An Urgent Message From Marasia: Founder of Love The Animals ♥

“This generation will celebrate Animal Liberation.” ~Marasia

Let me begin with thanking all of you for all you do for the animals. Your efforts and activism are a source of inspiration beyond words. We all must continue to work, and do as much as we possibly can, for liberation, for the animals. Special Thanks to those who have found it in your hearts to support our work financially over the years, we wouldn’t be here moving forward without you. You are in our thoughts and hearts, each and every day. Thank you so much. The lives we saved together are so precious. I love them all so much, they are a lovable loving bunch.

I feel as if I need to explain the urgency of our current situation and why now more than ever, we really need your help. As some of you may of heard, we are moving the Love The Animals Sanctuary to Ahimsa Hamakua, a 33 acre Vegan Peace Center located nearby. My amazing Vegan friend Sharron has generously offered her land to the lovable animals of Love The Animals. This is the place we have been planning to take the animals for a long time now, but since I did not have a vehicle, the move was not possible. A generous donation was given to us at the beginning of the year from a dear friend and adviser, who herself had a well known sanctuary in the past, featured in a re-released film now playing, which had to close due to lack of funding. I met with her about 4 years ago at her vegan cafe, right before I began this work with the rescue of Pono the Holstein Steer. I will never forget this meeting. I still hear her words and gentle advice ringing in my ears as an ongoing source of support and encouragement. This Donation allowed me to buy a nice used truck to use for the animals and also allowed me to start the set up of the new location at Ahimsa Hamakua. The money came right in time too, I heard the check was in the mail, and then I heard the next day that we had to move. Without that money, I would of panicked, I don’t know what would of happened. With the donation, we were also able to purchase a secure 10,000 square foot fenced area ($2400) to welcome the animals. We also were able to run through current vetting, and pay for our feed and needs during the past month, as donations from the internet* which we truly rely on, were non existent.

Let me tell you something, though I shouldn’t. Its a bit of a peek behind the curtain. There is a bit of granny wisdom that runs through the sanctuary scene which states that people will give $ to save a life or lives, for the rescue efforts, but after that, the donations trickle down and you are left basically on your own to think fast, with more mouths to feed and more individuals to care for. The lack of funding is what closes many sanctuaries, we do not want to be one of them. When we are in the middle of an animal rescue campaign, I can expect a few donations a day, when we aren’t… we are lucky to get a few a month. That makes this very hard. Something to think about, please don’t forget about us, or them… they still need your help after their lives are saved.

Please understand, that at the beginning of 2009, I was caring for 24 rescued individuals. By the beginning of 2010 our family had increased to 148 rescued animal individuals. From when I wake up until I go to sleep, I care for all of these animals myself, on a volunteer basis never taking any pay. Then there is the promo work, the fund raising, the networking, the shopping. The animals themselves are a joy beyond words, and I am honored to be a part of this, but its also a lot of work, time, stress, and money. Our feed and vet bills run over $1200 a month easy, and there are so many other costs.

To check into the internet and see that someone has donated is a real boost to the moral and the fund, and helps me make another step in the right direction. But when the donations freeze and stop, it is a heartbreak. The Animal Rights/Veg/ Animal Loving Internet Community has always been there for us, and for that I am grateful beyond words. Please be there for us now, do not leave us to do this all by ourselves. I don’t know if i can. The animals dont make any money, they eat it. The exploiters make money, the cattlemen here can make $1000 a head. I hope the day will come when more money is available to save the animals than to kill them.

I couldn’t make all the money needed myself even if i had the time to work paying jobs everyday of the week all day. At this moment, I am writing this blog and logged onto my phone job, I am trying my best to keep the money flowing, but I worry, a lot. I can only do so much. I began this work with the thought, “lets see what one person can do” but at this point, I realize I can do a lot more if I can find the help and inspire support of others. The task is too great for me to accomplish alone. This sanctuary is an offering to the animals, from all of us.

The move and creation of a new sanctuary for these animals is no small task and it will be very expensive. At this point, only 7 donations have come in totaling $125 to help fund the sanctuary move and creation project. And we truly appreciate those who have given to this very much and the $ has been a big help. But of course, this is nowhere near enough, and I don’t know how to get the fund raising machine up and running. I am always amazed and touched, brought to tears literally, funnily enough when people give a donation to this work for the animals, $10 and I am teary eyed. Sadly, I am also amazed and surprised when people do not give. I understand, the economy, can’t help all who ask, etc. but that can’t stop this, can it? This must move forward, it is my obligation to the animals who have been tortured, abused, sold, and killed by the industry. Understand that I am not asking you to support me, I am asking you to help the animals. This work cannot be done without you. The donations from the Internet have been keeping us afloat for all these years, and now we really need them, and I fear, they may not arrive. That would be tragic to fail at this peak point when we face an opportunity to give the lovable animals of Love The Animals and others who need us, a beautiful new location, complete with ocean and mountain views, peace, lots of room, and tranquility.

At this point we have the donation goal set at $10,000. I would like to be able to expand the 10,000 square foot area with two side wings and then be able to build another one. Also, the barns and shelters from Walter and Francis (the obese pigs rescued last year) need to be re-built. There are so many incidental costs, and we use and will continue to use a lot of recycled/unwanted items when we can, but many things need purchased.

We have to move, the pressure is on now from the owners and caretakers of the property we are on. A neighbor selling the property next door called and complained that we have farm animals in a residential zone. The health dept. is coming for an inspection any day now. So far, we have moved some of the bunnies, pigs and goats. But its not like I can just put them all in one big area and say, now everyone get along. Feeding time would be the real challenge. Also, I cant start taking apart and reusing the posts, fence, and shelters at the current location at the new location, until we have everyone set up and moved to the new location.

To be honest, I dont know how we made it to this point over the past few years. In a mystical way, I feel as if we are being supported by the disembodied animals who have been killed by the industry. The way that things happen, how the money arrives when needed, how we have never run out of food and are always able to see the vets… I check my pockets and bank accounts, always empty. Where is the money coming from? From compassionate people like YOU!

My dream remains to collapse the exploitation industry and slaughter the slaughterhouses, but one step at a time. At this point we are creating a much needed sanctuary for the island animals… it is no paradise for many of them, believe me. I still feel we will multiply our efforts in time worldwide with education and activist centers along with Sanctuaries around the world. Please help this dream come true. Without you, it will remain a dream.

Please friends, I am only asking for $10 from 1000 people. That seems easy enough, but I have been asking for over a week now, 7 people have come forward. Please be one of the 1000 who help us help them, please. What are we made of? What can we do? for them… I suppose the answer to this question depends on you, please step up and chip in. Dont think that others will, they probably won’t. If this money to create the new sanctuary cant be raised, I will seriously have to consider what the future holds, and doesn’t hold, for this vision, this important work, and the lovable animals of Love The Animals. Unfortunately we are at the point in this work where this either succeeds or fails. I am an optimist, I believe in you, please believe in us, and please make a donation, today. Love and thanks. Love Liberates.

Love The Animals,
Marasia

Please support this work: with so many animals… I just dont have time to fundraise all day and night on the internet anymore, we need your help promoting, fundraising, and donating. Please Help.

At the new location they will have a panoramic ocean view, I always promise to find them the best locations to live, it is the least i can do. They deserve it, but i cant do it without you!

$10. Is it asking too much? I ask for them, they cant ask themselves. I will not give up on them, or you, or this work. This MUST happen, PLEASE DONATE.

Please Support The Work Of Love The Animals: Donate Today – no amount is too small, we appreciate every single cent.

Please Click The Link Below To Chip Via Paypal:
http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/72b7849439b30363

If You Prefer or Do Not Have Paypal:
Checks and Money Orders (and cash *in card or letter for safety)
can be sent to:
Anthony Marasia / Love The Animals, Po Box 381, Honomu Hi 96728

Please make checks out to Anthony Marasia

*Please note that I am not paid for this work.
Love The Animals is the work of one person. Love The Animals is not a
group or organization (yet) – I have never taken a dollar of donation
money. All Donations go directly to the animals of Love The Animals.

Thank you so much from the animals!

If many of you will just give a little love, we can do so much. Please Help, thanks.