Well, this just says it all. Trust our little furry friends to put things back in perspective. I was wondering how to put this upcoming article.
Summertime Blues! That’s the theme song for animal shelters everywhere as everyone goes off to vacation. We have to do extra fundraisers and events to keep the money coming in. There’s nothing like going to the mailbox to see what donations have come in, and finding one envelope in there. Since we depend almost completely on donations from the public and whatever grants we are able to get from organizations like the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, that one envelope looks pretty sad indeed. But the line of people knocking at our door for help with their pets never goes away.
Kentucky Humane is doing fundraisers as well. We don’t have the extra money to rent places like Marriot Louisville for events, so we have to do it here.
Yep, we’re dipping into our emergency savings again! We’ve had a very busy year with court case Chihuahuas and kittens, and shuffling rooms to make sure everyone had a place to sleep. Kittens in the Sick Bay laundry room! If you haven’t dropped by ARC in awhile, you’ve missed a lot.
New news to report: our heating and cooling system is almost dead. It’s going to cost a whopping $8,000 to replace from Allen’s Heating and Cooling. We are lucky that the system survived through this record-breaking summer heat! And we have a brand new resident at ARC, Jacques, a sweet 2-3 year old Maltese/Poodle mix who has a sizable heart murmur and is going to need a very special loving home. We’re prepared to use funds set aside from the Athena Fund that were raised to cover her eventual medical issues from surgery to repair her legs, but we will have to set up a special fundraiser for Jacques.
It’s been a crazy summer. I’ve seen events of this past summer change many people’s lives. From tragedies to scandals debating religious conviction versus civil rights, this has been a year in which many people have jumped in and re-evaluated what it is they really, truly believe in. Here on the ground, in our own little corner of the world, the struggle to save lives goes on. According to latest ASPCA Statistics, approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
We’re still here fighting the good fight. When you get a minute, take the time to lend a helping hand to those who are helpless without us. Drop us a line, maybe a donation, or come out and see us.
We miss you.
