How to Turn One Dollar into Two

Now that I have your attention—for who doesn’t want to double their money?—please allow me to make a plug for animals.

If you have any spare greenbacks this month, here are three organizations where your dollar will go further: the National Audubon Society, Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS), and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Each organization has a special donor or group of donors who offered to match other donations dollar for dollar up to a certain point ($150,000 for Audubon; $30,000 for CAS; $70,000 for HSUS). Even a $10 contribution on your part will transform into a $20 donation.

BUT you have to donate before the clock turns to 2013. Yes, you have only until midnight tomorrow to cash in on this great deal.

If you give to Audubon, your money could help rebuild habitats destroyed by humans and weather, collaborate with architects to develop bird-safe high-rises, or continue the collection of at-risk bird data for improved conservation and protection. Donate more than $20 and you can be an Audubon member.

If you give to CAS (the farm animal rescue I’ve described in several posts: “A Barnyard Lady Killer Bids Farewell,” “You’re Never Too Old to Start a New Life,” “If You See It, Report It”), you could be paying for hay—a farm staple whose prices continue to soar with extreme weather conditions, for vet care for animals who have been neglected or abused, or for education classes to teach the next generation how to be better stewards than we’ve been.

If you give to HSUS, your money may be used to fight for new legislation to protect animals or to provide rescue workers to natural disaster areas.

Maybe you know of another operation where your dollar will be matched on behalf of animals, but NOW is a good time to contribute a little and give a lot.


Here are direct links to each organization’s secure donation page:

Audubon
CAS
HSUS


[Photo of Buddy, a blind horse at CAS, by Dick Crenson. Buddy is enjoying a new and special friendship with Sioux. Photo of Brown Pelican by Roger Williams—part of Audubon’s photo contest.]

Athena Adds Insult to Injury

As if there hasn’t been enough devastation and heartache in the east, a winter storm is moving in to areas already hit by Sandy. That old saying “You’re given only as much as you can handle” is bunk.

I know there are probably more people in need right now than there is help for them. Even so, I’m going to make a plug for the voiceless at risk: the animals.

A number of animal welfare organizations have been on the ground rescuing pets and wild animals from the debris. As residents continue getting evacuated, many face the wrenching inevitability of parting with their animal companions—dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards, horses. Some of the rescue organizations are taking in these cherished pets—offering housing, food, and care—for however long it takes for the families to return to a normal living environment (see video below).

Let’s do what we can to help these fine organizations help the animals and their people. Here are a few of the groups that have mobile teams in the area. The links provided take you to a secure donation page.

ASPCA
Make a donation.
Also, read about Hazel and her new friends.

Best Friends Animal Society
Make a donation.
Read how Best Friends is helping local shelters.

The Humane Society of the United States
Make a donation.
As is typical in these rescue efforts, natural disasters reveal animals who have been living for some time in neglectful or abusive situations, and those left to brave severe weather in the backyard. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) followed up on a tip about a house from which an elderly couple had been removed and taken to a hospital and where it was believed their animals remained. HSUS found a scared, malnourished elderly dog short-tied to a fence outside. And inside? Cats living in filth and disorder—the same filth and disorder the elderly couple had presumably contended with prior to Sandy’s arrival. Without the weather emergency, I wonder how long it would have taken for these folks and their animals to get help.

DIY Rescue and Foster
If you’re in the area, check out the Hurricane Sandy Lost & Found Pets page on Facebook set up to reunite pets with their people. Look for the pets posted. They’re probably scared and hiding, or scared and difficult to approach. Some local shelters are asking for folks to foster animals in need until the owners’ living situations have stabilized.

[AP photo by Craig Ruttle.]

Know Any Vegetarians? Tell Them About Catskill Animal Sanctuary

My apologies for being out of touch these past few months, but I’m still in the throes of funerals, cleanouts, and Christmas. I’m writing today because of a plea I received from Catskill Animal Sanctuary, an organization I told you about in October. (Remember Rambo?)

Founder Kathy Stevens, who now blogs for the Huffington Post as well as for CAS, was challenged to raise 1.5 million $mackeroo$ for her farm rescues. If she does so by the end of today, that money will be matched by some generous individual.

She’s close, but about $100,000 short.

Now I realize that most Lull readers have little cash in reserve, but maybe you know someone in better financial health who can spare some green for neglected and abused farm animals. Or for the programs Stevens has developed to educate people about agribusiness.

Please spread the word. Let’s help her get that match.

[Pictured are Goosezilla and Babe from CAS.]