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John Callender works in an office that's for the birds, where there's always someone barking at him, acting catty or horsing around.
But despite all the commotion, his workplace is still the cat's meow. Callender, 56, is executive director of the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe.
The nonprofit center is dedicated to finding homes for unwanted pets, caring for sick animals, and bringing people and pets together through its various therapy programs.
And unlike other shelters, where animals are killed after three days, the center keeps its pets until they are adopted, whether it be a day or a year after they are brought in. In many ways, operating the center is like running a business, with one major exception: while half of its $3 million annual budget comes from revenues such as the veterinary hospital and Club Pet boarding center, the other half comes from donations.
"We're not selling a product, so managing the cash flow is very critical," Callender says. "When Helen Woodward was alive, she just paid for everything. Now, its a challenge raising money."
One of the most distasteful aspects of his job is fund raising.
"You're really begging for money and it gets tiring after awhile," he says. "Eventually, you get sick of always having your hand out. I can't say I enjoy doing it but it's a reality of life."
Part of the problem is that the center is in Rancho Santa Fe, where it is often perceived as being wealthy. In fact, the average donation to the center is $43, and last year, the center had 9,000 donors.
"We're trying to let the community know we need every dollar possible to run the center," Callender says. "Animal charities usually have low priorities with people. But many of our programs are of direct benefit to people."
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