FAQs for United Pet Fund
  1. When was United Pet Fund (UPF) founded and by whom? 
    May 2010, in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Dr. Zeke Zekoff.

  2. Why was this organization founded?  Aren’t there enough animal organizations already? 
    In over a quarter of century of working with animal care and service organizations – ACSOs - (rescues, shelters, etc.), Dr. Zekoff saw a common element in many of the smaller, ‘mom and pop’ organizations that he worked with: “Great compassion and heart for the animals in need of shelter, food, medical services, etc., but a missing element of the ‘business and leadership skills and tools necessary to run a successful nonprofit entity’.  This, in combination with little free time, fewer available volunteers, and limited funds, has led to many of these ACSOs struggling to survive.

  3. Don’t larger shelters (such as local SPCA’s) take care of all the needs of unwanted animals? Why do we need the smaller organizations? 
    Although the larger, ‘public shelters’ do a valuable service in the counties they operate in, they cannot physically take care of all the homeless and unwanted animals in the area.  Without adequate funding and personnel, many of these shelters end up having to euthanize many adoptable animals due to overcrowding.  A great number of other private shelters and rescues have come in to fill the gap and reduce the number of animals that are euthanized.  Many have developed into ‘breed specific’ rescues or species-specific rescues/shelters.

  4. With so many organizations, what’s the problem? 
    Many of these smaller organizations start out with great intentions to do what they can to help needy animals. They seek an IRS nonprofit status, and once they get their 501(c)(3) status, the hope is that money will flow in to meet the needs of the animals that have been rescued.  Even in the best of economies, the best of intentions can awry as they quickly find out that running a nonprofit organization comes with many challenges. Among them are recruiting Boards that actually can contribute to the organization’s success, fund raising, time availability, lack of consistent volunteer help, leadership skills, and public relation skills to interest Joe Q.-animal-loving Public in their cause.

  5. Sounds like there is a need there, but aren’t there government agencies or United Way agencies who help these ACSOs? 
    Basically, NO.  None of them are specific for ACSOs. Many of these animal rescue and shelter organizations have fallen through the cracks where they struggle to survive.  With a lack of time and funds, they limp along. The basics they do not lack are a heart, love and passion for the animals they serve.

  6. What does the United Pet Fund hope to do about this? 
    We are working on becoming a resource and support organization for the smaller ‘mom-and-pop’ ACSOs.  Our goal is to become a nonprofit ACSO-member services organization that will provide basic business services needed by all nonprofits to become successful. Eventually, with the advantage  that comes with large number of members, we hope to offer access to discounted business services for our members, including, but not limited to:  Legal and Accounting, Insurance, Public Relations, IT services, Credit/Financing Services, Pet Products, Webinar-based training in Nonprofit leadership and management skills, as well as Animal Behavior and Health needs.

    In our current setup, United Pet Fund offers the following services:

    1. Handyman services for those ACSOs that have physical facilities in need of repair or upkeep. We provide the supplies and labor to meet this need within specific criteria for each job.

    2. Scholarships for volunteers of area ACSOs to attend continuing education seminars that will allow them to both learn about and provide the most up-to-date care of sheltered animals.  

    3. Funds for Crisis Management when an unexpected emergency or crisis comes up beyond the normal day-to-day operations of an ACSO.

    4. Pet Health Day in Over-the-Rhine.  This is M.A.S.H. type of preventative health care clinic held in October of each year. This no-charge clinic is held at the St. Francis Seraph Church on Liberty and Vine. With all volunteers, 100- 200 dogs and cats that belong to economically disadvantaged owners are served each year

    5. Nonprofit Management and Leadership Seminars and Webinars using local and national providers. Other topics such as Animal Behavior Assessments are also included in advancing the education opportunities for local ACSO personnel.

  7. Sounds great.  What are your long term plans? 
    We hope to perfect the organizational model here in the Cincinnati area, and then expand to the state of Ohio, and eventually nationally. Our own organization has received generous contributions of service in kind from such community business leaders as Deloitte Consulting, Executive Service Corps of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky University Business School to set up our business model and assure its success.

  8. How can we help? 
    As always, without your generosity we cannot succeed in helping the ACSOs. When they succeed, the animals they serve will be the winner.  UPF is always interested in hearing from individuals, businesses and organizations that believe in this new concept and would like to network with us.

  9. How can I get in contact with you? 
      Website:   www.unitedpetfund.org  
      Mailing address:   9401 Towne Square Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45242  
      Phone Numbers:   513-520-7571  or  513-793-1875  
      E-mail:   unitedpetfund@fuse.net  
      FAX:    (513) 793-6703