Gigi's lands $2M to expand its dog rescue strategy nationwide
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Gigi's uses vans to bring rural Ohio dogs to Columbus to find homes — and now is awarding grants to help other shelters and rescue groups follow that strategy. Photos: Courtesy of Gigi's
A nonprofit near Canal Winchester that helps homeless dogs get adopted faster has received $2 million to share its strategy across the nation.
Why it matters: Gigi's already moves 1,400 dogs a year out of rural Appalachian shelters into Columbus, and a donation from The Stanton Foundation will launch a grant program to significantly scale its impact.
Catch up quick: Gigi's opened in 2018, the brainchild of dog-loving Bexley philanthropists and named for their beloved Akita.
- It offers a unique solution to a supply-and-demand problem.
- Southern Ohio shelters have an oversupply of dogs, while Columbus has an abundance of people wanting to adopt one.
- The nonprofit reports it has helped more than 20,000 dogs since its launch.
How it works: Its 8-acre campus serves as a sort of waystation, where transported dogs stop briefly to receive veterinary care and behavioral evaluations.
- They then head to more in-demand shelters and rescues in Central Ohio, Cleveland and Dayton, or are adopted directly at Gigi's.
- This frees up space in rural Ohio, reducing costs, stress, disease and euthanasia.
- On average, shelter stays are reduced from about two months to two weeks, executive director Justin McKinniss tells Axios.
Stunning stat: Gigi's staff members drive three vans more than 41,000 miles annually.
Follow the money: The $2 million gift will help others follow Gigi's strategy by overcoming a major cost barrier.
- Gigi's will award 24 canine transport van grants worth $80,000 each over the next two years so rescues and shelters nationwide can purchase them.
- Selected recipients must follow the safety and stress-reduction protocols Gigi's has built and researched.
The big picture: Behavior care and shelter medicine research is a growing part of Gigi's mission, McKinniss says.
- It now offers behavior training to the public and low-cost veterinary care to partner rescues and shelters, in addition to its adoption efforts.
- The grants will continue expanding that footprint.
What they're saying: "One of the things we definitely want to make sure we're doing is growing programs that can benefit systems around the country and make them better," McKinniss says.
Stop by: 6175 Wright Road. Adoption hours are available Wednesday-Saturday.
