Category: news

The Cannoli Fund receives grant from San Antonio Area Foundation

Funding will help ensure a no-kill community in King William and Lavaca

The Cannoli Fund has received an $8,000 grant from The Aid to Helpless Animals Trust and Frances Margaret Seaver Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. This generous grant award will support our general operations and allow us the flexibility to direct money where it is most needed. We will be able to continue to provide resources and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats living in King William and Lavaca. Since our inception, we have helped over 1,370 dogs and cats through our portfolio of programs, such as:

• SOS (Save Our Strays) covers all veterinary medical expenses for qualifying dogs and cats rescued from the street.
• Cannolicare provides financial assistance to residents for medical care of companion dogs and cats, including spay/neuter.
• Community Cat Carpool provides humane trapping and transportation for feral or community cats to be fixed, vaccinated, and ear-tipped at local clinics, free of charge.
• Cannoli’s Kitchen provides monthly delivery of pet food to residents, often to those caring for community cat colonies.

“The Area Foundation supports the resiliency and livability of communities through the generosity of our donors. On their behalf, we are pleased to help the King William and Lavaca neighborhoods through The Cannoli Fund,” said Marjie French, CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation.

The Cannoli Fund is grateful to The Aid to Helpless Animals Trust and Frances Margaret Seaver Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation for supporting our dedication to improving the lives of dogs and cats in the King William and Lavaca neighborhoods.

About the San Antonio Area Foundation

The San Antonio Area Foundation has served as the sole, designated community foundation for the San Antonio area for over half a century, growing to become one of the top 20 foundations in the nation based on asset size. The Area Foundation helps donors achieve their charitable goals, managing more than 500 charitable funds approaching $1 billion in assets. Coordinating efforts with numerous area nonprofits, the Area Foundation serves as a collaborative leader, connecting donors to address key community issues and investing in our future. Since 1964, over $400 million for scholarships and grants have been awarded to enhance the quality of life in our region. Learn more about your community foundation at saafdn.org.

About The Cannoli Fund

The Cannoli Fund is an all-volunteer organization formed in 2011 to improve the lives of companion and community dogs and cats in the King William and Lavaca neighborhoods of San Antonio by controlling the population through providing advice, resources, transportation and financial assistance for spaying and neutering of dogs and cats; assisting with medical expenses for dogs and cats in need; and educating the community on the humane treatment of animals.

2019 Fiesta Medals Cat Dog

Dog & Cat 2019 Fiesta medals include bonus lapel pins

The Cannoli Fund's 2019 Dog and Cat Fiesta Medals

Buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop or on eBay!

The Cannoli Fund’s dog and cat 2019 Fiesta medals feature two pets who benefited from our free wellness programs. Each colorful Fiesta medal hangs from a ribbon featuring an enamel lapel pin which can be removed and worn separately at any time of year!

All proceeds from the sale of these medals support our all-volunteer nonprofit’s mission of improving the lives and controlling the population of stray and owned King William and Lavaca pets. Since 2011, The Cannoli Fund has provided free services to nearly 1,200 neighborhood cats and dogs.

These 2019 Fiesta medals including the bonus lapel pins are only $10 each. Buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop or on eBay!

Buy 2019 Fiesta Medals locally

Our 2019 Fiesta medals with bonus lapel pins are available for only $10 each at Alamo Dog and Cat Hospital, City Veterinary Hospital, Elevate Dental, HUB MRKT, the King William Association office, Pig Liquors, and South Alamode. They’re available at the Fiesta Store on Broadway for $12/each.

The Cannoli Fund’s 2019 Dog Fiesta Medal

Sophie, a fluffy golden brown mutt, stars on the 2019 dog medal. A stray, Sophie had been living under and around the school buses in the Brackenridge High School parking lot for several weeks. Over that time several neighbors had tried, unsuccessfully, to coax her out, but she was too frightened to trust them. When she moved under a nearby house, the couple restoring the house slowly gained her trust and eventually she emerged. It was a long process to help Sophie overcome her fears, which included being inside and walking on a leash. Their patience has been rewarded, and Sophie is now a loving family member who enjoys long walks, treats, and spending time with her canine and human family. Our SOS/Cannolicare program covered all her veterinary, spay and microchipping expenses. Sophie’s medal’s bonus enamel lapel pin depicting one of our Cannoli’s Canteen neighborhood pet water bowls.

The Cannoli Fund’s 2019 Cat Fiesta Medal

The 2019 Cat Fiesta Medal features an adorable Siamese mix kitten named Bandit. Bandit and his four siblings were born to a friendly stray cat who had recently been taken inside by a neighbor. As soon as they were big enough, all five kittens took our free Community Cat Carpool to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Bandit’s mom had been spayed a few weeks earlier. Not surprisingly, Bandit’s rescuer and her daughter decided to keep him, and found great homes for his siblings. Bandit’s bonus lapel pin features our “Big C” logo on a teal paw print with a bright green edge.

Thursday, April 18: Find us at Pin Pandemonium at Fiesta Fiesta from 3 – 8 pm.

We’ll be selling our 2019 Fiesta medals at the King William Fair‘s Ilse’s Attic Fair Merchandise booth on Saturday, April 27. The booth is located at the corner of Turner and King William Streets in King William Park.

All proceeds support our free programs which include Cannolicare/SOS grants for veterinary care, the Community Cat Carpool, Spay/Neuter Reimbursement, Cannoli’s Kitchen monthly pet food delivery, Cannoli’s Canteen neighborhood pet water bowls, microchip scanning for found animals, and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. ¡Viva Fiesta!

SAAF grant

San Antonio Area Foundation grant benefits Southtown strays

Funding for SOS (Save Our Strays) Program will help ensure a no-kill community in King William and Lavaca

The Cannoli Fund is pleased to announce that our Cannolicare SOS (Save Our Strays) program has received a $5,000 grant from The Aid to Helpless Animals Trust of the San Antonio Area Foundation. SOS helps to ensure a no-kill community by enabling King William and Lavaca neighbors to rescue stray dogs and cats wandering through, born in, or dumped in the area. This program is also open to others who rescue a stray within our King William and Lavaca service area. SOS pays for initial vetting costs to evaluate the health of a stray animal and perform routine and, if needed, specialized medical care so these animals can be placed in caring, permanent homes. Rescuing a stray, particularly one who is unhealthy, can be costly, and this program helps to remove that barrier to rescue.

SAAF grant

“The San Antonio Area Foundation worked diligently to help reduce the euthanasia rate of our dog and cat population in the area. Now that we are a no-kill city, it is wonderful to see a grassroots effort of residents maintaining that our status continues by creating a system of capturing and providing medical assistance for the stray population in their neighborhood. Their work ensures these animals can find forever homes. The Cannoli Fund is a solid example of what can be accomplished when neighbors lock arms,” said Rebecca “Becca” Brune, president and COO of the San Antonio Area Foundation.

SAAF grant

The Cannoli Fund is grateful to The Aid to Helpless Animals Trust of the San Antonio Area Foundation for supporting our dedication to improving the lives of stray dogs and cats.

About the San Antonio Area Foundation

The San Antonio Area Foundation has served as the sole, designated community foundation for the San Antonio area for over half a century, growing to become one of the Top 20 foundations in the nation based on asset size. The Area Foundation helps donors achieve their charitable goals, managing more than 500 charitable funds approaching $1 billion in assets. Coordinating efforts with numerous area nonprofits, the Area Foundation serves as a collaborative leader, connecting donors to address key community issues and investing in our future. Since 1964, over $400 million for scholarships and grants have been awarded to enhance the quality of life in our region. Learn more about your community foundation at saafdn.org.

About The Cannoli Fund

The Cannoli Fund is an all-volunteer organization formed in 2011 to improve the lives of companion and community dogs and cats in the King William and Lavaca neighborhoods of San Antonio by controlling the population through providing advice, resources, transportation and financial assistance for spaying and neutering of dogs and cats; assisting with medical expenses for dogs and cats in need; and educating the community on the humane treatment of animals.

2018 year in review

The Cannoli Fund for Dogs and Cats’ 2018 Year in Review

It was another great year for pets in King William and Lavaca! We provided free health and wellness services to 163 cats and 63 dogs, for a total of 226 animals during 2018! In King William, 118 animals participated in one or more of our programs, and in Lavaca, 108.

The Cannoli Fund provided for the spay/neuter and vaccination of 138 cats and dogs. Cannolicare/SOS provided monetary grants for important veterinary care for 62 cats and dogs.

Our Community Cat Carpool program, which traps and transports cats to and from a spay/neuter clinic, took 120 cats. We practice T-N-R, or Trap, Neuter, Return. It’s the only scientifically based method of controlling outdoor cat populations. Cats are trapped and driven in groups to a spay/neuter clinic. Each cat is sterilized, vaccinated, and their left ear is “tipped.” Tipping the left ear marks a cat as “fixed.” Medical care to treat conditions like mange, excessive fleas, or wounds is provided at the same time. Our Catmobile picks up the cats in the afternoon after surgery and they spend the night under our care. The next morning we return each cat to its colony. Not only can these outdoor cats no longer reproduce, nuisance behaviors like fighting, spraying, yowling, and wandering are greatly reduced or eliminated. This makes our neighborhoods better for both pets and people!

We used our microchip scanner to scan 38 cats and dogs for microchips. Just ten were microchipped but only eight chips had been registered with the owner’s contact information. In addition, we covered the cost of 32 microchips in animals who received other free services.

Our Cannoli’s Kitchen program, which provides pet food monthly, delivered over 6,000 pounds of pet food to 21 King William and Lavaca households who could use a little extra help feeding their pets or the colonies in their care.

As of December 31, 2018, we’ve helped 1,140 cats and dogs! We couldn’t do this without the time and efforts of our dedicated board, volunteers, supporters, and neighbors. Thank you!

Founded in 2011, The Cannoli Fund is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the greater King William and Lavaca neigborhoods of San Antonio, Texas. We work to improve the lives of area cats and dogs, both stray and owned. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

2018 fiesta medals

Cat and dog 2018 Fiesta medals celebrate San Antonio

El Chapo Cat Fiesta Medal The Cannoli FundStella 2018 The Cannoli Fund Fiesta MedalFiesta Medal Shop

Often imitated but never duplicated – our eighth annual Fiesta medals are here! All proceeds from the sale of these 2018 Fiesta medals support our all-volunteer nonprofit’s free programs to improve the lives and control the population of King William and Lavaca animals. Since 2011, The Cannoli Fund has provided free services to more than 1,000 cats and dogs!

Medals are $10 each. Buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop and on eBay. Find us at Pin Pandemonium at Fiesta Fiesta on April 19 and at the King William Fair‘s Ilse’s Attic Fair Merchandise booth on April 28.

They are also available at the King William Association office, Villa Finale, Pig Liquors, City Veterinary Hospital and Alamo Dog and Cat Hospital. Medals are also for sale at the Fiesta Store on Broadway for $12/each.

Our cat 2018 Fiesta Medal features Chapo, a handsome cat with a distinctive mustache and a winning personality. Chapo was one of three black and white kittens born to a feral mother in Lavaca and rescued by caring neighbors. Each kitten, their mother, and the rest of the members of their colony were spayed or neutered, and vaccinated through our free Cannolicare and Community Cat Carpool programs. Chapo won the heart of his rescuers and now lives inside with them. His siblings, Kawhi and Pico, were adopted together into another loving home. In honor of San Antonio’s Tricentennial, Chapo peers through the historic Rose Window at Mission San Jose, with a starry sky behind him. He wears a sash proclaiming “Spay/Neuter Pets,” a key component of our mission.

Stella, an energetic young black and white mixed breed, is our 2018 Fiesta dog medal model. Found along the San Antonio river near Mission Concepción, Stella had no ID tag, no microchip, and had not been spayed. Although it appeared that Stella had been on the streets for some time, she thankfully tested heartworm negative. Our Cannolicare program covered her vetting, vaccinations, and spaying. Stella is now a happy, healthy, and loving companion to her rescuer, now forever mom. Stella wears a yellow rose (of Texas) behind one ear and the San Antonio River flows behind her. Her bandana reads “SA 300” for San Antonio’s 2018 Tricentennial Celebration, “Fiesta 2018,” and “Spay and Neuter Pets.”

All proceeds support our free programs which include Cannolicare/SOS grants for veterinary care, the Community Cat Carpool, Spay/Neuter Reimbursement, Cannoli’s Kitchen monthly pet food delivery, Cannoli’s Canteen neighborhood pet water bowls, microchip scanning for found animals, and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. ¡Viva Fiesta!

2017 Statistics

2017: Our biggest year yet – 249 dogs and cats helped

The Cannoli Fund 2017 statistics
2017 was another record-breaking year for The Cannoli Fund. In our one-square-mile King William and Lavaca service area we provided free health and wellness services to 249 different animals: 175 cats and 74 dogs.

We funded the spay/neuter and vaccination of 153 cats and dogs – the majority of which were cats participating in our free Community Cat Carpool program. The Cannoli Fund practices T-N-R, or Trap, Neuter, Return, the only scientifically based method of humanely controlling outdoor cat populations. In our Community Cat Carpool, outdoor cats are humanely trapped and transported in groups of up to 8 to a spay/neuter clinic. Each cat is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and their left ear is “tipped” to mark them as sterilized. They also receive any additional medical care needed to treat conditions like mange, excessive fleas, or minor wounds. After the cats are picked up from the clinic, they spend the night in a humane trap under our care. The following morning they are returned to their colony, unable to reproduce.

Cannolicare provided monetary grants for veterinary care for 90 cats and dogs.

Our volunteers scanned 44 found cats and dogs for microchips – ten had chips.

Our Cannoli’s Kitchen program, which provides pet food monthly, delivered more than 4,800 of pet food to 15 area households.

Grand total of animals helped since our founding in mid-2011: 914! Thank you to everyone who made 2017 The Cannoli Fund’s best year yet – we couldn’t do it without the support of our dedicated board, volunteers, supporters, and neighbors.

Founded in 2011, The Cannoli Fund is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the greater King William and Lavaca neigborhoods of San Antonio, Texas. We work to improve the lives of area cats and dogs, both stray and owned. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Read stories of some of the animals we’ve helped at GreatNonprofits.