Dear Animal Friends,
It’s that time of year again: Fall! It means a lot of things. Here on the farm there is a lot of harvest. Outside, I hear the machinery picking corn and soybeans, the sky is clear and the leaves are beautiful. Inside, the cats are shedding their light summer coats and getting their thick winter fur – but not as thick as the barn cats and my horses that look like wooly mammoths!
It is also time for our wonderful Wine Taste that will be held on Saturday, November 5th at Angels Hall from 7pm to 10pm. This event at Angels is one of the best. If you have never been to one, it is definitely worth the trip. Ohio Wine brings their finest wines and their wine experts. Joyce and Bill from Chalet Premier will help explain the many wines that you can savor.
Our volunteer chef, Tommy DeGenova and his wife Toni (our 20-year cat volunteer – that’s since the barn days!) serve up delightful food. There is a lot of cheese, fruit, hors d’oeuvres and, of course, chocolate! For the guests who may not care for wine there will be a variety of beers and other spirits. John Ruman provides live music and takes requests. There will also be many Chinese auctions and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are just $30 for a single or $50 for a couple in advance, or $35 and $60 at the door that evening.
The other day when I was doing my TV 21 spot, Loren said to me, “You have SO MANY fundraisers!” Yes, that is true. Why? Because we are trying to save so many animals! I recently received a call from a man who wanted to know why we charge people $250 to adopt a puppy. Well, that’s a good question. Of course he meant it differently than that. Let me explain. At last tally our “out of pocket” cost to place a dog on our floor was $320.00 That does not include any overhead expense – just drugs and surgery. The cost to place a cat in the cat wing is around $230.00
This is really not hard to figure out. Just call a private veterinarian and you will find out. The health package that Angels provides is a $400 to $700 retail priced package. So how can we charge only $50 to $250 for this package? Because we have support from our community!
At this time we are at the end of the $100,000 ASPCA Adoption Challenge. Our goal was to place 703 pets in a three month span. Of the 50 shelters in the competition we are currently in the middle. We placed about 500 pets, so that was the good part. The bad part is that we also lost a lot of money doing it. Don’t get me wrong – this is our business, to get life-long, permanent homes for our dogs and cats. It is just a very expensive activity. Thus we need more help than ever!
In conclusion, PLEASE get involved. Come to our events and support our cause. If you cannot donate then please volunteer your time! Every time we have to pay a person, that money cannot be spent on animals. When I am asked how I can juggle my sign business, take care of my farm with its 70 animals and still volunteer 20 to 30 hours a week to Angels, I will tell you it is because it is SO important to me to change the future for dogs and cats. We are the only ones who will do it. Do NOT expect someone else to do it – they will not.
Come to the Wine Taste so that we can mellow out and help pets at the same time!
As always, in love for all animals – especially the unwanted,
Diane Less
Seriously, call me anytime 6am to midnight at 330.502.5352
