OASIS SANCTUARY UPDATE
January 2010
Hello Everyone
Sorry for the long delay in posting our update. As many of you know we have been short-staffed and under-funded. making our work more difficult. Though we find ourselves in a dearth of help and money there is no shortage of love and care for the wonderful remaining critters at Oasis.
Since our last update we have managed to pay the property taxes and once again avoided auction by the county. This was largely made possible by selling one of the parcels owned by Oasis. We also had a few shekels left over from the sale which was used to pay outstanding bills and services. Thankfully we also received enough donations from compassionate individuals to help pay our operating expenses for a couple of months. There’s no fluff at Oasis, almost every cent goes directly into animal care.
Critter count down- then up - then down
Due to some of our animals being adopted and sadly because some have crossed over Rainbow Bridge we have fewer animals since our last update.
However, because Oasis has had a few animals abandoned on the property as well as injured animals encountered in our travels, the number of critters at times had gone up. Though we are not taking in anymore animals we will not turn our backs on those who are put in our path. Like what happened last July fourth.
Give me Liberty or give me death
In the middle of the night someone dumped a dog at Oasis, leaving him behind the cat house by the pig barn. When we got up that morning we found the poor critter cowering in the far end of an all too small filthy crate. There was feces everywhere, even on his face. His whole body was thoroughly soaked with urine and the hay that was used as his bedding was completely saturated with excretion of all kinds. The poor boy must have been in there for a least a couple of days before he was dropped off at our sanctuary. He was extremely fearful and trembled uncontrollably. He was emaciated to the point where we were able to see bone structure through his filthy and matted coat. He was full of porcupine quills - poor critter looked like a busy pin cushion - unfortunately two of them pierced his left eye. He had infected open wounds and was frantically panting.
We quickly rushed him to the Vet hospital. After several months, thanks to the magnanimous and compassionate services of Dr Andy Kaplan of the Toby Project (www.tobyproject.org), the poor dog got a new lease on life.
Now that he was freed from abject pain and misery, along with the fact that we found him on the fourth of July, we felt it was apropos to name him Liberty.
One-eyed and multi-talented, Liberty has revealed himself to be one of the sweetest, most loveable and comical critters you’ll ever meet. He’s recovered physically and mentally to the point where we feel comfortable in adopting him out to a loving forever home.
When I watch Liberty sleeping and snoring next to me with his paw across my chest and what appears to be a smile on his face, my mission is clear - I’d rather die than not help Liberty.
We need your money and your love
In a nutshell:
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We are continuing to down-size
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We are continuing to help critters
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We need donations
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We need a buyer for the property (but that will not be necessary if we have enough donor revenue to keep us here)
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We need serious volunteers
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We need your love during these most difficult times. You can send us a poem, a story a picture or a song to let us know that you are with us. Spiritual support is very important in helping us keep the fires of compassion burning.
People are animals too
I also want to take this opportunity to say that although we have been enduring very difficult times these last few years right now our problems seem almost frivolous in comparison to the huge suffering of the Haitian people who have been devastated by the recent earthquake.
Our prayers and blessings go out to all those affected by this catastrophe and wish that their misery is not prolonged and that peace comes to them quickly
I also urge all those in the animal advocacy community to consider sending donations to reputable relief agencies to help the victims of this tragedy.
For me, it is good to be mindful that I am fortunate enough to live in a country where millions of animals have better living conditions than some people in other parts of the world.
What can I say but in the words of Che Guevara: "the struggle continues" but may I add,for all of us two- and four-legged alike.
Sincerely
for the critters
Eddie Lama
Click HERE to make an online donation.
Liberty
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130 Dyker Road, North Branch, New York 12766 — Email
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