Archive for the ‘Volunteer Opportunities’ Category
Horses Help A Lot of People, Like Jaycee Dugard
March 5th, 2010
In the news there has been a lot of publicity about Jaycee Dugard and what she is doing to return to a “normal” life. Part of her healing comes from an unexpected source, horses. There is a very deep bond between a horse and a human.
Horses react as a mirror to the person who’s with him. He’s a prey animal so he wants to feel safe and is always on the lookout for predators. A horse will become very fearful if he’s with someone who’s aggressive, noisy, disrespectful or too controlling. On the other hand, if the person makes requests rather than demands the horse will begin to cooperate. They are always looking for a leader.
Heart of a Horse Program
There is clinical evidence that being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns. They have a calming effect which helps stop people becoming fixated on past or negative events – giving them a really positive experience.
Research shows that many cognitive disabled, physically disabled and “at risk” youth benefit from a therapeutic riding program. Therapeutic riding is particularly effective in dealing with a variety of disabilities, such as developmental delay, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke victims, Down Syndrome, and visual or hearing impairments.
A horse is a large, strong animal. It deserves respect while also being guided. The mix can be a very fine line. People can learn how to deal with a variety of emotions from being around horses. Someone might have a lot of hidden anger and hurt inside. From spending time with horses, and learning how to interact with them, people can overcome these very difficult emotional challenges.
There is a fine line between learning trust and getting the certain behavior you want when working with horses. That is no different that dealing with people in this world. Once there is trust, there is a very deep bond between a horse and a human.
There are a number of wonderful organizations that do this kind of training. “Heart of a Horse” as well as “Above and Beyond Ordinary, Inc.” are just two of the many programs.
Many of these organizations are looking for volunteers who can help care for the horses. If you have interest, please contact your local organization.
If you would like to add your program to our “Resource/ Organization” list, please feel free to do so.
Mill Creek Farm, A Retirement Horse Farm in Florida told me: RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES INCREASE FEED COSTS!
An unusually cold Florida winter brought with it below freezing temperatures, several frosts and iced over water troughs.
To help our horses endure, we fed extra grain and hay. Here is what our costs were to keep our horses warm for the whole month of January: 550 bales of hay, 40 rolls of hay and 11.5 tons of senior feed costing a total of $15,713.00. That works out to over $125 per horse for feed alone. To donate, or help, click here.
P.S. Tonight on ABC, 20/20 they will talk about Jaycee Dugard and her horse therapy.
How Animals Fit Into An Ever Changing World
March 4th, 2010
Our world is ever changing. Remember when there were only three networks on TV? Now there are so many choices that people are overwhelmed. You add reality TV networks to the mix and it’s impossible to keep up. A lot of people record, or “Tivo” shows so they can see them “when they have time”. When does that happen? We have become so overwhelmed with keeping up with work and family life that most people don’t have time for TV. When they do watch it I wonder, how many people really take in what they are watching? Are their minds still on something else?
Now, add the internet to the mix. Most people are on their computers for work and play. It’s no wonder TV shows try to direct you to their website. That’s where most people spend their time. It is the place to find love, food, cars, investments, TV shows you missed, coupons and specials, old friends, as well as anything you need regarding animals. That is why I am placing my show on the internet, so I know you will see it!
I wanted to share with you some sites I think you might want to put into your database. You never know when you might need them. You’re already on the computer reading this 
I have posted them below.
There is also a term a lot of people have heard but really don’t understand. It is called “Fostering”. I recently did a report on Greyhounds. The dogs are rescued, sent to prison and trained by the prisoners. After they are trained they are sent to foster homes, or rescues, until they are adopted.
I always thought that fostering meant you HAD to keep the animal until a new home was found. That is not the case. Most of the time animals are only with you for a short time, maybe a week or two. If you have to leave for a trip, the organization will take the animal. If you only want a “friend” for a few weeks or a month, that is fine. There is a HUGE NEED for foster homes everywhere. There are all kinds of animals that need a foster home. It can be fun to learn about a new animal without the long term commitment. The animals come with food. Any medical care is also taken care of for you. All the animal needs is a safe and loving place to stay, temporarily. In addition, think of the love you will get in return.
The other nice thing about fostering is that you just opened up a spot for another animal. If it had not been for you, that animal might have been put down because there was no place for it to go.
If you would like to find out more regarding fostering, I suggest you contact your local shelter, rescue or other animal organization. Ask, “what does takes to be a foster parent”?
If you are looking for animals to adopt:
1.www.petango.com – These are all PetPoint Shelters. They also have a web based store and will make a donation to a selected shelter as a result of the person’s purchase.
2. www.adoptapet.com – People can do a “search saver” which will send them an email when a specific breed they are looking for becomes available.
5. www.akc.org – breed specific rescue groups
If you lost an animal:
4. http://haveyouseenthispet.com
Organizations that will help owners that cannot afford vet care.
Most of them handle serious medical conditions and injury. Some focus on low income, elderly and handicapped owners. A couple of them are for rescue organizations and homeless pets.
3.www.fveap.org/sys-tmple/door
I am sure there are many more organizations that can be added to this list. If you would like to post about one you know of, please submit it under our “Resources/ Organizations” page. Thanks for all you do for animals around the world!
Rescued Dogs are Sent to Prison, Go Behind The Scenes
March 1st, 2010
Donna Paige with Greyhounds
What is your first impression when you hear a rescued dog was sent to prison? Do you conjure up images that are not pleasant? READ THE INFORMATION AND GO BEHIND THE SCENES, WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and your heart will pound, in a good way.
There is an organization called 2nd Chance at Life. They place Greyhounds in prisons once they have been rescued. They have placed over 600 dogs nationwide. These dogs are fostered by the prisoners.
Keira
What Does The Greyhound and Inmate Prison Partnership Do?
Greyhounds
1. Delivers an Obedience Trained Greyhound to the Community
2. Provides a Network of Prison Foster Homes for Greyhounds
3. Gives them a place to live until they can be adopted
4. Allows two 24/7 inmate caretaker’s for each greyhound
5. Saves thousands of retired racing greyhounds
Huney
Prisoners
1. Allows inmates to give something back to the community
2. Allows inmates to experience un-conditional love
3. Relieves inmate idleness in prison facilities
4. Teaches inmates patience and responsibility
5. Establishes vocational jobs for the inmates
ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION!
Chief
Who is a typical adoptable Greyhound?
They’re really a 45 mile an hour couch potato!!!!!!
Usually between eighteen months and five years old.
They do not require a great deal of space to run, as many people think, but they do enjoy their daily walks.
These ex-racers are intelligent, quiet, clean, good-natured, adaptable, sensitive, dogs who adjust readily to their new home environment.
They are eager to please and respond positively to any attention.
They provide their new owner with never ending loyalty and affection.
Pebbles
What does Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions do?
Find the best prescreened, match as possible for your family, with current shots, cleaned teeth. Prescreening includes cat testing that would help ensure compatibility with cats and other small animals.
Find loving and qualified homes for the Greyhounds entrusted to our care. We spay/neuter provide vaccinations and make sure all Greys are in excellent health, including teeth.
Provide ongoing support to those who adopt Greyhounds from Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions, Inc. or any other group.
Educate the public and raise awareness about the availability and suitability of retired racing Greyhounds as pets.
Promote harmony and teamwork among all segments of the worldwide Greyhound community.
Shaye
How can someone adopt a prison trained or even a non-prison trained rescued Grey?
There are a number of organizations where you can adopt these wonderful dogs. One that I know about, in my area, is Gold Coast Greyhound.
ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION
You can complete the adoption form from Gold Coast Greyhounds here. You can also call them at 941-312-1750.
Katie
More Foster Homes Are Needed!!
1. They provide extension into the community
2. Conduct reference checks
3. Provide ongoing support to the Grey and his forever home.
4. Great option for snow birds or anyone without a long term commitment.
Tupelo
Everyone asks, “Is it difficult to give up a foster?” Yes and No. It’s very easy to develop an emotional attachment but when you place a happy Grey in his forever home with wonderful & caring families we are very happy! Then we know we can foster another Grey and help them find a loving home. If you cannot foster and cannot adopt, donations help support the cost of caring for our Greyhounds and preparing them for our prison training program.
Sophia
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION….
ALL OF THE DOGS ON THIS POST ARE UP FOR ADOPTION.
Racing Greyhounds spend most of their lives in the company of other dogs, their trainers and handlers. Racing Greyhounds have all the advantage of breeding and training when it comes to being a good pet. Their social ability generally makes them great with other pets. Their temperament makes them wonderful around children and friends. Their intelligence and breed make them perfect house pets. A clean, quiet loving companion, a well-mannered Greyhound could be just the pet for you.
Pay-It-Forward Friday
February 25th, 2010
I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday. I will do this each Friday. Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!
Enjoy the 6 posts below:
1. A Love Story: A) Here, his wife is injured and the condition is fatal. She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.
B) Here he brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.
C) He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead. He tried to move her….a rarely-seen effort for swallows!
D) Aware that his sweetheart is dead and will never come back to him again,he cries with adoring love.
E) He stands beside her, saddened by her death.
F) Finally aware that she would never return to him, he stays beside her body with sadness and sorrow.
Millions of people cried after seeing this picture story in America and Europe and even in India . It is said that the photographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to the most famous newspaper in France . All copies of that newspaper were sold out on the day these pictures were published. And many people think birds and animals don’t have a brain or feelings!!
- 2. On December 15th, 2009 the SPCA of Texas took custody of 26,000 exotic animals from US Global Exotics in the largest animal seizure in US history. USGE was a major distributor of exotic animals from wallabies to hamsters; warehousing them in horrific conditions until they could be brokered to stores, breeders and retailers. Thousands of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, arachnids, and many other animals were cruelly confined in filthy conditions, literally crammed into cattle-feeding troughs, boxes, bags, and even pop bottles. They did not have food, water, or veterinary care. According to reports 500 animals a day were dying at USGE, ending up tossed in their dumpster.
Thanks to an undercover PETA investigation the animals were permanently awarded to the SPCA of Texas on Feb 1, 2010. Love or hate PETA you have to give them credit for this one. Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary was proud and honored to be selected as one of 30 rescues in the nation to receive some of the rescued animals from the US Global Exotics animal cruelty and neglect
case. Located in Northern Illinois Critter Camp board member Shary Stelter made the trip to Nashville, TN to meet up with the SPCA of TX transport on Superbowl Sunday where she was interviewed by Nashville Television station WSMV. See the 75 critters from USGE now calling Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary their home, including adorable Texas Spotted Ground Squirrels, short-tailed opossum , Roborovski hamsters and little white mice; and find links to more information on our Global Exotics Rescue Page:
Click Here For More Information.
Critter Camp is the only exotic pet sanctuary of its kind in the U.S. giving a safe, healthy happy home to the elderly, sick, disabled and aggressive un-adoptable exotic pets that have nowhere else to go, currently caring for over 300 animals of 36 different species! Click Here to go to Their Website
3. Pepsi is funding grants in various categories until 2/28. Many Houston dogs are euthanized due to heartworms in a good economy, it is at a horrendous pace currently.
The drug to treat this is very expensive and each bottle only treats 22 lbs. This group is desperate to move up into the funded top ten. More information and pictures of saved dogs are on the site. This could help dogs at many rescue groups and shelter. People can vote every day, until the 28th. PLEASE, CLICK HERE to go to this site to vote today, and everyday until the 28th.
4. TAKE ACTION TODAY!!! 36,000 elephants were killed last year for their ivory. In 16 DAYS 111 tonnes of ivory will be traded at the CITIES* conference if certain countries have their way.
This will pretty much kick-start the ivory trade in a massive way meaning the end for tens or even hundreds of thousands of elephants.
If this bothers you too, please try and stop this happening by signing this petition, CLICK HERE (you’ll need to confirm your signature).
5. A documentary was just completed. It’s about No Kill Pet Rescues and Shelters as well as the challenges they face. In November of 2008 a family adopted a new family member from the Animal Welfare Society and learned about the lack of awareness of the No Kill shelters. They took it upon themselves to finance and create a program about these shelters. They have pledged 60% of all profits to go to the AWS and if they can get great distribution, will split some for other local shelters in the Detroit area.
6. Dachshund Rescue of Bucks County & NJ have on-line workshops. They are hosted by dachshund experts and are designed to help you have a long and happy relationship with your doxie of any size. There is a small donation fee charged for attendance with all proceeds donated to DRBC for the high medical fees incurred in the rescue and rehabilitation of our beloved breed.
This Month’s First Topic: Dental Disease and Your Dog
Those amazing toofers. How to keep them clean, bright and where they belong. Are doxies more prone to dental disease? How often should I clean my dogs teeth. How often should my vet clean my dogs teeth? Dental and cardiac disease,yes, they are related. Did you know there is anew vaccine to eliminate 4 out of 5 of the causes of tartar? You can find out all about it at this session.
Pay-It-Forward Friday
February 18th, 2010
I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday. I will do this each Friday. Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!
Jake
Urgent: Jake needs a new home today, Friday! This dog is at Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood Florida. Jake is cage stressed and is going to be euthanized on Friday. He is a great dog and loves people and toys. He just doesn’t like being confined in a run and has damaged his tail. A great dog. We can help with transport from englewood to anyone that will take him. He is fully vetted.
If you can help email Michele at doggieresqr@yahoo.com
1. A documentary on the pairing of seniors with seniors was recently completed. The purpose is to raise awareness, and secure more homes, for older shelter pets as well as bring companionship to the elderly. It’s called: Old Friends… Timeless Love. Perfect Pairings.
“Old Friends…Timeless Love” came about when Maureen Kelly realized the beautiful energy of pairing seniors with seniors: bringing companionship to the elderly, saving older pets from shelters, and honoring the magic that animals bring into our lives.
Working with a variety of organizations across the United States, she has had the great joy of meeting not only hard-working, loving people, but remarkable dogs, cats and horses.
This is a film in their honor. Hopefully, it will ignite a spark that will inspire many more such pairings.
View the heartwarming video here.
2. Pattie Roberts has a ranch called Dudette Ranch. Pattie spent years promoting good causes with local radio station KFROG and then with her own agency, MarketingWithACause.com. Through the years she has served on various Board of Directors. She has worked tirelessly to promote organizations such as Exceed, work programs for Adults with Disabilities, Animal Friends of the Valley, the Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s awareness, she supports four school districts Student of the Month programs and many others good causes.
Last year she relocated her horse ranch to Murrieta and retired from advertising to pursue her lifelong passion of horses. She started the Dudette Ranch. The concept is a local take off of the vacation destination Dude Ranch. “Although we aren’t wrangling cattle or sleeping under the stars, this is a working horse ranch and the monthly membership allows members daily access to hang out at the barn and work with the horses as we care for, train and ride.
Here is one great story: Dakota is a tall rangy bay Quarter horse gelding, he was a competitive working cow horse in his younger day. A knee injury took him out of the show ring years ago. Dakota has been totally healed from his injury for years, but he still favored it not out of pain but out of fear. This beautiful horse, with plenty of life left in him, was just standing in a stall. This summer he became the best friend of a troubled teen. She worked with him daily, riding him slow and easy until he got stronger and realized his knee didn’t hurt any more. He thrived on the attention and got strong and muscled up again. Unfortunately, the teenager went back to her old ways and left Dakota alone. Lucky gelding though because he now has a brand new best friend! A really nice lady named Micheal. She has fallen in love with him and signed up to sponsor him. She already takes lessons here and after riding him last Saturday well….no other horse would do she just had to have him!
Individual Sponsorship programs are one way you can have a horse without really owning one, there are horses available for Adoption and Lease and a Sponsorship Program Geared to the whole family! To learn more click here.
3. Small Angels Rescue, a non-profit based in Frederick, MD, finds homes for rescued chinchillas, degus, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and rats.
They do not have a shelter and use a network of foster homes for these rescued animals until they are permanently adopted. They have very dedicated foster parents involved with this organization. One guinea pig foster mother-in-charge has a wonderful web page (click here) where you can scroll through, looking at pictures and reading very engagingly written bios of rescued guinea pigs awaiting adoption.
Enzo and Eva, a bonded pair of guinea pigs, were adopted. I’ve been told the Small Angels vetting process is very meticulous. The owners of Enzo and Eva had a process to go through before adopting. They were invited to the foster mother-in-charge’s home to meet her and the guinea pigs. This kept Enzo and Eva from being subjected to undue stress by taking them from place to place to show to prospective adopters. Then they had to fill out a detailed, five-page questionnaire containing questions that would really screen the potential owners to be sure they’re responsible. It takes about a week for the application to be approved. The new owners said, “Adopting from Small Angels Rescue has been one of the most satisfying things we’ve have ever done”.
To learn more about Small Angels Rescue, click here.
4. Nature’s Variety Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall
Nature’s Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of their Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Do You Want To Be In Pictures?
February 10th, 2010
Become a bird. World-famous bird photographer and writer, Arthur Morris, takes plenty of pictures of birds. He recently visited Sarasota. He came to make a presentation to the Sarasota Audubon Society.
Arthur Morris & Donna Paige
More than 11,000 of Arthur Morris’s photographs have been published in national publications including American Birds, Audubon, Birder’s World, Florida Wildlife and Nature, National Geographic, Natural History, Nature Photographer, Outdoor Photographer, Ranger Rick, Wildbird, and other magazines, as well as in hundreds of books and calendars.
He taught elementary school in New York City for twenty-three years. For eight years he conducted the shorebird survey at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for The International Shorebird Surveys. Mr. Morris became a Canon contract photographer and has been featured in six episodes of the “Canon Photo Safari” television show. Two of his images were awarded prizes in the 1997 BG plc Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. He is also a popular lecturer, having presented more than 250 slide programs during the past 15 years. Arthur now photographs, travels, speaks, and teaches extensively in North America.
The Audubon Society, where Arthur Morris made his presentation, is dedicated to the protection, conservation and enjoyment of birds, wildlife and the environment. I am learning so many things about birds and how important they are to our existence and the world as a whole by being a volunteer. All of the Audubon Societies need more volunteers.
One thing I’ve learned has to do with climate change. The heat-trapping gasses, especially carbon dioxide have been known to cause climate change. This change includes melting glaciers and polar icecaps, acidifying the oceans, increasing extreme temperatures and desertification in many areas. This reduces habitats and numbers of numerous species of wildlife. The fifteen hottest years on record since modern global temperatures have been kept, have all occurred since 1991. We have lost a third of our Arctic sea ice in the past thirty years.
Another subject I was not aware of, several species of birds nest on beaches each year. The volunteers with the Audubon Societies watch over these nests to be sure they are not disturbed and the birds survive. Many people visit beaches and don’t realize that the nests need to be left alone. Motor craft also affect the nests when they come to close to shore.
To learn more about the Audubon Society click here.
They are always looking for volunteers.
One Flew Over Animal Connection
January 5th, 2010
I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I spent a couple of days helping the Audubon Society with their Christmas bird count. I spent one day with the Sarasota Audubon Society and the other with the Manatee Audubon Society. They are dedicated to the protection, conservation and enjoyment of birds, wildlife and the environment.
When I was asked to help I said, count birds? How do you count the birds when they are flying all over? How do you know if you are counting the same bird twice? My biggest challenge, knowing which bird I saw. They all look like sparrows, hawks or vultures to me, especially when they fly so fast and high. We counted about 50 different species of bird in my area of Florida. The people who have been doing this for years can tell what kind of bird it is based on their sounds, the way they move their tail, flap their wings, etc. I have a new appreciation for the people who bird watch. It’s not easy!
I wanted to know why this count is important? This count has been going on since 1982. When you look at the numbers over the years you begin to see birds in an area that were never there. You also notice birds that used to be here, are no longer here. That data is important for birds but also for humans and other animals. There can be a lot of reasons for the change in numbers.
They also have a number of Field Trips that you can attend through out the year. If you have never been aware of birds, join one of these fun events. You will become aware of your surroundings in a new and different way.
One important thing that did have an impact on me involved feeding of animals. I love animals so much that I always want to feed them when I can. These are wild animals and need to stay that way. When we feed them we are not giving them the type of food they really need AND they become dependant on us. We are hurting them, not helping them. I had some squirrels come up to me and stand on my shoes. They looked right into my eyes asking for food. They were very overweight and I’m sure not healthy. It was cute but really affected me. I have a tendency of feeding birds bread, which is not good for them.
Someone also took me to visit an organization that I was not aware of. It’s called Save our Seabirds, Inc. It is located by the Mote Marine in Sarasota Florida. It is open from 10am-5pm seven days a week.
They rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of native and migratory birds each year. When the Tampa Bay channel experienced a devastating 365-barrel oil spill. Lee Fox, the founder, managed more than 3,000 volunteers over a three-month period to minimize the impact of this tragedy on the local seabirds. An unprecedented 85% of the birds affected – a total of 371 were saved! In recognition of her efforts, Lee received eleven separate awards from the U.S. Coast Guard and other environment groups. Education and outreach has always been a major focus of SOS. They are run by volunteers and can use more. If you have interest in volunteering your time, providing materials needed to help the birds or want to donate, contact them.
Pets of Homeless People
December 15th, 2009
These days we hear about more and more people leaving their pets behind as they leave their homes. It’s even harder to think about during the holiday season. Some people will find reasons to leave an animal behind; relocation, financial issues, divorce, more responsibility for an older animal….and the list goes on. For some, that is not an option. They will lose everything but they will never leave their beloved pet behind. The animal is the only thing that keeps them going in this crazy, unpredictable world. It is called unconditional love and it’s an emotional bond of loyalty. We all search for it when most of the time it is right in front of us, our pet. The tragic part is that these pets don’t choose their owners.
It is estimated, by the National Coalition for the Homeless, that 3.5 million people are homeless. Between 5% to 10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. In some areas of the country the rate is as high as 24%. Most people who experience homelessness are homeless for a short period of time, and usually need help finding housing or a rent subsidy. Unfortunately for those with pets it becomes more difficult. Many are forced to choose between their pet or a roof over their head.
Picture this, a well dressed woman walks up to a homeless man and gives him a bag of fast food on her way to work. The man has been sitting on the sidewalk in the same spot for weeks, he looks up and says “God bless you.” The woman nods and walks away but not before she turns to see him open the bag and remove a burger, take a bite and give the rest to his dog. This scene is probably something that goes on more often than we would like to think.
There is an organization I found out about called “Feeding Pets of the Homeless”. They provide medical care and food for pets that belong to the homeless and the disadvantaged. They do this by teaming up with Veterinarians and pet related businesses in different areas of the country. They’ll do talks in communities about this issue and work with food distributing organizations about the importance of including pet food. They also have collection sites across the U.S. and Canada. These sites are clinics, hospitals, businesses, storefronts and nonprofits that understand the human/animal bond. They work hand in hand with the food pantries and food kitchens, so the animals can be fed as well as the homeless. They also provide grants to licensed Veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations. You can email them at: info@petsofhomeless.org for more information and an application.
Please, go to their website and see if there is a collection site in your area. If not, please think about starting one for the animals and people in need. Feeding Pets of the Homeless is available to help. This is a hard time for everyone, animal and human. It takes a lot of courage, and love, for these people in need to stand by their pet, literally.
Hospice for Unwanted, Handicapped Animals
November 20th, 2009
Florence Thuot, the 81-year-old director of Journeys End Animal Sanctuary. made a silent promise to the 300 handicapped and unwanted animals that found their way to her sanctuary: they would have a home for life.
They’ve been through enough, she says: the dog left in the Ocala National Forest with glaucoma so far advanced his eyes had to be removed; the tabby cat with feline AIDS who plays like a dog; the horse rescued from slaughter. Those who aren’t blind or disabled bear emotional scars from being handed off from home to home or left on the side of a highway.
“When they have experiences like that, they need to be secure for the rest of their lives,” said Thuot.
But with rising costs and donations way down from last year, Thuot often lies awake at night wondering how she can keep her word to her animals. The organization depends solely on donations, which have dropped off about 25 percent year over year, while expenses have risen about 35 percent, according to Karen Galles, a volunteer who handles the books.
Thuot has mortgaged her property twice and frequently transfers part of her Social Security check to the nonprofit’s account. But the monthly contributions regularly fall short of the bills.
To read more about this organization click on this link.
She would love advise on how to raise money or get supplies. If you can help, please, contact her. Donations may also be sent to Journey’s End at P.O. Box 220163, Glenwood, FL 32722. This is her website.
This story touched me because I hope to be alive at this age. I can’t imagine doing what she is doing!! This is a hard time for everyone but I know we will all get through it, if we help each other!
Volunteer with Lions, Tigers and Bears
October 26th, 2009
Do you and your kids like wild animals? There are places all around the country where you can volunteer and be around lions, tigers, bears and the list goes on. If you don’t want to volunteer then have a fun day visiting these animals. Most of these rescues survive by having volunteers help with the day to day care of the animals as well as donations from visitors. The economy has hit all of the sanctuaries and rescues hard. They don’t have any option but to feed and care for these animals every single day, regardless of the circumstances. They barter for food and medical care as well.
Many of these organizations have petting areas where you can actually pet animals you would only see in the wild. It is really sad when you hear the stories about these animals and where they come from. If it were not for these rescues and sanctuaries these animals would not be alive.
I recently visited two organizations in Florida. One is called, “Lions, Tigers and Bears” and they are located in Arcadia. Click here for their link. The other rescue I visited is called, “The Big Cat Habitat”. They are located in Sarasota. Click here for their link.
Both of these sanctuaries have very similar stories about their animals. Many were bought by people thinking that having a wild animal as a pet was a good, and different, idea. Most of the owners got their animals when they were very young and cute. Once the animals got larger they were harder to care for, cost a lot to keep, and began to hurt their owners. The animals were not intentionally aggressive, they just got big and the “cute nip on the hand” became a HARD bite. Wild animals are still wild and have certain instincts. Animals are very much like humans as well. If they are not disciplined and coached properly when they are young, they will do the same things when they become adults. Some people think that some behaviors are cute when they have a small child or animal. Once they grow up it’s not cute anymore and they get scolded, or worse, for the behavior. Unfortunately, they don’t know why they are scolded when it was ok a year ago. Now it’s completely unacceptable. MIXED MESSAGES!!
The circus, economy and other circumstances, are reasons these sanctuaries and rescues get animals. Yesterday I heard that one man has 12 wild animals he was keeping at his home. He can no longer afford to feed them and if someone doesn’t come and get them he will have to put them down. He said he got them when they were very young and cute. Now he sees how much they eat everyday and he can’t afford to keep them. They are also getting too hard for him to manage. There are a lot of circus and show animals that would not survive if it were not for these organizations. Once the animals get too old to work they can’t use them anymore. The circus can’t afford to keep them so they either find someone to take them or put them down. It is heart wrenching to think these animals give their lives to entertain us then when they want to “retire”, like we do, it’s usually the end of the road for them.
Many of the animals these days are inbred as well. When that happens these animals tend to have a lot of health issues. You might see animals who have crossed eyes, pigeon toed, or just seem kind of “weird”. Most of them have been inbred.
I am not the expert but I do know that I want to help as many animals as possible, live good lives. If you like animals and want your children to be exposed to animals only seen in the wild, contact your local sanctuary or rescue. It’s the experience of a lifetime. They will learn about the animals, responsibility and meet some very interesting people in the process.
We would like you to share your experiences, pictures and stories with us. Send us an email, make a “comment” or post about a special animal under “Animals Remembered”.