Heartbreaking! Suggestions?

[Catty1]

Those poor pets and people!

I agree, they probably just don't have time or energy to get the word out!

Would the local town government help at all?

Write the schools and everything - even the papers and radio stations...

..wouldn't it be wonderful if some building stores or companies donated materials (even used), and a bunch of people volunteered to paint and build and refurbish?

There might even be grants available for them that no one has had time to find out about.

If you get the word out, and through the media too, things are bound to happen. If people in that town saw TV pictures of what it is like in there, I bet there's be another volunteer or two.

PRAYERS that the shelter gets everything it needs and more - and bless you and hubby for DOING something about the situation.

[kitten645]

The shelter I volunteer at has an after school program for high school kids. It gives them school credit for the time they volunteer. Scouts also earn points for volunteering.
Are you familiar with Free Cycle?? It's a email group where you post what sort of things you have to give away or want for free. There are local ones everywhere. Ask for everything you can think of. I'm amazed at what people have lying around just waiting to get rid of. www.freecycle.org
You might also post on Craigslist for donations AND volunteers. I bet it would be a big help to them to just co-ordinate volunteers. I know from experience it's a huge time consuming process.
My shelter also does fundraisers. Get stuff donated thru methods mentioned above and have a garage sale with all proceeds going to the shelter.
Get local businesses to donate services and goods and sell raffle tickets. You can print them up at home. ie raffle off a meal at a restaurant. Or a manicure. The business gets publicity and the shelter gets $$. If you get big enough donations ie art or something of value, you could also do a silent auction.
Perhaps local businesses have merchandise they put on clearance and at some point it just needs to be gotten rid of...ask if they will donate to the shelter. If it's xmas towels in mid jan you could use them for the shelter or if it's merch the shelter doesn't need you could use it for a garage sale.
You have to get creative! LOL! It isn't just money this shelter needs but time and people.
Good luck and pm me if you want further help or advice.

[Freedom]

It sounds like they need to to say "no, we can not take any more at this time, we are FULL!"

Many churches require confirmation students to be invovled in a community service project for one year. Let them know this is an opportunity!

[catmandu]

SADLY I HAD THE FEELING THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE AS THE ABANDONED PETS START TO MULTIPLY AND MORE AND MORE UNWANTED PETS ARE PICKED UP AND TAKEN TO SHELTERS.
AND THATS NOT COUNTING THE LUCKEST PETS WHO DIE N THE WILD OR ARE RUN OVER BY CARS OR KILLED BY PREDETORS, HUMAN AND WILD.
ITS A HIGH PRICE THESE PETS ARE APYING BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SO IRRESPONSIBLE.
A VERY HIGH PRICE INDEED.

THEY ARE MORE LUCKY THAN THEY KNOW.

[G535]

The thought of that poor cat kept in a cage for four years is heartbreaking, would he not have been better off put to sleep? Our shelter keeps cats for a few months, even longer if someone shows a bit of interest, but they would not keep them in cages for so long.

[moosmom]

I have ALWAYS said, MEDIA, MEDIA, MEDIA!!!!! Call every tv, radio station and tell your story. Show pictures of what the place looks like with floor to ceiling cages. See how fast things turn around.

Fundraiswers can be anything from a bake sale, have everyone empty their attics and have a charity tag sale. One man's junk is another man's treasure. Go to placed like Petco, Pet Supplies Plus, any kind of shop that deals with pets. Ask for donations and do a silent raffle.

Those poor creatures need to be noticed. No one and nothing should have to live like that.

That reminded me of the Dearborn Animal Shelter in Dearborn, MI. Ugh!!