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A
new animal welfare resource group, People4Pets, recently has been established
to offer support, resources and education to existing humane societies,
animal shelters and animal groups. People4Pets was created by local community
and business leaders and animal advocates. The statewide organization
is based out of Cherokee County, but plans to expand nationwide. One of
the primary goals of People4Pets is to provide new solutions to animal
groups and to create coalitions locally and nationally to help animal
welfare groups end the needless euthanasia of companion animals.
People4Pets
was started by two women, Gina Carr-Kyle and Felicia McAleer, who are
no strangers to supporting community and animal causes. Gina, a local
entrepreneur and animal activist, is the founder of several businesses
in Cherokee County including The TowneLaker and Sixes Living
Magazine, CENTURY 21 Advantage, Advantage Mortgage and the Georgia
Business Group. Through the years, she has helped Cherokee's needy animals
with a variety of activities including establishing a Lost Pet Hotline,
sponsoring Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) ads in The TowneLaker
and Sixes Living Magazine and providing a drop-off point for animal
shelter supplies.
Felicia
is the President of the McAleer Group, a global management consulting
firm. In 2002, the Cherokee County Humane Society enlisted her to help
create a public relations and marketing program to serve animal projects,
to support fund-raising and to create new sources of revenue. She also
served as President in 2003. Felicia is widely credited with bringing
the CCHS back to the forefront of public attention. Felicia also teamed
with Clayton County's Humane Society to stop the expansion of gas-type
chambers for euthanasia.
Gina
served as President of the CCHS in 2000, and one of her most important
accomplishments during this time was securing a new larger, state of the
art facility for the Cherokee County Animal Shelter. Shelter Director
John Bodie said that the creation of the new Shelter materialized through
the direct efforts of individuals like Gina. "Through Gina's leadership
at CCHS, the SPLOST tax was pushed through, which provided funding for
the Shelter. Without her, we probably would not have a new Shelter," he
said.
These
ladies have spearheaded and supported several fundraising activities for
the homeless animals in Cherokee County. Most recently, they co-chaired
the First Annual Fur Ball, a black-tie event which raised $5,200 for the
CCHS. Additionally, Gina and Felicia are credited with the Wyngate Park
project, which is 20 acres of green space for wildlife, people and pets.
People4Pets
will continue to support the CCHS, Cherokee County Animal Shelter and
other animal groups, but plans to utilize its resources to help other
animal organizations outside of Cherokee County as well. "We want to take
the successful activities and programs that people in Cherokee County
are doing and help other organizations and shelters throughout the metro
area and State," stated Gina. "We want to share our knowledge and reduce
euthanasia and increase adoption rates," she continued.
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Front
row: (left to right) Brook Park of the Olde Towne Gazette and Ashley Salet.
Back row: Co-founder of People4Pets Felicia McAleer, and James Lee Park
and Joey Park of Dixie Beverage who presented a donation check.
According
to Ottis Moore, President of the CCHS, he is in favor of supporting anyone
who works for needy animals. "Both Gina and Felicia are long-time advocates
of homeless animals. Their talents lie in seeing the bigger picture and
having a global perspective, and People4Pets is the perfect vehicle for
their talents and skills," said Ottis. Several projects are slated for
the near future, including a Lo-Jack-type devise for pets called Pet Trax.
There are also plans for a People4Pets magazine to promote animal causes,
groups and resources, and discussions are ongoing for a major Southeast
animal sanctuary and educational institute.
People4Pets
also hopes to create business coalitions, such as Realtors4Pets, Attorneys4Pets,
etc. CENTURY 21 Advantage is the inaugural model for Realtors4Pets. The
office holds fundraisers and special events benefiting homeless animals,
and serves as a drop off point for shelter supplies. Gina and Felicia
hope that other businesses will take CENTURY 21 Advantage's lead and form
their own coalitions to help needy animals.
People4Pets
has an impressive pedigree of business acumen behind it. Gina earned her
Industrial Engineering Degree from Georgia Tech and received her MBA from
Harvard Business School. Felicia and Gina have more than 25 years of experience
in business management, recruiting, fundraising and marketing. People4Pets
offers free assessment of operations and free consulting to improve shelters,
rescue groups, humane societies and animal groups to increase their successes.
But, they need your help. People4Pets is looking for business sponsorships,
business professionals and people willing to volunteer their talents.
Volunteers are needed for marketing, websites, special projects, photographers
and more. If you have only one hour per month to give, it can be used.
If you have a special talent to share, it can be used.
"A
lot of people giving a little time can make a huge difference in the welfare
of homeless animals," stated Felicia. There will be monthly meetings held
for recruiting and training volunteers. The May meeting will be May 20
from 7 - 8 :30 p.m. at the Rose Creek Public Library.
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