Hospice for unwanted, handicapped animals close to shutting down
When the organization was two months behind on the mortgage in August, an article in the local paper brought in an infusion of cash that will soon be depleted to replace the electrical wiring and keep up with the mortgage, electric bill (over $1,200 a month) and food (about $500 a week). A new drain field for the septic system and new floors in the cat house will likely have to wait, said volunteer Sharon Burnett, who pays the bills.
"That's going to be at least $5,000 for those two, but … then we can't pay for vet bills or food," Burnett said.
To volunteer or for more information, go to journeysendsanctuary.org. Donations may be sent to Journey's End at P.O. Box 220163, Glenwood, FL 32722.
DeLAND -- Florence Thuot 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, the 81-year-old director of Journeys End Animal Sanctuary.
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.
"It weighs on me a lot," Thuot said. "A lot of people have hard times now and are losing their houses. I could lose my house. That wouldn't bother me, but I have 400 animals. Where am I going to go?"
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/os-animal-hospice-20091104,0,1480972.story
Each of the animals at the sanctuary has a special place in her heart. She won't say who's her favorite, for fear of hurting the other animals' feelings, but she reserves extra attention for Lilo and Skippy, disabled dogs who spend their days together in a red wagon. When the other animals are let out for their morning walk, Thuot has an employee pull the wagon down the street for 30 minutes so they don't miss out.
Quoting JamieLeigh02:
Very touching story. I really hope she'll be able to get enough donations to stay open. I could only imagine the heartbreak and worry she must be feeling having to worry about getting shut down.
This very close to where I live, and she is way beyond your typical animal lover......
We had something like that here and she had to close. I was Hope's zoo.She only took in wildlife and she went around early morning picking up roadkill to feed the animals and still couldn't keep the bills. While she didn't sell the animals she sold the pens and the animals came with.You had to buy a wildlife license as well.I really wanted the wolfs (I already had one) I couldn't afford the cages.Even if half a community kicks in a buck or 2 it would help these programs more than they would ever know.
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on Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:06 PM