Number of heartworm positive dogs in need of treatment increases in Manatee County

MANATEE -- A controversial donate button to benefit Animal Network has been returned to the county's Animal Services page now that the county has sanctioned the agency as a charitable organization.

The donate button, originally posted in 2011, was removed from the page earlier this year and donations to Animal Network dropped precipitously, officials said. The nonprofit relies on donations to keep its no-kill fund alive.

Sue Kolze, the nonprofit's vice president, estimates between $15,000 and $20,000 was lost when the button was taken off the county website. Donations from before the donate button was taken down is all the money the nonprofit has to rely on, she said.

"It hasn't been replenished, which is where my shortfall is," Kolze said.

Manatee County officials and nonprofit organizers are out to promote the benefits of the donations and the nonprofit's mission.

Kolze said the Animal Network acts like a first-responder whenever possible for Manatee County Animal Services.

"When the need rises, we try to fill it," Kolze said Wednesday.

The nonprofit is desperate for funding to continue heartworm treatments for dogs at the Manatee County Animal Services shelter.

"If this falls apart, the whole no-kill falls apart," county Commissioner Carol Whitmore said.

The Manatee County Commission has approved adding Animal Network to a list of nine charitable organizations, which means the county can provide the nonprofit with limited staff time and support. The county website features a button for people to donate to the no-kill fund, but the money goes to Animal Network and not the county, which cannot legally accept donations.

Since the end of 2011, Animal Network has been helping fund heartworm treatment for dogs at Manatee County Animal Services -- something the nonprofit recognized as a need in order to become a no-kill shelter.

In that time, Animal Network has funded heartworm treatment for 417 dogs at a cost of $68,805.

With 41 dogs now on the list to be treated and funds to treat 46 dogs, Animal Network will soon be out of money to provide heartworm treatment for dogs at animal services.

Up to six heartworm-positive dogs come to the Palmetto shelter each week, Kolze said. Normally, heartworm treatment costs anywhere from $700 to $1,000, but Luke Berglund of Beach Veterinary Clinic in Cortez has been helping Animal Network by providing the treatment for dogs pulled by rescues or adopted by the public.

Berglund charges $165 for all heartworm positive-dogs, regardless of size. Berglund could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

His generosity has enabled Animal Network to treat dogs that could have been euthanized.

"He has such a big heart," Kolze said.

Whitmore said Berglund kept his price the same, even as the cost of the medicine increased.

Because of the controversy surrounding animal services during a recent animal cruelty trial with a shelter provided Manatee County had worked with for years, Animal Network donations declined even as the number of heartworm treatments needed increased. In 2013, the nonprofit received $52,774 and treated 130 heartworm-positive dogs. In 2014, the nonprofit received $26,614 and treated 209 dogs.

"They are a legit organization that has actually helped animals," Whitmore said. "We've got to get them help."

Whitmore said everyone needs to get back on track.

"We are starting to move forward again," Whitmore said, adding that two coalitions will start up within the next month or so to help the county's animals. "I am not a quitter."

Holmes Beach Commission vice Chairwoman Jean Peelen said the nonprofit can move toward providing heartworm prevention in the future.

"People need to have their dogs protected," Kolze said.

The mission of Animal Network is "help people help animals in Manatee County," Kolze said. "My mission is to help keep animals alive."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024 or at caronson@bradenton.com. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Number of heartworm positive dogs in need of treatment increases in Manatee County ."