The Pegasus Foundation, established in 1997, is a private independent foundation committed to protection of the earth and all living creatures. The Foundation believes that all forms of life warrant compassion and respect and that human beings must strive to make the world a more humane place for all living things.

The Pegasus Foundation has adopted a strategy of engaged philanthropy. The Foundation serves as a catalyst to help non-profit organizations achieve their potential through forming partnerships, building capacity, leveraging resources, and educating the public. Pegasus Foundation grantees are encouraged to include all communities and all peoples in developing collaborative partnerships that will lead to lasting change. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals but instead focuses on environmental and animal protection projects with which we have developed a personal connection.

SUMMARY OF 2001 ACTIVITIES

The Pegasus Foundation focused its grantmaking in 2001 on fewer programs as part of our goal to work leaner and smarter. 2001 activities extended well beyond grantmaking to include program development, consulting services to non-profits, and coordination of manatee protection efforts in Florida. The Pegasus Foundation issued a total of $159,300 in 2001 to 12 programs in three major areas: wildlife protection, companion animal programs, and land conservation.

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

Manatee Protection

The Pegasus Foundation continued one of its most ambitious initiatives to save endangered manatees in Florida. With loss of habitat from increasing coastal development and an estimated total population of only 3200, manatees remain challenged by the threat of extinction. Manatee deaths in 2001 increased to 325; 81 of those were attributed to collisions with powerboats.

In an effort to stop the ongoing destruction of the species, the Foundation helped fund a grassroots organizer who has been instrumental in developing a network of more than 500 citizen activists committed to protecting manatees. These activists present testimony at public hearings, write letters to government officials, and contact local media to publicize the manatees' losing battle against Florida's 860,000 powerboats.

The Foundation continued monitoring the implementation of the settlement agreements reached last year in lawsuits filed against the United States and Florida state governments for failing to implement existing manatee protection laws. Pegasus also supported ongoing communication and initiatives among members of the coalition that filed the lawsuits.

Plans for 2002 include broadening public awareness and advocacy efforts, expanding media coverage nationally, and further developing boater education initiatives.



Buffalo Field Campaign

For the fourth year, the Pegasus Foundation supported the Buffalo Field Campaign in its efforts to protect the Yellowstone National Park buffalo. The buffalo are at risk of being killed once they leave park borders because they pose a perceived threat of spreading brucellosis to cattle. Pegasus funds helped cover direct expenses of more than 340 field volunteers who document buffalo hazings and killings on videotape. As part of ongoing efforts to increase awareness of this complex issue, the Foundation sent a freelance writer to Montana in March to produce a balanced report for national publication.


Cape Cod Stranding Network

The Cape Cod Stranding Network, also funded for the fourth year by the Pegasus Foundation, continued its three-pronged mission: 1) responding to marine mammals that become stranded on the shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; 2) researching the causes of strandings; and 3) providing public education for stranding volunteers and others about humane care of stranded mammals. The Network responded to almost 700 reports of strandings throughout Cape Cod in 2001.


Cape Cod Wildlife Advocate

The Pegasus Foundation provided a grant to the Humane Society of the United States' Cape Wildlife Center to support a wildlife advocate position. The advocate monitors wildlife and habitat protection policy on Cape Cod and helps implement community outreach programs. In 2001, the advocate also developed print materials and worked with local media to educate the public on managing human-wildlife conflict.

COMPANION ANIMAL PROGRAMS

Companion Animal Spay-Neuter Program in the Caribbean

Stray dogs and cats in the Caribbean are an increasing problem for residents and tourists alike. Stray animals must forage for food, seeking out dumpsters near hotels, restaurants and resorts. In their struggle to survive, they spread diseases, threaten native species of birds and mammals, and decrease the quality of life for island residents.

The Pegasus Foundation is now funding initiatives on three island nations: the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos, and St. Lucia. Each initiative varies in its stage of development, and each employs a unique model to achieve the same goal of humanely reducing stray animal populations.


Bahamas:

From 1999 through 2001, a total of 850 stray dogs and cats were spayed and neutered through a series of seven clinics held on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Project Potcake was declared successful when it was estimated that breeding dogs on the island had been reduced by 75 percent.

Several partners implemented Project Potcake: the Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), Abaco Animals Require Friends (AARF), and Humane Society International, along with funding partners: the Pegasus Foundation, the Summerlee Foundation, and private donors. Local media provided publicity before and during the clinics, volunteers canvassed neighborhoods to line up animals for sterilization, and local veterinarians performed the surgeries.

The majority of people contacted during the October 2001 clinic said their animals had already been spayed or neutered at previous clinics. As a result of the reduced pool of reproductive dogs, future clinics only need be held once a year to maintain the current dog population on Great Abaco Island.


Turks and Caicos:

Estimates of the stray population on Providenciales, the largest island of the Turks and Caicos chain, range up to 2000 stray dogs. Past governmental responses to the wild dogs have included shooting and poisoning them. A 2001 government proposal would have introduced canine distemper to the islands as a method to reduce the population.

The Pegasus Foundation responded by funding an assessment of how best to resolve the situation. The assessment, conducted by Wildlife Veterinary Resources (WVR) and the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, resulted in a proposal to fund a more humane response. With a plan in hand, the Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) convinced the government to help fund the humane approach.

In late 2001, WVR implemented the first phase of the Wild Dog Project with field assistance from the Humane Society International. In one month, 370 free-ranging dogs were captured. Seventy dogs with collars (indicating they were owned) were transported to local veterinarians for spaying or neutering. The remaining 300 dogs without collars were humanely euthanized within moments of their capture. Community education and outreach led to an additional 113 dogs brought in for sterilization. The TCSPCA paid local veterinarians for their services, so island residents paid nothing.

WVR educated the community about the need to spay and neuter animals through presentations at schools and civic club meetings, and through media interviews with radio stations and newspapers. Since the completion of the first phase of the Wild Dog Project, locally trained islanders continue to capture wild dogs, and additional dogs have been sterilized. Tentative plans for 2002 call for bringing mobile spay-neuter clinics to the Turks and Caicos to carry on the work begun by WVR and the TCSPCA.


St. Lucia:

An integrated stray animal initiative for the island nation of St. Lucia was launched in November 2001 with the first spay-neuter clinic. The initiative includes four main components: 1) spay-neuter clinics, with a goal of treating up to 1500 stray cats and dogs over a three-year period; 2) community education on animal welfare issues; 3) continuing education for resident veterinarians in St. Lucia; and 4) development of an infrastructure to sustain these programs. Three partners developed the initiative: International Veterinary Assistance (IVA), the St. Lucia Animal Protection Society (SLAPS), and local veterinarians.

With the first clinic, the partners succeeded in assembling an international veterinary team and designing a model that can be replicated throughout the course of the project. In addition to in-kind donations from two large international organizations, Pfizer, Inc. and the World Society for the Protection of Animals, more than 20 veterinarians, consultants, and suppliers provided supplies and services, and more than a dozen service companies donated transportation, accommodations, and meals. Three additional clinics are planned for 2002.


Companion Animal Spay-Neuter Program on the Navajo Nation

The Foundation continued its support of the stray animal spay-neuter program on the Navajo Nation. For the first time, four organizations providing spay-neuter services began to coordinate schedules to avoid overlapping clinics. More than 1500 dogs and cats were sterilized through the program in 2001.

In addition to funding spay-neuter services, the Pegasus Foundation provided a grant for a coordinator position to assist the director of the Navajo Nation Veterinary and Livestock Program. The coordinator will direct community outreach on the spay-neuter program and re-establish a puppy adoption program.

The Foundation also participated in a Navajo Nation-sponsored First Strike Conference in May that explored the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence. Prominent speakers included Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye and Dr. Randall Lockwood of the Humane Society of the United States. The conference also resulted in a first-time collection of related data from across the Nation, including police reports of domestic violence, dog bite numbers, and other animal and human violence statistics.


Other Companion Animal Initiatives

The Pegasus Foundation provided continuing support to a feral cat program in Florida and facilitated discussions to coordinate mobile spay-neuter services in Martin County and surrounding communities.

Initial steps also were taken to implement the Cape Cod Animal Disaster Planning Project. This project is designed to work with disaster planning agencies to ensure that companion animals are included in emergency response plans. A half-day training conference was held in June, and Pegasus funded a consultant to implement the project.

LAND CONSERVATION

Martin County Regional Land Trust

The Martin County Regional Land Trust (MCRLT) has permanently protected almost 1500 acres of land since being launched by the Pegasus Foundation in 1998. An additional 4400 acres are in the process of being protected.

In 2001, MCRLT obtained $5.6 million in state funds from the Florida Communities Trust to preserve the Delaplane Peninsula. This 68-acre tract on the shores of the St. Lucie River was featured in the film, The African Queen.

In other activities, the land trust took a lead role to preserve the historic Okeechobee battlefield, the site of the largest battle of the Second Seminole War. MCRLT also continues to be a leader in promoting use of land conservation options statewide.


Other Land Conservation Initiatives

As a result of past Foundation support of the National Audubon Society's Wildlife Refuge Campaign to expand protected lands for wildlife, the U.S. Department of the Interior released $3.5 million in 2001 to purchase conservation easements for up to 48,000 acres in Montana's Centennial Valley. The 40-mile long Centennial Valley includes a vast wetlands area that is home to a multitude of bird species.

The Florida Land Trust Network, an initiative started by the Pegasus Foundation, held its fourth annual conference in June. The Foundation remained active in the Everglades Coalition, which achieved remarkable strides forward in 2001 in permanently protecting this unique ecosystem. Additionally, Pegasus helped fund the Florida Conservation Project through the International Wildlife Coalition.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Compassionate Traveler

Compassionate Traveler, a Pegasus-funded program of the International Wildlife Coalition, continued to develop as a tool to inform tourists and the travel industry of animal welfare issues at vacation destinations. Two consultants were hired to research Compassionate Traveler stories for the Web site and to distribute monthly E-mail alerts. In addition to continued funding, the Pegasus Foundation has committed additional staff time to expand the program in 2002. Compassionate Traveler will focus efforts on highlighting travel destinations within the United States and in the Caribbean.


Island Nations Conference

After developing the concept of an island nations animal welfare conference, the Pegasus Foundation provided significant funding to the Humane Society International, which will host the event in Miami on April 2, 2002. Pegasus funding helped provide scholarships to participants needing assistance. Two Foundation grantees are scheduled to present their work at the meeting.

PARTNERS AND MEMBERSHIPS

The Pegasus Foundation has made partnership building an integral part of how we operate in the communities we serve. A complete list of partners can be found on our Web site.

In 2001, the Foundation joined Rachel's Network, a group of women environmental funders. Pegasus also is an active member of the Environmental Grantmakers Association, Animal Grantmakers, the Marine Mammals Funders Group, the Everglades Coalition, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Marine Mammal Protection Coalition, and Americans for National Parks.

Complete List of 2001 Grantees

PLANS FOR 2002

The Pegasus Foundation will maintain the policy first implemented in 2001 of issuing larger grants to fewer programs. We will continue to work with challenged organizations, developing their infrastructure and funding until they become sustainable. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to seek out "lost causes" that have been abandoned by others and actively engage in developing solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.

We also will strive to continually improve upon our goal to conduct business in a manner that is consistent with our environmental philosophy: reduce paper waste by increasing electronic communications, conduct business by E-mail and conference calls, travel only when necessary, use recycled products whenever possible, and use other natural resources responsibly.

Wildlife: Wildlife protection funding will continue to concentrate on manatees in Florida, with a focus on broadening public awareness and advocacy efforts, expanding media coverage nationally, and further developing boater education initiatives. Other wildlife funding will be dedicated to protecting buffalo in Montana and all wildlife on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Companion Animals: Pegasus companion animal program funding will maintain its focus on spay-neuter programs in the Caribbean and Florida, and on the Navajo Nation in the southwestern United States.

Other Programs: The Foundation will place a renewed emphasis on developing the Compassionate Traveler program, including its network of supporters and its Web site.

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