With great joy I quote from the first paragraph of our four-page letter from the IRS dated December 9, 1998: "... we have determined you are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3)."

Following up on the four steps listed in our last newsletter that we said we would immediately take upon receiving 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status:

(1) Grantors: To date we have applied to 77 charitable organizations for grants, two of which potential grantors have written back asking for follow-up information, which we are in the process of supplying to them. A few others have answered our request packet declining because we are not in their geographical area. Others don't have their board of directors meetings till the fall of 1999. No grants yet. We still have about 65 to hear from and we're compiling another list of foundations to apply to.

(2) Dog Food and Veterinary Pharmaceuticals: We are in the process of applying to dog food companies and veterinary pharmaceutical companies for donations and/or discounts from them.

(3) State and Local Sales Taxes: The letter from the Office of the Comptroller of the State of Texas dated January 15, 1999 in response to our application states that Straydog Inc. "... qualifies for exemption from the state and local sales taxes effective December 30, 1997, as a 501(c)(3) organization." We have already begun to realize substantial savings on dog food and other purchases for Straydog Inc. and are applying for refunds back to the first of 1998.

(4) Postage Rates: The letter from the Manager of the Rates and Classification Service Center of the U.S. Postal Service in response to our application states, "Your application for Nonprofit Standard Mail rate mailing privileges has been approved." Each piece in this mailing, which could weigh up to three and a quarter ounces, is costing Straydog Inc. 23.3 cents as opposed to the 55 cents for up to two ounces or the 77 cents for up to three ounces we were previously paying.

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As we look back at the above accomplishments, we are overwhelmed when we think about the amount of time and effort we spent to achieve them. (And, by the way, it was all done by Pat and myself at no charge to Straydog Inc.) But we cannot rest. The survival of the 43 dogs (and one feral cat) we now care for and of our shelter (which must endure as an example for others to emulate) is not yet guaranteed. Our only security lies in our determination to continue ... relentlessly. Thank you all for sticking with us.

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