The Simon Foundation • Contact the Simon Foundation • Visit the Simon Foundation website

ABOUT THE SIMON FOUNDATION

The following is directly from the Simon Foundation, on how the organization evolved. It is an example of how one person (or couple) can make a big difference in the lives of animals.

The Simon Foundation, Inc. was organized by Mark and Linda Greenberg in 2005 for the purpose of rescuing dogs and cats (and other animals if need be) who, if rescue cannot be arranged, would likely be killed. These animals come from municipal shelters and from individuals who have exhausted their options for placement, necessitated (at least in their minds) by divorce or separation, eviction, loss of homeowners insurance because of the breed of dog, or relocating to an apartment complex which prohibits animals.

The mission started very modestly by our adopting a dog which needed rescue; within two years we had seven such pets. We could not keep taking these rescue animals to our home permanently, so started the process of arranging adoptions. At first we accomplished this by word of mouth and posters, a process that was slow and inefficient. The animals kept on coming, so we moved to a larger property suited to the care of more dogs.

In 2006 we received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. Not only could donations to the foundation then be tax deductible, but new venues opened to us. We were able to join petfinder.com and other internet sites to list our dogs for adoption. As a result, the pace of adoptions picked up markedly. During the last two weeks in November 2007 we were able to place ten dogs in loving homes. Of course, the more dogs we place, the more we can save.

Due to the increasing pace of adoptions and the growing reputation of the foundation we decided to search for property to construct a state-of-the-art rescue facility. After a year we found 22 acres in Bloomfield, Connecticut and permits were secured for construction of the facility, which included a variance since this use had previously been prohibited. The architectural plans for the facility provide for 35,500 square feet of space, including over 110 kennel homes for the dogs, cat condos, training rooms which simulate the home environment, bathing and grooming facilities, and a veterinarian’s office.

The Simon Foundation • Contact the Simon Foundation • Visit the Simon Foundation website