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!
The Best Friends animal rescue in Kanab Utah will also be able to help. I worked with them during the Katrina pet rescue…the best organization I have ever seen for helping animals.
Jack Hanna recently had a show on TV about this rescue.
http://www.rollingdogranch.org
The only rescue handicapped animals. I don’t know if this is what you are after but they seem like good people who may be able to help. At least they are experienced in handling animals with disabilities.
Thank you for promoting JE on your website. We are grateful for the
positive publicity. we do have a volunteer who is an experienced grant
writer and he is working on obtaining grant money for the sanctuary. I’m
going to forward your tip regarding Oprah’s Angel Network to him.
Florence doesn’t have access to the internet at the sanctuary, but I’ve
read your email to her over the phone and she very much appreciates your
time and effort in helping us out.
I read the comments on your web site and saw that others had passed it on thru Twitter and Facebook. Your ability to get the word out through your site is going to help immensely. Thank you for your commitment to all the animals and for all your good works.
I saw a story on Oprah where a father and daughter went door to door and asked for spare change for a worthy cause. Soon they had thousands of dollars. Perhaps some animal lovers in her neighborhood might start a similar campaign. Speaking of Oprah, Paige why don’t you send this on to her for “Angel support.” She is an animal lover
I received an email today from Journeys End and it looks like one of the Pharma companies is going to provide the vet they use with discounted medications for all the animals at Journeys End – we do not know what the % of the discount will be yet. I had contacted two Pharmas maybe the other one will also offer support – that would be great and free up money for other things they need.
I am so relieved to hear everyone came to the woman’s aid with the dog shelter for abused and handicapped animals. I read the story with greta intensity and then posted it on my facebook page. Truly touching how so many reached out to help her and the animals through you! Way to go Paige!
Has she tried applying for grants? I’ve been doing alot of research on this lately to aid a new Animal Rescue I’m helping get started (in addition to my work with HomeFurever). There are tons of animal-related grants out there, many go undistributed because no one applies for them. They are alot of work though and she would likely need someone to assist her with this on an on-going basis.
I’ll drop her a note via her website.
Thank you for sharing this woman’s story, amazing that she is taking care of these animals by herself! I think everyone of us should send a donation!
I know mine will be in the mail tomorrow!
I know she will really appreciate the support! Thanks!!!
Thanks so much for the heads up. This is EXACTLY the kind of organization I would love to start someday. I donated to them and I put it on twitter. Hopefully people will love this lady as much as we do! Lola McKnight http://doggiematchmaker.blogspot.com
The sanctuaries I listed ARE good resources as they have done several unique things to RAISE money and find volunteers (Angels Gate has been on Oprah, resulting in $500K and they are now a semi-finalist in a Rachel Ray $$ comp). The media is key as are volunteers. Good ways to get volunteers: craigslist & volunteermatch.org
This article was published in the Orlando Sentinel this past week. In case it wasn’t clear, she is looking for financial contributions and volunteers to help out. She is not looking to relocate the animals at her sanctuary.
Those are wonderful resources–BrightHaven makes my day with the way Gail Pope approaches the care and placement of these animals. If these efforts don’t produce results, please email animalhelp@bestfriends.org; outline the kind of pets, how many, nature of disabilities and in the subject line be sure to include location and whether the situation is urgent. They will send an autoreply and then assign a case manager to try to assist.
I can totally empathize. It is so sad how donations have dropped off and incoming animals have increased everywhere. We have it here to at Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary too. Hate to think what will happen to all these unadoptable pets if people/businesses don’t step up to the plate and help out a bit. Not everyone is having a rough economic time- many are thriving, lets hope they remember to share the wealth.
Try Healing Heart Sanctuary, Angel’s Gate or BrightHaven (in Santa Rosa CA) and if they can’t help they should be able to refer you to others. Our website has a list of over 200 sanctuaries (by region), go the RESOURCES section of http://www.2ndchance4pets.org
She needs monetary donations and food to keep the place going. She needs people to help with that. There are many rescue groups out there that many people don’t realize and don’t think about when they are donating for animals. They take the animals that are not highly adoptable. They are the alternative to euthanasia for these pets. They are the … Read Moreperfect complement to Humane Societies who’s mission is to adopt animals not hold on to them for life. Her rescue is a 501c3. http://www.journeysendsanctuary.org/aboutus.htm Here story is interesting! I think her mission is worthy and valuable! She needs support;-)