The Pegasus Foundation 2002 Annual Report



INTRODUCTION


The Pegasus Foundation, established in 1997, is a private independent foundation that supports animal and environmental protection programs. 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. Beyond grantmaking, the Foundation serves as a catalyst to help non-profit organizations achieve their potential by 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; rather, it focuses attention on animal and environmental protection programs with which the Foundation has developed a personal connection.


SUMMARY OF 2002 ACTIVITIES


In 2002, the Pegasus Foundation maintained funding for a limited number of existing programs. It also continued to build partnerships and develop new programs. The Foundation issued a total of $193,000 in grants during 2002 to 14 programs in three broad issue areas: wildlife and habitat protection, companion animal programs, and education and outreach. The following report highlights some of these efforts.


WILDLIFE AND HABITAT PROTECTION


The Pegasus Foundation supported three wildlife protection programs: manatees in Florida, the bison herd of Yellowstone National Park, and all wildlife of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Foundation also provided funding to two programs that preserve wildlife habitat in Florida and on Cape Cod.


Florida Manatees

The Pegasus Foundation continued to coordinate a coalition of environmental and animal protection organizations working to protect manatees in Florida. The Foundation also monitored the implementation of the 2001 settlement agreements reached in lawsuits filed by the coalition against the United States and Florida state governments for failing to implement existing manatee protection laws.

Pegasus provided funding to the Wildlife Advocacy Project, which conducted extensive public briefings and garnered media coverage to increase the level of awareness about and citizen involvement in the manatee issue.

These various efforts led to several advances in manatee protection in 2002, including the establishment of 15 new federal manatee refuges and sanctuaries and 10 new manatee protection zones throughout Florida. For the first time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations to further protect manatees. These added protections for manatees were particularly significant at a time when many other environmental regulations were weakened.


Yellowstone Bison

The Pegasus Foundation helped to organize a new coalition in 2002 to protect the bison of Yellowstone National Park, located in northwest Wyoming on the Montana border. These bison are protected inside the Park. But once outside Yellowstone borders, they can be shot and killed by the Montana Department of Livestock because of a perceived threat of bison spreading brucellosis to cattle. Many organizations tried to resolve this situation, but not all were coordinating their efforts. Pegasus provided funding to bring the groups together in June to begin discussing how they can work together.

More than 15 organizations comprise the new coalition, the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Alliance. The Alliance is developing common principles, goals, objectives and strategies to protect the bison; its primary goal is to protect and promote free-ranging bison and other wildlife as an essential component of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Other goals include publicizing the issue to a broader national audience and working with government officials to change existing policies.

The Foundation also provided funds to the Buffalo Field Campaign, a grassroots organization working in the field to protect the Yellowstone bison.


Cape Cod Wildlife

The Pegasus Foundation continued to fund the Cape Cod Stranding Network, an organization formed to respond to marine mammals stranded on the shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Foundation’s executive director also served on the Cape Cod Stranding Network Board. In addition to assisting 275 stranded marine animals in 2002, the Network researched causes of strandings and provided public education on the issue.

The Foundation provided ongoing support to the wildlife advocacy program of the Humane Society of the United States’ Cape Wildlife Center. As part of the program, a wildlife advocate educated both the public and policy makers about humane, non-lethal solutions to wildlife issues. In 2002, the wildlife advocacy program successfully raised media and public attention about Cape Cod wildlife and habitat issues, both on a local and national level.


COMPANION ANIMALS


The Pegasus Foundation maintained funding for companion animal spay/neuter programs in economically challenged areas, with a focus on the Caribbean and the Navajo Nation. Other companion animal grants were issued to programs involved in animal emergency planning on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; spaying and neutering feral cats in Florida; and rescuing neglected horses in Massachusetts and Florida.


Spay/Neuter Programs in the Bahamas and Caribbean

In November 2002, Foundation staff conducted a site visit to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia to observe a model spay/neuter program that had received a Pegasus grant. More than 325 stray animals were sterilized by the end of 2002, thanks to a partnership with St. Lucia veterinarians, a local animal welfare group, and an international team of volunteer veterinarians. International Veterinary Assistance provided the volunteer veterinarians, while St. Lucia Animal Protection Society volunteers captured the stray animals. St. Lucia veterinarians provided clinic space and expertise, and local businesses provided meals and housing for the international volunteers. International Veterinary Assistance hopes to take this model program to other Caribbean islands in 2003.

Pegasus also provided funding to Global Wildlife Resources, which assisted the Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in its ongoing work to provide humane solutions for the Caribbean country’s wild and stray dog problem.

In an effort to expand support of animal welfare programs in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, the Pegasus Foundation issued a request in September for proposals for companion animal spay/neuter services. The Foundation received many responses and will fund a number of these new programs in 2003.


Animal Welfare Programs on the Navajo Nation

The Pegasus Foundation continued its effort to address animal overpopulation issues on the Navajo Nation, a 27,000 square-mile Native American nation located within portions of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Throughout 2002, the Foundation worked with the Navajo Nation Veterinary Program and a team of service providers that operate mobile veterinary clinics throughout the Nation. In 2002, more than 3,500 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered.

Pegasus provided ongoing funds for a staff person who conducted Navajo community outreach and coordinated a program to transport Navajo puppies to Phoenix for adoption. Regular conference calls with all involved partners and an October site visit led to increased coordination among the various organizations working on Navajo animal welfare issues. In addition to staff support, the Foundation provided grants to the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program and Plateauland Mobile Veterinary Clinic for their spay/neuter services.


Cape Cod Animal Emergency Planning

Recent disasters have demonstrated the importance of including animals in disaster planning. When people refuse to evacuate their homes without their animals, they endanger lives. Animals abandoned during disasters are often left without sufficient food and water, and frightened animals that run away after being left alone end up either lost or filling animal shelters to overflow capacity.

In order to address the need to include animals in overall disaster planning efforts on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Pegasus Foundation funded a consultant to bring together animal care agencies with disaster planning officials. The resulting Cape Emergency Animal Planning Team began meeting in the spring of 2002 to develop animal emergency plans.

Through a survey, the team identified 37 shelters throughout Cape Cod as potential sites to house animals in the event of an emergency. Team members also met with Cape animal control officers to determine each town's various needs and to provide training on developing animal emergency plans. The team’s work throughout the year culminated in a September seminar, “Introductions to Animals in Disasters,” for government agencies, businesses and organizations that deal with either animal issues or emergency response. Plans for 2003 include developing a prototype animal emergency plan that can be modified for use by individual communities.


EDUCATION AND OUTREACH


The Pegasus Foundation increased 2002 funding for programs that provide education and outreach on animal and environmental protection issues. Grants supported an international animal protection conference, the Compassionate Traveler program, and the Environmental Leadership Institute operated by the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation launched a new fund for individual donors to support animal protection issues and helped organize meetings with other funders.


Island Nations Conference

The Foundation provided funding to the Humane Society International to organize and implement a one-day conference, “Challenges of Animal Protection on Island Nations.” The April conference, which drew 80 attendees from 30 countries, was held in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Care Expo in Miami Beach, Florida. Participants discussed case studies and animal protection efforts on islands around the world.


Compassionate Traveler

Pegasus continued its support of the Compassionate Traveler program through funding and through increased staff involvement. Compassionate Traveler has two primary goals: 1) to share information on animal issues at tourist destinations, and 2) to provide simple action steps travelers can take to help animals in need. A redesigned Compassionate Traveler Web site was launched in 2002, and monthly E-mail alerts on animal issues continue to be distributed to a growing number of subscribers.


Caring Circle for Animals

In late 2002, the Pegasus Foundation and Fleet Bank Private Clients Group launched the Caring Circle for Animals, a joint initiative to generate new funding for animal protection efforts. Through the Caring Circle, donors deposit contributions into the Fleet Boston Charitable Gift Fund account in the name of the Caring Circle for Animals. They then have the opportunity to meet with other Caring Circle donors to decide as a group how their pooled funds will be spent. The Caring Circle gives donors a say in spending a larger pool of charitable funds than if they gave individually to non-profits. Donors also are able to introduce others to their favorite charities and to learn about new opportunities for giving through other Caring Circle donors.


Funders Meetings

In November, the Pegasus Foundation convened a meeting of Florida Funders for Animal Welfare and the Environment in North Palm Beach. This gathering was the first of its kind, and it has helped launch additional meetings of these grantmakers. The Foundation also co-hosted the July meeting of Marine Mammal Funders in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In addition, Pegasus actively participated in member meetings and activities of the Environmental Grantmakers Association, Animal Grantmakers, and Rachel's Network.


Complete List of 2002 Grantees



GOALS FOR 2003


The Pegasus Foundation’s primary goals for 2003 are to:

Continue to participate in the development and management of the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Alliance.

Sustain the coordination of the manatee coalition, explore and develop additional effective strategies for increasing manatee protection and expanding public awareness, and continue to develop support from governmental entities and other funders.

Continue to work with the Compassionate Traveler coordinator to further expand the program and increase public awareness.

Expand communications with and support of animal welfare organizations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Work with Fleet Bank to increase awareness of and funding for the Caring Circle for Animals.

Support the evolution of the newly initiated Florida Funders for the Environment and Animal Welfare gatherings and continue to encourage and expand collaboration among Florida funders.

Assist in the development of the Caring Fields Animal Sanctuary in Martin County, Florida.


PEGASUS FOUNDATION CONTACT INFORMATION


Pegasus Foundation Program Offices:

27 Merrimack Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-225-3918
Fax: 603-225-4624

1000 Main Street
P.O. Box 79
West Barnstable, MA 02668
Phone: 508-375-6355
Fax: 603-225-4624

167 Third Avenue North
Naples, FL 34102
Phone: 239-403-7979
Fax: 239-436-1023


Pegasus Foundation Staff:

Peter A. Bender, Executive Director, pbender@pegasusfoundation.org
Cynthia Frisch, Florida Representative, cfrisch@pegasusfoundation.org
Anne Ostberg, Communications Director/Program Officer, aostberg@pegasusfoundation.org


Pegasus Foundation Trustees:

Peter A. Bender, The Pegasus Foundation, Concord, New Hampshire
David Fitts, Esq., Day, Berry & Howard, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts
Steve Ziobrowski, Esq., Day, Berry & Howard, LLP, Boston, Massachusetts
George Malloy, C.P.A., P.C., Wellfleet, Massachusetts


The Pegasus Foundation
c/o Day, Berry & Howard, LLP
260 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

www.pegasusfoundation.org

Pegasus Foundation 2002 Annual Report
February 22, 2003




It is the policy of the Pegasus Foundation to avoid using language that accepts the current concept of animals as property, commodities and/or things. Rather than refer to "owners" of animals we share our lives with, we now refer to "guardians." In the same spirit, we refer to animals as "he" or "she" rather than "it." Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. We urge you to do the same.