FSS Urgent Winter Hay Fundraiser
Free Spirit Sanctuary is desperately needing help to make sure we have enough hay to feed all of the animals in our care this winter. FSS is a registered not-for-profit located 30 km NW of Cochrane Alberta. For over a decade we have been providing lifelong sanctuary for domestic and wild horses, donkeys and a small number of farmed animals rescued from neglect or slaughter, as well as inspiring compassion for all living beings and advocating for the protection and freedom of Alberta's Wild Horses.
This has been a difficult year for the sanctuary due to a very dry summer leading to a lack of pasture and unprecedented hay prices. This was followed by the arrival of cold, snowy weather in mid-September, bumping up our winter feeding schedule by several weeks. The increased cost of hay, in addition to significant veterinary expenses over the past few months, has pushed our finances to the limit this fall.
We also recently discovered the hay we thought was reserved for us had all been sold, leaving us scrambling to find a new supply very late in a year with drastic shortages and prices nearly double what they were last year. We have now run out of hay and have had to resort to hay cubes and compressed timothy bales.
Please see our website for more information:
http://www.freespiritsanctuary.ca/donate
** Preferred Donation Method = INTERAC e-TRANSFER to:
[email redacted]
(no service charges to FSS & we receive the funds immediately)
A donation of any amount is greatly appreciated! (The value of a bale is set at $10 for ease of donation. We will not know the exact cost until we secure a new supply, which will likely be a combination of small square bales and large rounds)
$10 = 1 hay bale: Feed your favourite horse for 2 days, or the donkeys or cows for a day
$25 = Feed Little Appy, Buddy & Ramsey, the cows, sheep & goats for a day
$50 = Feed your favourite horse for 10 days
$100 = Feed the Donkeys for 10 days
$200 = Feed the FSS Wildies for 1 week
$250 = 25 bales: Feed the Cows for 1 month or the FSS Drafties for 10 days
$500 = For all donations of $500 or more receive a free FSS 2019 Calendar
In the past we have brought in loads of 500 small square bales at a time, spreading the cost out over the winter months. Unfortunately, our regular supplier didn't have a crop this year. With such limited supplies and high demand, producers are offering their hay first come, first served with no holds, so we need to have enough funds on hand as soon as possible to purchase our entire supply through to next summer.
We need 2400 small square bales. We do not have a tractor that can handle large bales and I do all the feeding myself, so we have always used small squares. Although it would add at least a couple of hours of work to my daily routine I am willing to go to rounds this year if need be. We require about 132,000 lbs of hay to make it to next summer. Depending on price this will cost us anywhere from about $14,000 to well over $20,000 that will need to be paid out as a lump sum upon finding hay.
Free Spirit Sanctuary has never been in such an urgent position before, so we are reaching out for help from the community. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Sandie & the Animals of Free Spirit Sanctuary
Re:. Not-for-Profit Status
FSS is a registered non-profit organization in the province of Alberta. We are not a registered charity with the CRA, so we are unable to issue tax receipts.
We have chosen not to seek charitable status because of the significant restrictions that would place on our ability to advocate for an end to horse slaughter and protection for the wild horses of Alberta. As well, the administrative burden involved is beyond our capacity to take on at this time. We can assure you that 100% of funds we receive go directly toward providing the best care possible for the animals of FSS. Thank you for your understanding.
News Stories:
Calgary Herald
"Southern Alberta animal sanctuary struggles to feed rescue horses amid hay shortages"
"Animal sanctuary issues plea for hay donations to get through the winter" (CBC)
