The Better Together Animal Alliance received a $10,520 grant from the Innovia Foundation to help fund its pet helpline.

“Within our Innovia families, we adore and cherish our beloved pets,” said Innovia Foundation CEO Shelly O’Quinn. “We applaud the good work and tireless efforts of BTAA on behalf of our animal friends.”

BTAA’s helpline offers support when pet owners face tough pet situations. The helpline offers advice, help with medical care, supplies, pet food, and sometimes help with rehoming a pet when it’s the best option.

The help with rehoming is another service offered by BTAA, known as the Home to Home program.

That service allows pet owners who are no longer able to care for their animals to find a new home for them without the stress of surrendering the animal to the shelter facility.

The grant from Innovia will help BTAA serve up to 1,500 animals and will help people across Boundary, Bonner and Kootenai Counties.

Other services run through BTAA and connected to the helpline include the organization’s pet food bank, which distributed 25 tons of dog and cat food in 2020.

In 2020, the helpline assisted 2,400 people and their pets in the region. Often, phone calls to the helpline can prevent animals from being surrendered by offering free and low-cost solutions through BTAA’s Pets for Life program, which offers free resources including food, collars, leashes and some basic medical care.

The helpline keeps more animals in loving homes by reducing stress for pet owners, said Mandy Evans, BTAA executive director.

“If we can alleviate a burden and help keep people and pets together, we’ve done our job,” Evans said.

This year, the alliance expects to serve 3,000 pets this year, according to a press release. The helpline is entirely supported by donations and grants.

“Any animal lover knows, pets are family, and family is everything. By granting BTAA these

funds, we’ll be able to keep people and pets together where they belong,” Evans said.