Accomplishments

Operation Pit (and Kit!) Stop 2024, conducted from March 23rd to May 18th, was a tremendous success. Thanks to the teamwork of 11 dedicated coalition members, we spayed and neutered 938 community-owned pets!

This accomplishment was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Wings of Rescue, and the fundraising success of our annual New Year for the Strays Trivia Night. Together, we reimbursed over $50,000 to coalition partners, covering the cost of all surgical expenses. The following coalition partners, who provided spay/neuter surgeries were reimbursed: Animal Protective Association of MO, Belleville Area Humane Society, CareSTL, Carol House Quick Fix Pet Clinic, Gateway Pet Guardians, Metro East Humane Society, OpSpot, and Partners for Pets. Additional donations were made to Full Circle Feral Mo, STL Feral Cat Outreach and Animal House Cat Shelter, for logistical support

This concerted, community-wide effort plays a crucial role in alleviating the burden of pet overpopulation on our shelter and rescue partners, reinforcing our commitment to responsible pet ownership and community welfare.

After two decades of success, ownership of New Year for the Strays, the largest trivia fundraising event in St. Louis, transitioned to our coalition in 2024. Celebrating its 21st year, this iconic event dedicated to animal welfare was one of the best ever, attracting over 500 animal lovers and raising more than $45,000. These funds directly support the myriad of services provided by our member organizations, helping to ensure that needy pets receive the care and love they deserve.

Since 2023, in our commitment to continuous improvement and leadership in animal welfare, we have awarded over $10,000 in scholarship funds to coalition members including Animal House Cat Shelter, Five Acres Animal Shelter, Gateway Pet Guardians, Helping Strays of Monroe County, Metro East Humane Society, Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, St. Charles Pet Adoption Center, and Partners for Pets.

These funds have enabled shelter staff members to attend conferences including the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, ASPCA Shelter Medicine Conference, Best Friends National Conference, and the Missouri Animal Control Association Conference. These opportunities equip our members with the latest best practices and innovations in the field, ensuring that our community remains at the forefront of humane and effective animal stewardship.

Since our formal establishment as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in January 2023, the Coalition for Pet Progress has swiftly expanded to include 37 dedicated animal-serving nonprofit organizations throughout the greater St. Louis and Metropolitan Illinois region. Our members are at the forefront of animal welfare, providing essential services that significantly impact the lives of both pets and people. These services include rescue operations, low or no-cost food and pet supplies, affordable veterinary care such as spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping; as well as fostering and adoption.

The unique strengths of our collective organizations create a synergistic ecosystem, ensuring we achieve greater results for our community when we collaborate. Facilitated by our coalition, this unified effort allows us to support an impressive number of pets and people annually, significantly reducing suffering and enhancing the quality of life across communities. Our member organizations truly are the foundation of animal stewardship in our region.