09/01/2024
As I mark ten years as the Executive Director of Saving One Life Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, I’m filled with deep gratitude and reflection. This decade has been an extraordinary journey, marked by challenges and triumphs, driven by our collective passion for the animals we serve.
I am profoundly thankful for the incredible volunteers, fosters, adoption partners, and supporters who have made our work possible. Their dedication is the cornerstone of our success. Yet, it saddens me that the broader community remains largely unaware of the critical challenges faced by animal rescues.
In a world where the spotlight often eludes organizations like ours, we have quietly made a powerful difference. Despite the lack of press, awareness, or funding that many other causes receive, our commitment remains unwavering. Our success is built on the tireless efforts of volunteers who pour their time, energy, and love into our mission.
Shelters are vital—they are the central hub for lost pets and provide essential care. County shelters, which are underfunded and open-admission, often face overcrowded kennels and overstretched resources. In contrast, some well-funded shelters with the ability to turn away animals leave the difficult cases to rescues, adding strain to our already limited resources.
Every day, we receive pleas from shelters to take in animals, yet we frequently lack the necessary resources to support these requests. We operate with significantly less funding, usually without physical facilities, and often without staff.
Our fosters are true heroes. They come home from their day jobs to care for animals in need, often managing other personal responsibilities. They sacrifice sleep, comfort, and personal time, driven not by recognition but by their commitment to saving lives. Their reward is knowing they’ve made a difference and created space to save another animal.
Our community colony caregivers and TNR team play a crucial role. They diligently feed colonies of feral and friendly cats each night, often facing indifference from others when seeking help. They humanely trap those unfixed cats to stem the overpopulation. Their dedication ensures these cats receive at least one solid meal a day, highlighting the importance of caring for those in need as we would want for our own lost pets.
Take a moment to appreciate the impact we make:
*saving over 1,500 animals each year,
*placing more than 1,000 in loving homes
*feeding 400 cats daily
*altering through TNR over 300 cats each year
—all thanks to our dedicated volunteers.
Here’s to celebrating a decade of compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment. The journey continues, and I am honored to be on this path with such remarkable individuals.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Carrie M. Neidorf
