Crickett has spent his retirement after a life of military service caring for the stray and abandoned cats that found their way to him in his small Colorado town. He has never turned away a hungry animal. Over the years, the cats he fed and protected became a family he calls The Green Cat Shack. With the help of donors, he has been able to give them food, veterinary care, safety, and love while dreaming of a permanent sanctuary where they could finally have stability.
Because of the support we received in the first stage of this fundraiser, that dream is no longer out of reach. We were able to secure land for Crickett’s sanctuary in Calhan, CO. At the moment, we have an urgent need for 1,000 gallon water tanks. Colorado is facing an extreme drought, and Calhan is heavily affected with an estimate that the water supply may be completely depleted by December or earlier. Your donation today will help us to build up water reserves now that will help the cats carry through to the end of the drought. We are also working on building a reserve of cat food, as shipping to the remote town of Calhan is often disrupted by weather conditions, power outages and gas shortages.
We used the GoFundMe donations from phase 1 to obtain permits, architects, and engineers, which allowed us to get all construction work ready to begin. We also continued caring for many cats during this time, making sure they had everything they needed while the plans moved forward.
We are now ready for Phase Two of developing the cat sanctuary. Crickett has watched this project grow from an idea to a real place where his cats will soon have safe indoor spaces and room to live without fear. We have secured one hundred twenty thousand dollars from large donors to begin building the first structures. There are eight buildings planned in total. Phase Two will focus on the first two barns for the cats and our first house. These barns will include playrooms, office areas for employees, and dedicated rooms for medical treatment. These are also of the utmost importance to help us obtain PACFA licensing, which will help us to become sustainable by unlocking a wide range of grants, resources and partnerships.
We also plan to build a small home for Crickett on the property so he can stay close to the animals he has devoted his life to. While we continue building, a cat will always benefit deeply from any donation received. A $25 donation can feed a cat for a month. A $100 donation can cover the veterinary care needed for a cat. $250 covers the cost of a mobile vet to provide care to many cats at once.
Once these first buildings are complete, we will move into Phase Three. This will include a workshop, housing for employees, greenhouses, community gardens, and a space for community events and education. It will become a place where people and animals can grow, learn, and heal together.
Every donation brings Crickett closer to seeing the sanctuary he has dreamed about for years. Your support is giving him the chance to continue caring for the cats who depend on him and to finally finish building a permanent home where they can live long and peaceful lives together. We want to thank you all so much for the support you have given to Crickett and the cats that we are able to help because of you. We look forward to continuing to create a space where animals and compassionate people will always belong.