The Serenity Fund
- About the Serenity Fund
- Beneficiaries of the Serenity Fund - See who your donations have helped and read their stories. - Updated 8/30/10
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Serenity Fund
ABOUT THE SERENITY FUND
Serene
The Serenity Fund was started in memory of Serene, a cat who had been callously dumped on the highway outside our farm who we tried for weeks to catch. Like so many others before her, she was so terrified that she would not come to us, and kept evading our humane traps, until one tragic day we found her after she had been hit by a car. Serene was a very friendly and loving cat yet her fear kept her from getting help. Unfortunately, despite a great medical effort, Serene died from her injuries 5 days later.
Many of the animals who have found their way to Spring Farm CARES have been found in critical condition, often dumped on the roadside, having become victims of tragedy. Their medical bills can be enormous. Sometimes they have injuries that are not survivable and the only way we can help them is through euthanasia. Others need orthopedic surgeries for broken legs that can cost thousands of dollars, but once fixed, they can then live out a normal, healthy life. Still others need long-term rehabilitation and care. These cases weigh enormously on our finances, yet these animals are all deserving of another chance. The Serenity Fund has been created to help us with these extraordinary medical expenses for abandoned/hurt/badly injured animals that come to the farm.
WE DID IT!!!
We reached our goal of $7,500 to be matched by a donor. Thank you all for helping us to acheive this goal. See below for two other animals who have been helped by the Serenity Fund, one who just arrived this weekend.
Thanks to a generous donor, all donations to this fund will be matched up to $7500 from May 1 - August 31, 2010. This will give us $15,000 towards helping these animals in extreme need. Please help us meet this goal.
Read more about the story of Serene and her impact on our hearts.
BENEFICIARIES OF THE SERENITY FUND
TEDDY
Teddy's story is heartbreaking, like all the rest who have been abandoned and in critical need of care, but with a happy ending. Teddy was dumped at a farm where the farmers fed him for about a month. He showed up at the farm with a huge mass on his neck that grew to about baseball size and eventually began to bleed. They knew he needed medical attention and brought him to us. It turns out that Teddy had a large tumor that outgrew itself and got infected from him digging at it. Our vet determined that Teddy is an older gentleman. He is also declawed. He was dumped and left to fend for himself when he just could not. This cat is one of the most affectionate cats we have ever seen. He wants nothing more than to sit on your lap and have a good cuddle.
Thanks to the Serenity Fund, we could give him the quality care that was needed. The tumor has been removed and we are now doing the nursing/aftercare of the incision. We are awaiting results of the biopsy to see exactly what kind of tumor it is and what the chances are of it coming back. Regardless of the outcome of that test, Teddy already has someone interested in offering him a home. It was love at first sight and they are interested in just having him in their lives for however long that will be. And hopefully, it will be for a long time! This is one incredibly special cat who now will have a second chance at a life he wasn't finished living.
ZACK
Zack was found abandoned as a young kitten by another rescue group. But Zack ended up having special needs that they could not meet and they contacted us for help. Zack is positive for feline leukemia virus and had a very involved ear polyp that regrew twice after two seperate surgeries. Because of that, he ended up having to have a third very invasive surgery into his middle ear to take care of the problem. That surgery appears to have been successful now, although he will probably always need special care for his ear. Over the past several months that he has been with us, Zack has grown into a gorgeous adult cat with the most endearing personality. Unless someone steps forward to offer a home for him, with his special needs, Zack will live his life with us. His many surgeries and specialized vet care took a lot of resources that we were very thankful to have the Serenity Fund to help him.
EDDIE
Eddie was found huddled on someone's porch with a badly bleeding back leg. After trying several places for help, they contacted us. We picked him up and took him directly to a vet hospital. He had a very bad wound on his leg. However, further tests showed that Eddie also had a previous injury to that leg where it had been badly broken and obviously not medically treated. He had bone rubbing on bone and was in a lot of pain and could not use the leg at all. Because the injury was so old, nothing could be done but to amputate the leg. But Eddie was in rough shape and we first needed to let the wound heal and get some weight on him before undergoing the surgery. We waited 2 weeks but it was so obvious how much this leg was hurting him. He also had other old scars from old injuries and a more recent eye injury as well. So off to surgery he went, both to amputate the leg and to try to save his eye.
We are happy to report that Eddie did magnificently with the surgery. In fact, he was so relieved to be out of pain, that he immediately began walking around and being much more active. It was amazing to see the relief on his face. The treatment for his eye was also successful and now Eddie will not have to have the eye removed. Eddie is also very fortunate to have someone already interested in adopting him. For Eddie, a life of pain and struggling to survive, just changed dramatically for the better. He is a real character and a loving guy. Thanks to the Serenity Fund, Eddie now has a second chance at life.
Update: Eddie is doing wonderfully in his new home where he is totally loved and adored.
TEBO
Tebo was rescued by two good samaritans who went out of their way to help him. Out on a motorcycle ride, a kitten darted across the road in front of them, narrowly avoiding being hit. But they noticed that he was dragging his leg as he ran. They pulled off of the road and ran back to the field where he had run into. They were able to find him and determine that his right front leg was badly injured and it was not fresh. It was quite disgusting actually. Undeterred by the look and smell of the leg, they knew this little guy needed assistance quickly. He was incredibly friendly and only about 10 weeks old. The man took off his shirt and wrapped the kitten securely inside of it and tied it around his neck, while his passenger held him securely between their bodies so that they could get him to safety. Tebo stayed amazingly calm on the motorcycle and they brought him to us for treatment. We took Tebo directly to our veterinarian where it was determined the leg was already dying and had to come off immediately. The injury was indicative of having been caught in a leg hold trap. Unfortunately, an injury we see animals suffer from every year, but never one this young.
Tebo did very well with the surgery and is adapting right away, as most 3 legged animals do. He is a delightful, loving, playful kitten, full of personality. He is 7 toed on his remaining front leg and already is very adept at using that one front leg. Tebo will be up for adoption as soon as he is cleared by our veterinarian and also is neutered and up to date on his vaccinations. Thanks to the good samaritans and the Serenity Fund, Tebo should live a normal life, just on 3 legs instead of 4. He otherwise would have died shortly due to the infection in his leg.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Serenity Fund
1. How can I donate to this fund?
Answer: You can go directly to our Donations Page and put in the Comments section that you would like it to go to the Serenity Fund. Or you can mail a check to: Spring Farm CARES, 3364 State Rt. 12, Clinton, NY 13323. Please include a note that you want your donation to go to the Serenity Fund.
2. Are my donations tax deductible? How much of my donation goes directly to the care of the animals?
Answer: Yes. Spring Farm CARES is a 501c3 organization and your donation is tax deductible. 100% of your donation will be put directly towards the care of the animals.
3. Can I apply to the Serenity Fund for my own animal who is injured?
Answer: No. The Serenity Fund is only set up for abandoned animals taken in by Spring Farm CARES. These animals would have no other place to go and do not have homes. We can only take in an animal when we have the space, and resources to do so.
4. Can you help pay my vet bill for my own animal?
Answer: No. Spring Farm CARES is not able to assist with private funding for your animals. Our first priority is to the animals in our care at our facility. We do not have funds available to help outside of that, with the exception of spay/neuter assistance. Please see our Happy Hearth Spay Neuter page for more details. This program is open to Oneida County residents.
5. Are the animals helped by the Serenity Fund up for adoption after they recover?
Answer: In many cases, yes, the animals will be available for adoption. It all depends on the severity of the injury, how they recover, and if they have any special needs. Being an animal sanctuary, those who are not adoptable will live out their lives with us.
6. Can I volunteer to help with the animals?
Answer: We do have an active volunteer program and always appreciate volunteers for many things. Check out our Volunteer Page for more information.
