First ever animal rescue summit held in Del.

About 100 animal rescue organizations and independent rescuers came together this afternoon in Delaware for the first ever animal rescue summit.

The purpose was to create a network and tackle some of the issues these organizations face while caring for animals by experts offering tips.

One of the biggest challenges rescue organizations face is financing, according to Nancy Muller.

Muller is the president and founder of One Dog More, a registered non-profit operating out of her Dover home. Her organization helps arrange 100 adoptions each year on average.

“We take in surrenders, we take in dogs from different shelters, from the area,” she explains.

According to Shauna McVey, program coordinator at the Office of Animal Welfare in Delaware (“OAW”) there are six animal shelters in the state; however, there’s no concrete number for rescue organizations like Muller’s.

“Animal rescues operate more on the ground,” Explains McVey. “It may be the woman that sees a cat outside and needs to get it spayed and neutered. It could be people that just want to get together and save dogs.”

OAW executive director Hetti Brown says the state of Delaware does provide limited grants to animal rescuers that are registered as a non-profit through the IRS and work with the state’s spay and neuter program.

Brown notes a lot of organizations operate by paying out of pocket and through private donations, which does not come cheap.

According to Muller, one of their biggest costs is medical.

“We’ve treated many dogs that have mange. This year alone we have rescued four dogs that have legs amputated, we’ve had a few that have had cancerous tumors,” Muller tells 47ABC. “That’s a big expense.”

Brown says sometimes financial help can be gained through free resources.

“Get out there, let the community know who you are and the great work that you’re doing,” says Brown. “That can be done through free mechanisms like social media, websites, getting out and doing community events.”

Muller says rescue organizations also need to focus on helping each other out.

“We [One Dog More] are more than happy to help other rescues if they have a dog that is in need or if they need food, anything that anybody needs,” she says. “I think everybody should work together.”

For more information on grants available through the state of Delaware, click here.