Help Me Help Animals In Need

My name is Mirelli Antunes and I am here today to ask for your contribution, to help minimize animal suffering and to create awareness and education about animal abuse and abandonment.

Why am I fundraising?

To build an animal shelter in a small town in Brazil, which has zero animal assistance from public service, no veterinary clinics in the city and a lot of abandoned and sick animals suffering abuse from lack of education and awareness.

I was not always aware of the devasting situation with street dogs and cats all over the world until I experienced a heart-breaking situation and changed my way of thinking and decided to make a difference and do my part.

I will share with you a brief story on how I got involved and became determined and passionate to make a difference in minimizing the suffering of so many abandoned animals out there and to inspire and educate people do to the same.

In April 2018, I rescued a little dog from the garbage. She was abandoned with a fractured leg and an open wound that was rotting. Her leg had a bandage wrapped around it and she was desperately trying to rip it off. It was very sunny and hot and she was covered with ticks and flees. I brought her home and wanted to help her as soon as possible to remove the bandage and to give her a shower. However, when I opened the bandage, the bone was exposed and the odor was terrible, and I panicked not knowing what to do! It got worse when I watched her leg being amputated without anesthesia, by my cousin who was brave and had no other choice or she would’ve bled to death. There are no vets in that small town and the people just do whatever they can do to take care of their pets, without any guidance from vets or help from public service. I panicked seeing her in that situation--feeling her pain was so devasting and cruel, I couldn’t leave her to die like that. So, I drove to a nearby city to bring her to the veterinary clinic and followed her treatment for months before she was strong enough to go through with medical amputation because her bone was exposed. Her name is Vitória, she is happy, safe, loving and very active, even though she only has three legs. That little innocent being changed my way of seeing things. She taught me compassion and empathy and gave me motivation like I never had before to help others, especially the ones who can’t speak for themselves.

Since then I’ve been working on creating an NGO in Divisa Alegre, Minas Gerais to create awareness, to educate the population and to build a shelter to provide basic needs to the animals. I created Facebook and Instagram accounts (@VIRALATAALEGRE) to provide the population with information about home-made treatments, laws on animal abuse and everything related to the well-being of animals. I also contacted the city mayor and provided a plan to be implemented in the city for the well-being of the animals and public health, but without response. I managed, however, to get more than 40 volunteers involved in the cause and we have been actively helping and rescuing animals at our cost.  But it has become impossible to cover all the expenses from our pockets--there are too many animals that need help. The fact that there are no veterinary clinics in the city and because we need to travel to get to the nearest vets and to purchase medications, it becomes even more expensive and time-consuming for everyone involved. The volunteers involved in the cause are very simple people, with small salaries and doing the best they can to help the animals.  

My older brother was so kind to donate some land to build the shelter and help my cause. Now I hope to raise the money with your help to build the shelter and protect as many animals as possible. Your contribution will be used only for the well being of the animals and deeply appreciated.


Please follow our work on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viralataalegre/ 

Thank You!


What do I plan to do with the funds?

To create a shelter to protect and feed 70 stray dogs and cats every day and to get them medical attention as and when required. In the shelter, we will need a first-aid room, bathing room, volunteers’ space, and a small kitchen/storage. 

The money will help to cover the cost to build the shelter for $20,000 and to buy the first stock of basic medical needs and food.


FAQs
 
1. How do I know this is legit?

Given the fact that the project is fairly new and given the situation of the city that lacks resources, I am doing the best that I can to help the animals and to get people involved in the cause. It’s not easy to attract and engage volunteers in a small town, who’s point of view about animals are very primitive, but they are good people and they are learning. In the meantime, I am working on the documentation to register the NGO, however, Brazil is a  bureaucratic country and the legal fees are quite expensive, but our goal is to work on building the shelter and securing the NGO license at the same time given the critical situation of the animals. I have a group of more 40 volunteers with me on a WhatsApp group and every day we receive videos and photos of animals suffering without being able to rescue them. In our social media, you will be able to follow our work and people’s engagement in the cause.

2. Why do you need this money?

To build a shelter in a city that has zero public assistance towards animals, no vets and to create awareness and to educate the population on animal abuse. To inspire and educate the population of that town and surrounding areas, which are not educated about the problem of animal abuse and abandonment--that effects not only the animals but also the people and the environment. To contribute to a better world, spreading kindness and empathy by being a volunteer.
 
3. What specific costs will my contribution cover?

The initial cost to build a small shelter, legal services, first-aid room, first stock of medication and dry food for one year and maintenance. We won’t be paying rent, so our cost will be mainly for taking care of the animals and maintenance of the shelter. We will cook healthy meals consisting of rice and meat from donations from a local city market combined with dry dog food, providing two meals per day. This, plus the fuel expenses, depending on the emergency, to take the animals to a hospital. We also expect to hire staff for feeding and cleaning the shelter daily. The money raised will go entirely towards covering these costs. 

4. Will you be keeping any money as a fee for your efforts?

No. My only goal is to minimize the animals’ suffering and to create awareness. It is something I do out of my love for animals and because I  believe in a better world. With determination, love, and focus, we all could make a difference somewhere in the world.
 

5. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a Canadian Brazilian, living in Canada since 2002 and a pet parent. He is the most loving dog—his name is Don Pablo. I am an Interior Designer. I believe in the humanization of animals and care about their quality of life. I run an animal rescue WhatsApp group called VIRA LATA ALEGRE - PROTEÇAO E VALORIZAÇAO DOS ANIMAIS and am also part of another WhatsApp rescue group called Pelos Social NGO, which I help with donations and publicity.