THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS, KATHY. I HADN'T THOUGHT ENOUGH ABOUT PEOPLES'
SUSPICIONS AND THAT SUCH SUSPICIONS COULD BE DISPELLED.

>I am not going to post anonymously about this but echo what Anon said.
>I tried finding out on the fundraising site for Nell about getting
>back and I to wonder if she could ship some back before she returns.
>Although according to the site (gofundme) she is nowhere near the
>goal to ship any of the animals and is she raising funds for her own
>flight? My research shows it will be at least $1000.

THINGS ARE GOING REASONABLY WELL. I'VE RAISED MY OWN AIRFARE, AND
ENOUGH FOR THE FLIGHTS AND PAPERWORK FOR OVER HALF OF THE DOGS, CATS,
AND FERRETS.

THE FUNDS WERE RAISED THROUGH gofundme DONATIONS, OTHER, MORE PRIVATE
DONATIONS, AND SALES OF MY POSSESSIONS HERE, MY AIRFARE IS NOT PART OF
THE gofundme SITE'S GOALS.

>Are the animals up to date on their vaccinations? Is proof available
>for entry into the US?

YES, BUT NEW VACCINATIONS WILL BE NEEDED UNLESS WE FLY BY EARLY APRIL.

>If not, is a fund set aside for vaccinations?

THE SAME FUND IS FOR ALL ANIMAL-RELATED EXPENSES, BUT ANY DONATION CAN
BE MADE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.

>She traveled there with the ferrets and dogs. How old are these
>animals? Thinking of their health and well being, are they all healthy
>enough for cage confinement of 12 hours (est)? It would be beyond
>hearbreaking to get this all done only to have it die in transport.

YES, THAT WOULD BE HORRIBLE. ONLY ONE ANIMAL MIGHT BE AT RISK. I'M
STILL RESEARCHING THAT. DETAILS LATER IF YOU LIKE.

>And what airline is shipping the pets?

LUFTHANSA

>Is that how the cost is listed on the fund raising site?

THE FUNDRAISING SITE WAS SET UP AND IS RUN BY A KIND AND GENEROUS
FRIEND IN THE US. THE MONEY-GOAL AMOUNTS THERE ARE NOT PRECISE. FOR
EXAMPLE, REQUIRED PAPERWORK ISN'T INCLUDED, COMBINING ANIMALS WITHIN
CARRIERS WAS NOT CONSIDERED, AND THE DONKEY PRICES ARE FAR TOO LOW.

I HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT THE DISCREPANCY IN THE SITE'S "COMMENTS"
SECTION.

I AM RELUCTANT TO ASK HER TO MAKE MORE CHANGES, BUT CAN IF NEEDED. I
WILL COVER THE DEATH OF THE BABY DONKEY VIA THE "COMMENTS" SECTION.

THE TOTALS ARE NOW $16,200 FOR THE TWO DONKEYS AND $2,500 FOR THE
SMALLER ANIMALS, GIVING A TOTAL OF $18,700.

HERE'S SOMETHING I WROTE EARLIER THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE BREAKDOWN:,

ADDING UP THE AIR TRANSPORT, THE PAPERWORK COSTS (VET EXAMS, EXPORT
LICENSES AND IMPORT PERMITS), AND THE IN-US TRANSPORT COSTS (TRUCK FROM
HOUSTON TO CORPUS), I'M ESTIMATING DANTE'S COSTS AT $500, BRIAN AND
ROSIE AT $150 OR SO EACH, AND THE FERRETS AND CATS AT ANOTHER $150 TO
$250 EACH -- $2400 - 2800. IT COULD GO UP IF I CAN'T GET THE CATS TO
AGREE TO SHARE CARRIERS!

ALSO, I HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT I THINK IS A MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE DONKEY
TRANSPORT: $8100 FOR EDILEGNYA, $6100 FOR BINNIE, AND $8100 FOR SOPHIE.
BUT AM STILL WORKING ON WHETHER THEY ARE ALLOWED INTO THE US AND
WHETHER THEY CAN BE GOTTEN OUT OF HERE -- SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SUITABLE
AIRCRAFT.

>Can airline miles be donated to her somehow?

THAT'S AN INTERESTING POSSIBILITY. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE LUFTHANSA MILES
TO DONATE, I'LL INVESTIGATE.

>Donkeys, can they not be transported to a rescue within her country

NOTHING APPROPRIATE HERE.

>cheaper then returning to the states? Coming here they have to go
>through the 60 day quarantine, is there money for this?

THANKS FOR THE INFO ABOUT QUARANTINE. WHERE DID YOU GET IT? I BEGAN
COMMUNICATION WITH THE USDA OVER WHETHER EQUINES FROM ETHIOPIA, WHICH
HAS AFRICAN HORSE DISEASE, CAN COME IN IF THEY ARE VACCINATED AGAINST
THAT DISEASE (AND OTHERS). SINCE I AM NOT GETTING QUICK ANSWERS,
PERHAPS THEY ARE RE-THINKING THEIR POLICIES.

>There are many good looking sanctuaries in South Africa, maybe one of
>those would like to do a fundraiser to get them down there.

 !!! THANKS FOR THIS IDEA. GOT ANY SPECIFICS TO PASS ON?

>I don't have FB on my main computer, restricted access, so I can't
>research this but I wonder how many others are not donating because
>of these issues.

THANKS FOR BRINGING THIS UP. HOW WOULD I GET A WIDE-ENOUGH FB AUDIENCE
TO OBVIATE IT? FOR gofindme, I'LL POST IN THE "COMMENTS" AREA.

>And of course, where are the funds being held? In a trust here then
>be used to purchase the travel tickets from someone in the US?

MY US CREDIT UNION HAS THE US DOLLARS. ONE OF MY ETHIOPIAN BANK
ACCOUNTS HAS THE ETHIOPIAN BIRR.

Gofundme AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERS THE FINDS THEY GATHER, PLACING THEM
IN AN ACCOUNT I USE ONLY FOR ANIMAL-TRANSPORT FUNDS. WHEN PEOPLE
DONATE VIA PAYPAL, THE MONEY AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO MY CHECKING ACCOUNT
AT THE CREDIT UNION, AND I TRANSFER IT TO THE OTHER ACCOUNT ONLINE.
SOME PEOPLE DONATE BY SENDING CHECKS OR WIRE TRANSFERS TO THE CREDIT
UNION FUNDING ACCOUNT.

WHEN THE TIME COMES, I WILL ARRANGE THE PAPERWORK, BUY THE TICKETS,
ETC. ETC. HERE.

>What is the deadline?

NONE. THE DEADLINE IS DEFINED BY FUNDS.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IN THE US, I WILL BE WITH CINDY FEATHERLING. I
COULD SHIP ANIMALS TO HER BEFORE GETTING THERE MYSELF, BUT (1) I DON'T
WANT TO ADD TO HER ANIMAL-CARE TASKS, (2) IT'S MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND
HARDER ON THE ANIMALS TO SHIP THEM AS CARGO RATHER THAN AS ACCOMPANIED
BAGGAGE.

>Can these FAQs be placed on the site so that people will be more
>comfortable with donating?

I WILL POST A NOTICE IN THE "COMMENTS" SECTION.

>Thanks
>Kathy of Sammy's Clubhouse
>Spokane Ferret Rescue and Education

AGAIN, THANKS FOR THESE IDEAS. I HADN'T THOUGHT ENOUGH ABOUT PEOPLES'
SUSPICIONS AND THAT SUCH SUSPICIONS COULD BE DISPELLED.

[Posted in FML 7691]