A Palo Alto-based wildlife rescue nonprofit facing closure without financial help wants to merge with Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo as a way to continue helping injured and orphaned animals.
Wildlife Rescue Incorporated sent letters to its members on Oct. 5 and Oct. 17 explaining that major changes are needed because of "significant financial hardships and operational issues,” according to board President Tina Thomas.
Thomas asked members to vote in favor of a merger by Nov. 7. A majority must be in favor of the merger for its approval.
The idea of absorbing WRI is palatable to Ken White, president of PHS/Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
PHS is one of the few humane societies nationwide whose mission includes care of wild as well as domestic animals, White said.
"A merger will ensure that WRI’s lifesaving work for sick and injured wildlife ... continues,” he said.
Recommended for you
A merger wouldn’t necessarily make sense since if WRI was in the East Bay or elsewhere, said PHS spokesman Scott Delucchi.
But, he added, its coverage of communities between Palo Alto and Mountain View is a continuation of PHS’s region.
PHS/SPCA has an annual operating budget of nearly $9 million, 90 paid staff and approximately 900 volunteers. In contrast, WRI has an annual budget of approximately $200,000, two paid staff members and a few dozen volunteers.
PHS and WRI haven’t yet decided what, if any, the new name of the organization will be if the merger is approved.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.