Animal lovers!

I saw that article as well. I am signing up! This guy Randy donated $500,000 last year when the memberships went from 167 to 1,000. Now the goal is to add another 1,000 members and Randy pledged to donate two installments of $250,000 if they reach their goals.

Helping out the animals does set in motion things that eventually are helping people, community, environment, etc. Okay, I just wanted to add my two cents (plus a nickel) 🙂

Teresa

Does anyone know if they take a check/donation over the phone? I would love to help but am not on island. I suppose I could just call and ask....

Hello blue water,

They can do credit card donations over the phone. Checks need to be mailed in.

"100 Members Shy of Third Stage Goal

The Humane Society of St. Thomas announces a one-week summer appeal to take its membership drive over the 1,500 mark. Randy Knight, Owner of Knight Quality Stations, challenged the Humane Society to grow its membership from 167 in 2002 to 1,000 in 2004 for a $500,000 matching donation toward the construction of its Animal Care Campus. When the Humane Society reached that goal, Knight challenged the organization to double its membership for another $500,000 in 2005.

However, Knight stipulated that 500 members would have to be raised by July 1 and another 500 by the end of the year.

“In what has continued as a competitive event for a great cause, we are closely approaching the magic number of 1,500 members; however, we need 100 members to join our cause before the end of the week,” said Joe Aubain, President of the Humane Society’s Board of Directors. “Call us now at 775-0599 to join.”

Funds raised by the membership drive directly benefit unwanted animals through activities encouraging adoption and education about spaying and neutering. Membership also supports the Humane Society’s efforts in animal control and cruelty investigations.

“Every membership is crucial to our efforts in taking care of animals and working toward the effective enforcement of the new animal cruelty law,” said Joe Elmore, Executive Director of the Humane Society of St. Thomas. “We continue to be plagued by animal cruelty with the most recent case occurring on Saturday near Coral World when a dog was tied to a rock and thrown into the sea to drown.”

With the completion of its Animal Care Campus, the Humane Society plans to launch an expansive educational program targeting young children to teach them the values of humane education. “Teaching children the values of being kind to animals and the environment is important. If we can influence children’s attitudes when they are still young, they will grow into responsible adults. These responsible adults will in turn influence their children and others in our community,” said Elmore.

With nearly 100 members to raise in the next 4 days, the Humane Society is appealing to the community to join its cause. By enrolling at $30, an individual’s contribution will raise several hundred dollars through Randy Knight’s matching challenge. To join, call the Humane Society at (340)775-0599 or email it at hsst@vipowernet.net."

I am in...I just contacted the shelter...will be sending my donation...
very cool!

Thanks Islander! I will call them first thing tomorrow!

Great cause...I love the pups and kitties.
In Belize they sometimes call the pups "potlickers" and there are lots of great folks helping them there. For anyone who would like a cool tshirt that helps the San Pedro Belize Humane Society, here is a link from a sister message board.
http://www.ambergriscaye.com/islanddog/index.html

To all-
I just called and made my donation- very nice people and was very quick and easy! I encourage everyone to consider- they are very close to their goal!!!

Just spoke with the great people there - money pledged but keep it going they are so close 🙂

Just phoned in my donation from NYC - this board is great! Think of how much good you guys who are posting information like this are doing by spreading the word. Thanks all.

http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1105685756

Nice job everyone- and others not on this board of course. If anyone is interested in doing some volunteer work there- let me know- would love to make an event out of it.

I saw my dear friends Joe Elmore (Executive Director of the Humane Society) and Joe Aubain (current President) for dinner tonight and congratulated them on the great news. They were thrilled to hear that the drive had been posted on this forum and, as a former President of the Humane Society, I'll add my thanks to theirs for such great work by great caring people.

Randy Knight put out an awesomely philanthropic challenge which has been met. The new Animal Care Campus promises to be a state of the art complex.

There is still an incredible amount of work to be done on the project and more money will always be needed but at least a head start has been made. Neglect of and cruelty towards animals here is rampant and segues into -unfortunately - neglect of and cruelty towards human beings.

As a member of the Humane Society of St. Thomas, you'll have the opportunity to nominate people to the Board of Directors. In the past there have been many serving who really don't do too much and simply want the "prestige" of being a Board member of an organization. It's hard work, being a Board member, and unless the person you choose to nominate accepts the nomination knowing that they're going to have put in numerous selfless hours and is willing to expend that effort, don't go there!

To those of you who've just joined and who live here, please visit the Shelter. The cats crave affection, the dogs love to be taken out for walks, to be brushed and paid attention to. Many of them will, unfortunately, end up being euthanized but if you can help in any small way to make their stay at the Shelter just a little more comfortable and happy then you will have done a marvellous thing.

I write this in loving memory of my stray cat, "Moose" who left St. Thomas today. Moose was a big stray black feral cat who started coming to my place about six months ago and was next on my list to be neutered when the money was available. An absolute gentleman, he would come across the street for dinner on a regular evening schedule, ever careful about crossing the busy road. He'd sit on the back step and eat some of the dry food until I was ready to give him a can, he'd chat with me, scoff his food and then he was gone. Always a total gentleman, the fixed outside cats were never bothered by him but he would chase off some of the feral "meanies" who even dared to looked sideways at the fixed bunch.

Moose came in last night and only ate a little bit and then laid down on the back step, talking to me in monotones. I'd noticed he'd been losing weight. He was still out back this morning which was very unusual and he ate a little bit of canned food and talked to me again.

I told him all would be well, put him a cat carrier and took him to the vet where I dropped him off after his temperature was taken and was 105.3. When I called the vet an hour later, Moose had tested positive for both feline leukemia and feline HIV. He could have been treated at enormous cost but he never was an inside cat, wasn't neutered, his blood count was low and of course I regretfully told the vet to simply put him to sleep. Treatment wasn't financially an option for me and he'd probably already infected other cats in the hood. It sucks.

One does the best one can do for the ferals and if only we could get people to spay and neuter their "pets" then we wouldn't have the ferals. I've rambled on long enough but, please, dear forum people, keep those memberships and donations coming so we can TRY and educate those less fortunate than ourselves. Thanks for listening!

I am sorry for the loss of "Moose". Animals touch us in so many ways and it's always hard on us when they pass even if we have only known them a short time.
Do you know the web address for the STT animal shelter? I just joined during the drive so I am glad I could help in a small way and hopefully we will adopt a pet when we move in September (hubby is already there)

Found the website 🙂

STT Resident,

Your post was very touching- thanks for writing it. So sorry to hear about Moose; you did the right thing, of course, but it's always hard.

Thanks for the reminder about helping out at the animal shelter. It seems like there are a lot of people on this board concerned about the welfare of animals. Would be neat if we could do something as a board to help make our islands' animals' lives better. Perhaps each bring a small 'pet' item to a get together and then donate to The Humane Society?

Best,

LR

STT Resident,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of your friend Moose. As a fellow animal lover, I can understand the pain concerning your difficult decision.
I also second Loyal Reader's suggestion regarding an organized vinow shelter effort. Islander...?

Hello Loyal Reader and Onika,

Wonderful idea!! I will find out what sorts of things they need most and get organizing. Will post the details on how we can help them. 🙂

--Islander

Hello All,

I do know that STT Resident had a fund raiser last year in the fall for the humane society and I believe is planning another this year. Maybe we could combine efforts...?

Teresa