One Bottom Line: Follow Instructions

A friend shared this: https://www.animalsheltering.org/magazine/articles/smart-moves-winning-grants

He opined that AnimalCare applicants already have it easy when applying for our aid (and I agree). All they have to do is to follow some instructions and once that is done, we pay.

Others don’t have it so easy.

But some of our applicants STILL complain.

For starters, I only have one statement to quote from the article:

The bottom line: You have to follow instructions.

We reject applications that do not adhere to our instructions and requirements. We have to because without an adherence to policies, all hell would break loose. We are accountable to donors and supporters to stick to our policies because donations have been given with the trust that it will be used as per policy.

Just a few days ago, a rather difficult applicant tried to submit an application where she did not have an ear-notch photo of the female animal, claiming that she did not know about it. Well, reluctance to refer to the policies is not an excuse. She reads and speaks English. “Not good with the internet” is also not an excuse anymore in this day and age.

No matter how old you are – you learn. If you are of sound mind, you can learn. If you are not willing to learn, you will be left behind. And that would be your fault. Nobody needs to bend the rules to accommodate someone who is not willing to learn when she is able to.

A few days ago too, someone tried to claim for the spaying of a pregnant cat, arguing that she “terlepas pandang”. We checked with the vet and it was confirmed that the applicant was told that the cat was pregnant, and yet, she tried to claim. We have banned her from future claims.

And of course we will always have those with the entitled mentality who think that a charitable organisation SHOULD give them money. Even when they don’t follow the rules? And why? Because they are so busy helping animals, they have no time to read policies, etc.

Should?

There is no such thing as  “should”.

We work very hard to earn the donations; we have been working very hard to establish trust by being very accountable and transparent in how donations are used. Come May, it will be ten years of running AnimalCare with strict adherence to our policies.

It is time we move up a few notches now and ask for yet greater accountability from the applicants.

A few weeks ago, we announced the project-based applications. We will be working on this concept where applicants would have to reveal their CNRM plans and also, provide updates to ensure that they are following the CNRM direction. This will have an impact on their next request.

Ultimately, it still boils down to following instructions.

If one wants to apply for aid from any organisation, one has to follow that organisation’s instructions. If one is not happy with the instructions, there is a very simple solution – don’t apply.

And change will keep happening. We have to evolve with the times. There will be policy changes. Not happy? Don’t apply.

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2019/04/02/one-bottom-line-follow-i..

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AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

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