do you GoodSearch for? and click "Verify." 3. When the "Verify" box disappears, use the Yahoo search box just as you would use Google to search the Internet! Every Internet search means that money is added to the AHDRS account! It's so easy! If you're just looking for some celebrity gossip, you could earn enough money through GoodSearch to buy some kibble for a foster dog. If you're writing a research paper, you could earn enough to pay for a foster dog's shots! Don't Google--GoodSearch for AHDRS!

Buy Magazines and Support AH! Time to renew your magazine subscriptions? Want to start reading a new magazine or send a gift subscription to someone? You can help Almost Home at the same time! Click here to go to the shopping page of American Publishers and enter this code in the box labeled "School code": WA9976. On the next screen, click on START SHOPPING and you'll be taken to the shopping page. Hundreds of magazines are available, and Almost Home will receive between $5 and $15 for every subscription! It's free money to help our needy dogs! And the prices are more than competitive--they are guaranteed! If you find a subscription rate that's lower anywhere else, send us an e-mail and American Publishers will match it!

Can You Help Me?

Dachshunds We Have Helped

Contributors