The Okeechobee Ferret Rescue is proud to announce that they are now a
registered Non-Profit corporation and in the process of achieving their
501-c-3 status.  As many of you know, the shelter has been having financial
problems on and off over the past few years and more so since the death
of my Father.  I have had negative statements made regarding my financial
problems.  I would like to say that unfortunately, all of us are not born
with money,, nor have a talent that we can use to get rich with.  That
leaves me in the major category of those who have to fight for what we
believe in and work hard to get it & survive.  This does not mean I should
not have a rescue for animals.  I am a fighter, I have in the past and will
always fight for the animals.  It takes a lot to run a shelter, I do it
alone.  I have no volunteers, no grants coming in and no major donations
rolling in all of the time.  I spend many sleepless nights listing items on
ebay to raise money, I spend my week-ends in the hot sun and humidity at
the flea market to make money, it all goes to taking care of the animals
I have here.  Sure, it isn't always enough, you try feeding 74 animals.  I
buy myself nothing.  This is a choice I have made and it isn't going to
change unless it's God's will.  I consider myself very dedicated to the
animals.
 
I'm making this statement mostly for those who have made negative
statements about me and to d.Eckert who recently got upset because the
raffle drawing date was changed because of my Fathers illness and then
death.  This person told the state that I was selling ferrets on ebay.  I
simply laughed at this one.  I don't know this person, and don't want to,
but I just can't understand what their intentions were, but if they thought
they were hurting me, they did not, the animals are the ones that could
have suffered and that bothers me.  I can't understand anyone purposely
trying to hurt a shelter that does nothing but care for the animals.  I'm
baffled by this one.
 
I want to thank those of you that have been there for me in my times of
trouble.  I have met many wonderful people in the past year and I thank
you so much for being there.
 
To those who think that I should just give up because of my financial
problems, I would like to say, no way, I am not going to give up, because
I would be giving up on the animals.  I'm a fighter and I will do this for
as long as God allows me to.  I also would like to say, you need to think
before you make judgments on shelters having hard times, If we give up,
what happens to the animals?  Do you really want that?  Is that the answer?
Just give up?  I have seen several shelters close recently, I don't know
why, but I'm sure it was for a good reason, but if all of us close, then
what happens to the animals?  I'm a fairly smart person with common sense,
If it came down to no money & animals were going to starve, of course I
have enough sense to close, but I'm going to keep fighting to keep that
from happening.  So today, I am very happy and proud to say that I am a
registered non profit corporation and on my way to being a 501-c-3 non
profit organization.
 
Dooks to all
Hug those fuzzies/Life is too short
Sue & the fuzzies
[Posted in FML issue 3510]