THANK YOU FOR A GREAT 2017!
This holiday season, we are reflecting on the past year, and it sure was eventful!
Life at CARE always has its ups and downs. We are a non-profit. We are an animal care facility. There will always be good days and there will always be bad ones. While we make a point to focus on the positive, there is no ignoring the hardships that impact our lives.
This year, like many around the world, we suffered great loss. Some losses were sudden leaving us confused and traumatized. Others were long battles that simply could not be won. We feel the absence of Flash, Tawney, Mwali, and Acari every day. But, they will always be remembered and will always be a part of CARE and in our hearts. Thank you so much for your love and support as we mourned these amazing creatures.
But, thankfully, 2017 had many incredible moments that soothed our wounds. And, we want to remember and celebrate our top 5 moments of the past year!
- Because of the incredible $25,183 that we recieved from the amazing Furry Fiesta attendees in the spring, CARE received some MAJOR updates! New platforms, waterfalls, housing, shelters, and other structures were all completed.
- One of the most spectacular events of 2017 was the arrival of baby lemur Momo. She showed up, literally, on our front step as an underweight, malnourished, and dehydrated 2 month old who didn't look like she would make it through the day. Five months later she is big and happy living with her adopted lemur family and it was nothing short of a miracle!
- We welcomed two more little ones to the CARE family, tigers Zara and Mika. These female cubs both desperately needed a home, and now they have one, and a dedicated team of CAREtakers to shower them with love, for the rest of their lives!
- CARE was also asked to take in two mountain lions after the Dallas Zoo retired it's oldest enclosures. We held a massive fundraiser to get the $50K needed to build them a truly PURR-FECT home and exceeded our goal. Thank you to everyone that donated! We are finishing up the final touches on their enclosure now and will welcome them to their new home in early 2018.
- Finally, while not a landmark in rescuing or fundraising, it was truly a special moment that none of us will ever forget. In the aftermath of Mwali's passing, the CARE community came together to do something remarkable for his mourning mate, Noel. Hundreds of stuffed animals showed up at CARE to help soothe our sad Noey. The outpouring of love still makes us teary-eyed.
Every time we asked for supplies for the animals, you sent them! Every time we held a fundraiser, you gave! And, every step of the way this year, you supported our work and showed your love for the animals that are so important to us all. You helped share CARE and our mission, gaining us even more support and allowing us to share the wonderful animals of CARE, and educate, many others. You have made it possible for us to achieve all that we have this year, and we thank you – from the bottom of our hearts – for that.
During the final days of the year, we ask you for your generosity and support once more as you plan your end of year giving. We have lots planned for 2018, like:
- Officially moving mountain lions Apollo and Lakai from the Dallas Zoo to CARE
- Purchasing a much needed golf cart for visitors to ride on during tours if they have difficulty walking
- Revealing a new and improved website
- Increasing our on-site and remote volunteer group
- Continuing to provide world-class care to our current residents
- Taking in big cats and other exotic animals that need a home as often as we can
- Much, much more - we can't give away all our secrets quite yet!
Your year-end contribution will get us on the right foot to accomplish our goals in 2018. Can we count on you for your help? We hope we can, because we can’t do it alone! Please click on the DONATE button below to send a loving gift to CARE.
Thank you for making 2017 such an important year for us and we hope each and every one of you has a happy and healthy 2018!!
Love and thanks,
The CARE Family
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