As proud women leading fiercely independent lives asking for your donations takes courage on our part. We are asking for help to cover moving expenses from Washington State to upstate New York and re-establish our Fauna Flora Farm here.

Here is our story.

Many years ago, out of a passion and love for animals, we started a small Fauna Flora Farm on Vashon Island in Washington. Over the years, we have rescued more than 60 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, mice, sheep, ducks, and goats. We provided animal therapy with many of them to help them regain trust in humans and other animals while adjusting to their respective disabilities. Most were deaf, deafblind, diabetic, had cancer and other neurological issues. We also created a Fauna Flora Fun Camp for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind children on Vashon Island. A personal 4-year journey with cancer and several job-related relocations limited the growth of our farm. Most recently, a 10-year stint working for the State of Washington allowed us to re-establish our Fauna Flora Farm. We saw our mission to educate our deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing communities about the remarkable personalities and needs of the various animals under our care. We are also Deaf with disabilities and know how to relate to these creatures. I am “accused” of being an animal whisperer since I am keenly in tune with their body language, pain, joy, and needs,

Old age and illness have taken many of our animals. We seem to have this gift of knowing they are approaching their life’s end. We provide the opportunity to allow these creatures to pass on as comfortably as possible. Our connections are deeply felt and shared.

An exciting new job opportunity encouraged us to relocate outside Rochester, New York. We took on the extraordinary task of moving ourselves and our four horses, nine goats, two ducks, three dogs, and five cats across the country. The arrangement with the realtor and seller to allow us to house our animals and stay on the property before closing was denied at the last minute. The seller delayed the closing several times after we arrived in New York. We were forced to arrange expensive care for the animals, rent hotel rooms, and feel isolated for more than two months. The expenses overwhelmed our budget, and we found ourselves without the funds to deliver all our personal property. Banks have recently denied our application for any loans. The entire contents of our home and farm in Tacoma, Washington, were moved to storage before the move. The cost of storage and movers is where we need help right now. We need $40,000 to pay off the storage costs and deliver our possessions to our new home. Our clothes, furnishing, books, photos, artwork, tools, and farm equipment remain in the Washington storage locker. We live in an empty house, eating at TV tables without TV and sleeping on air mattresses.

All proceeds will go directly to cover our moving and storage expenses.

It also helps us get closer to re-establishing our Fauna Flora Farm and Fun Camp. We are working to create a new website filled with stories, educational resources, and sign language we use with our animals.

Thank you for helping us.