Hi! – I’m reaching out to those who have a big heart and huge love for animals and their wellbeing to consider helping move a cause forward. My immediate need is for financial support to help with feeding and supplies for sanctuary cats who are mostly unadoptable and in my care. This is while I continue to work on the second goal which is to move my efforts forward to building a permanent sanctuary for these animals. Their current feeding cost is just under $925 per month. Litter is another $120 per month. Additional medical and other is beyond that cost. I have been carrying this cost load for about 3 ½ years solely out of my own pocket. This has put GIANT hole in what savings I had before all of this.
An older gentleman who found himself in a hoarding situation 3 ½ years ago needed assistance with cats and dogs on his property that had gotten overpopulated (50 in total). Nobody else was helping so I stepped in. The additional challenge was this was during COVID aftermath; a time when people had lost their jobs and incomes, moving out of homes and taking their pets to shelters or worse, dumping them, leaving animals to fend for themselves. Shelters and rescue groups were already over capacity, and I could find almost no help. It took me 8 months of trapping, spaying, neutering and vaccinating as well as rehabilitating many of them back to health, physically and emotionally. Several were placed elsewhere, and I am now down to 25 cats still in my care that are seniors, unadoptable due to either PTSD, or other ongoing medical issues that had resulted from the previous hoarding environment. I am DETERMINED to make sure these animals continue to know they are loved and well cared for during their remaining years as they have been through a lot already.
Up to this point, I have had no volunteers or financial help, and this has been a solo operation. I am now looking for some agricultural tax status acreage with a metal building where I can create a better sanctuary environment where they have plenty of room to enjoy their lives. This has been a long hard go but the joy every day of seeing these creatures know they are loved and safe is priceless for me. I will be able to look back on life and say yes, I did something when I could have just ignored it. Because I didn’t many lived were saved.
There is a sanctuary called Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary which I am not affiliated with, located in Faribault, MN. I have plans to do a sanctuary modeled after their facility on a similar and smaller scale. I am currently eyeing a property in the north Texas area that fits the animals’ needs which is selling for 109K as well as scouting other places. I am not financially resourced yet after this rescue project has eaten up most of my finances but maybe others who are and want to see these animals thrive can help.
So, in addition to the need for help on the immediate goal of financial support with monthly food costs, I would ask anyone who has this on their heart and either knows of property, wants to donate ag property or help move this forward for these cats to acquire a space, please reach out to me. If the property works for what they need, I am willing to relocate to another area.
I must be honest, I’m also tired and ready for a little bit of rest and to enjoy life a little more again. My whole world, finances and time spent has been wrapped up the last few years in sacrificing for these animals and their wellbeing. I kind of want to get back to me a little bit now too and have some balance again. Getting them set up permanently will help me get a little rest.
Love and joy to you all – L