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Programs + Results
What We Aim to Solve
February Star Sanctuary strives to improve the overall health and quality of life for horses and cats. Some of the issues our programs address are animal abandonment, animal abuse, cat overpopulation and the high numbers of animal intake and euthanasia.
In the U.S., approximately 3.4 million cats are abandoned each year and nearly 40% of those abandoned cats are euthanized. While some cats get lucky and adopted into loving families, others are left on the streets, contributing to the overpopulation crisis in their communities. Overpopulation furthers the vicious cycle of forced euthanasia and an overall decline in the health and quality of life of cats in the U.S.
Horses are one of the four most commonly abused, neglected and abandoned animals in the U.S.. There are over 200,000 “unwanted” horses per year - not including the thousands of unreported cases of neglect and abuse. While some horses are fortunate enough to find a home thanks to a rehabilitation or rescue organization, many are sent to slaughter simply for being "unwanted."
Our Programs
Equine Adoption and Sanctuary
February Star Sanctuary prioritizes finding rescued horses a loving forever home. While we are often successful in that endeavor, FSS is also a permanent refuge and safe haven for horses.
Our skilled staff provides rehabilitation, treatment and the loving care these horses deserve. If you are interested in adopting a horse from FSS and providing a loving forever home, please check out our Horse Page.
Barn Cat Adoption and Sanctuary
We are a permanent refuge to around 80 barn/feral cats and always have cats in need of homes. If you are interested in adopting a cat from FSS and providing a loving forever home, please check out our Cats Page.
Trap-Neuter-Return Program
FSS' Trap-Neuter-Return program assists in the humane control of the growing community cat population in Frederick County, Maryland through spaying and neutering efforts, vaccine administration, FIV/FeLV testing, ear-tipping and returning, rehoming, and/or providing sanctuary to community cats. Additionally, our TNR program includes an educational component: creating awareness of our organization, sharing ways others can assist in preventing cat overpopulation, providing tools to work toward a community-oriented solution and instructing current and potential pet owners on responsible pet ownership. Overall, we seek to stabilize and decrease the stray and feral cat population through cost-effective strategies, see a decline in intake and euthanasia and improve the overall health and quality of life for vulnerable cats.
Caring for Cats of the Homeless
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, approximately 10% of people experiencing homelessness have at least one pet, and in some areas, that figure is as high as 24%. A majority of homeless shelters do not allow pets, leaving people to make a difficult decision between staying with their animal companion or seeking services and accommodations from a shelter.
February Star Sanctuary understands the bond between owners and their pets, and therefore, is partnering with human service agencies to provide temporary shelter for cats of homeless individuals and families. Our program helps those experiencing homelessness rest assured that their animals are being well-taken care of, as they seek services to improve their living situation.
FSS organizes the pickup of cats and brings them to our sanctuary. While cats are on-site, our staff and volunteers coordinate thorough wellness exams, provide preventative medicine to address acute and chronic medical issues and deliver nutritious food. We are committed to providing these cats a temporary home until their owner has received the necessary assistance and resources and/or is in a position to take their companion with them to an eligible shelter. In order to offer effective community outreach, there is no cost for participants in this program.
Community Outreach
February Star Sanctuary has a variety of community outreach programs structured to correspond with our pillar programs. Community outreach programs include educational seminars at community centers, sanctuary tours, social media, physical marketing and participation at an array of trade shows year-round.
Shelter Statistics
Guidestar
FSS Earned a 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency by adding information to our Nonprofit Profile on Guidestar. By sharing these life-saving metrics, we are helping the sector move beyond financial ratios to assess nonprofit progress. Check out our profile https://www.guidestar.org/PUT/Overview/9454233
Shelter Animals Count Reports
FSS is participating with Shelter Animals Count to help turn data into life. Shelter Animals Count is a new, collaborative initiative to create and share a national database of shelter animal statistics that will provide facts and enable insights that can save lives. Each month, February Star Sanctuary updates this data we submit to Shelter Animals Count.
GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal
