All animal rescue organizations struggle, it's the nature of the work. Best laid plans and budgets can be destroyed by a single medical emergency, a bad storm, or a surprise litter of pups or kittens… and mundane stuff like food and utilities can really add up, too. 

I "met" Laurie online via a rescue partner a year ago when she agreed to take in Bambi, a survivor of the dog meat trade in Korea who was surrendered by her American adopters and abandoned by her Korean rescuers. Laurie didn't hesitate to help, providing Bambi with a loving and stable safe haven. Over this time, I've been inspired by her amazing work, but lately I've seen how the compounding effects of natural disasters, tough rescues and inflation have taken a heavy toll. So, I've set up this fundraiser (with Laurie's blessing) to help the team at Golda's House Animal Rescue continue their mission: "To FEED, SPAY, NEUTER, HOUSE, REHABILITATE and GIVE HOPE and LOVE to the innocent creatures which have been left in the cruel wake of the human misconception of dominion."

Below are a few examples of the many ways they achieve these goals:

FEED: Providing a good diet for the ever-changing number of residents is a constant struggle for any rescue. Golda's is supporting a combination of long-term fosters , recent kill-list rescues like the precious pups just pulled from the shelter, as well as animals that make their way to the sanctuary in more extreme circumstances like the two “pool puppies” (see below). Recently, Two pittie mix puppies (Delila and Dulcinea) were mysteriously found in the pool on their property a few weeks ago - thanks to Laurie's quick thinking, they survived this bizarre ordeal. When they're all healthy and ready, they'll need to be spayed/neutered before heading to their furever homes.

SPAY AND NEUTER:

HOUSE: Being located in the desert means Golda's House has some temporary space for rescue animals which Laurie describes as “not quite a zoo, but more like a cluster”. However the flipside, is the exorbitant heating and cooling costs which come with keeping the animals safe and comfortable on chilly winter nights, blazing hot summer afternoons... And all the days in between. 

REHABILITATE: It's quite rare to rescue an animal and find out they're 100% healthy, but every now and then a rescue gets hit with a tough case. Take Niko, a husky pup who was thrown over a fence suffering from a prolapsed rectum and other signs of abuse. After recovering from a couple of surgeries, things were looking up - until Niko suddenly collapsed and suffered violent cluster seizures - this incident led to over $1000 in vet bills and he's not out of the woods yet.

GIVE HOPE AND LOVE: The goal for all of the animals in Golda’s care is to find happy and stable homes for the rest of their lives, however these homes might not be local. One of the biggest hurdles for rescuers is transport, so having a reliable and properly-equipped vehicle - that also meets state smog regulations - is key. The saga of Golda’s House's 1996 GMC Savana isn't super excitingh but after $6000 in repairs, she's ready to roll out their transport program with the hope that a better vehicle might be donated to be able to transport their animals as well as aiding other rescues in the area to move their precious cargo interstate in safety and comfort. They have also become actively involved in a group of citizens who are protesting and lobbying for the halt of euthanasia in California.

The $5000 goal for this fundraiser will help with Niko's vet bills, some of the van repairs, the upcoming cooling costs, the spay/neuter surgeries. Lately, PayPal at [email protected] has been one way donors have been able to send much-needed funds… A minor inconvenience to some, but without this vital lifeline. Golda's House Animal Rescue is in a dire position so freefunder here is an added method to donate…

Every dollar counts and if you can't donate, please share this fundraiser on social media. Let's see what “a hopeful heart” (as Laurie says) and little help from our friends can achieve.

“Feathered, furry or scaled; two legs or four, our animal friends need your help and support.”

You can donate here or Zelle: 6268027263

All funds raised will go directly to Golda's House - a non-profit, 5013c NO KILL animal rescue.

See their website for more ways you can help (check out the wish-list page):

https://www.goldashouseanimalrescue.org/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/goldas.house