Spirit Animal Sanctuary

Hi everyone.

My name is Kat, and I’m raising money for a cause that means a lot to me. Two years ago I was faced with the very hard reality of having to rehome my dog Ozzy - there was a lot that led up to this and it was the hardest thing I've had to do but I knew it was the right decision for both of us at that time and especially for him. He deserved a peaceful place where he could have room to run around, have constant companionship, and a sense of freedom.

Unfortunately because of his behavioral challenges (he had generalized anxiety due in part to being fully deaf and in part to not being in the right environment for him - and I'm sure I contributed to that feeling with my own emotions no matter how happy and safe I tried to make him feel), I was not able to find any home or rescue that was willing to take him in because he was deemed "unadoptable" and his bite history, though minor, made him a liability to everyone I reached out to. I did not want to relinquish him to a shelter that I knew would mean certain euthanasia. I felt hopeless - until I came across Spirit Animal Sanctuary.

Alan, the owner at the time, was a longtime canine behavioral specialist and trainer and he built a sanctuary that was dedicated to saving dogs like Ozzy that would not be given a home anywhere else because of their difficulty adjusting or even one-off incidents. He worked with them on behavior modification. He knew every dog by name and they all loved him. He also never turned people or dogs in need away - this was a saint like quality; however, because he didn't seek out help himself, it also became very overwhelming for him. In his final years his health started to rapidly deteriorate due to cancer, and the sanctuary along with it. He had over 100 dogs in his care at the time of his death. Right before he passed, he signed the sanctuary over to his niece, Linda, who took it over and beared the burden of sorting through forgotten records, getting all the dogs to trust her, doing outreach, rebuilding and rehabilitating structures and dogs on the property, getting outside help, and going through hardship after hardship to make Spirit a better place for all of its residents - past and future. But the road continues to be long and hard - there is still so much work to be done to not just improve the living conditions on the property but just to maintain it, and to take care of all the dogs basic needs and vet bills, with pleading requests for new dogs coming in almost daily. Sadly, the funds SAS receives are very limited and dwindling.

The reality is, if the sanctuary does not receive the donations it needs to keep operating fast - they will have to close by the end of the year. And that means almost 100 dogs who have become accustomed to this being their safe haven, and endless more that would've ended up here, will be displaced. Some might be taken in by other rescues, but a majority will be euthanized. In this critical moment, I ask that you please donate anything you can. Every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact. If you can’t donate right now, sharing this fundraiser is also incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. It means the world to me.

You can read about the sanctuary's mission below.

Spirit Animal Sanctuary

SPIRIT ANIMAL SANCTUARY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FACILITY THAT PROVIDES FOOD, WATER, HOUSING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, REGULAR VETERINARY CARE, ENRICHMENT AND ONGOING BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 BEHAVIORALLY OR MEDICALLY CHALLENGED DOGS IN OUR CARE. THE SANCTUARY ALSO OFFERED CANINE BEHAVIOR ADVICE THROUGH BLOGS AND OVER 100 EMAIL CONSULTATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE AIMED TO FURTHER THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE INHERITED BEHAVIOR OF DOGS. WE ARE SPECIAL - WE PROVIDE A "HOME FOR LIFE" FOR UNADOPTABLE DOGS. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE DOGS WE SAVE WILL HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING. DOGS ARE SOCIAL PACK ANIMALS - THEY NEVER DO WELL IN SOLITARY KENNEL ENVIRONMENTS. WE HAVE PROVIDED A SPACE THAT ENSURES THEIR OPTIMUM HAPPINESS. THE SANCTUARY IS COMMITTED TO MAKING EACH DOG'S LIFE AS FREE AND HAPPY AS POSSIBLE - A LIFE WORTH LIVING. THE SANCTUARY RAISES FUNDS FOR SANCTUARY PURPOSES THROUGH FOUNDATIONS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.

**Update February 25th-yesterday we had a fire that destroyed one of our buildings. We are in desperate need of help to rebuild. Please help if you can!

Alan ran Spirit Animal Sanctuary for 20 years. He passed away almost 7 months ago, and his niece, Linda P., was thrown into handling things at the Sanctuary. Our priority is, and has been, gaining the trust of the animals so that we can care for them properly. Unfortunately, Alan became ill, was overwhelmed, and as many of you have deduced, he was in over his head.

We’ve spent over $90,000 in these last few months with vet bills and other expenses that were absolute necessities. We are not even close to being done yet. Our goals, as a team, include a complete renovation and creating the sanctuary that everyone envisioned years ago. Buildings will be repaired, kennels and runs will be expanded, and we will be upgrading the facilities for the comfort of these animals. Our incredible, selfless management staff and dedicated volunteers will ensure that Spirit Animal Sanctuary is a place to be proud of.

Linda P. is Alan’s niece, and she jumped all the way in, literally almost killing herself to be sure the animals are happy, healthy, and safe. There are many dogs, 2 horses, and multiple feral cats on the property. She quit her job on Long Island to continue the job her uncle started. Unfortunately, Alan passed away before enlisting help or putting a staff in place. He left the sanctuary in rough shape, and the cleanup will take some time.

Our new website is being built by a fantastic local company, and we look forward to presenting it to you soon. We will have an online gift shop in the near future, and there are several fundraising efforts currently underway to help support our goals.

Our number one priority is the animals. We are giving them the attention and care that they deserve. This is going to be an amazing place as it should have been since the beginning. Please rest assured the animals are receiving incredible care from multiple handlers that are responsible animal lovers and dedicated workers. They are fed, they have water, they have heat, they have blankets, and they have treats, thanks to many donations from animal lovers near and far! More improvements will continue to be made in the spring and summer! But we need your help.

Please allow us time to make the adjustments. We ask that you do not visit the property without making an appointment. This allows us time to prepare the animals for visitors. They only knew Alan for many years, and strangers agitate them, and they can act out when excited.

Thank you sharing, donating, and for your continued support.

Spirit Animal Sanctuary