May 2010 Newsletter

 

Happy May!

We’re glad to report that we were able to open for our season opening on April 3rd. The weather was great and we had a good start to the season.

We wish all Moms a happy mother’s day. Be safe and blessed.

Vet Visit: We managed to get our vet visit in. The weather has been so erratic and we had to reschedule several times. We got a short notice call in between the weather and got all the vaccines done on May 1st. Success! All the cats are doing well.

Field Trips: We have several large group tours scheduled for the month of June, which will help us some financially. If you are interested in a private, large group tour, then please call and we will be glad to schedule one. 

Material Needs: Yogie and Friends has several material needs in order to compete some of the upgrades required by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). If you or anyone you know can help with donating these materials it would help us meet these requirements faster without the worries of raising the funds for them. Here are the most current needs:

 Concrete

Concrete Cinder Blocks (several hundred) You can purchase these at Lowe’s or Home Depot for $1.84 each. If one person bought 25 cinder blocks it would only cost about $46 + tax. If you are military you’d receive a 10% discount and save on the tax. If 100 people purchased 25 blocks it would add up. Just think how many more if we had 500+ people helping. We’d reach our goal for the den houses before December.

Gravel (several yards)

We got a price on gravel to make a parking lot that will allow us to open after the rain. If you can help with this the cost is $6830.30. This would help us not be dependent on the weather.

Speaking Engagements: I had the opportunity to speak at the Bossier Optimist club and as a result I know have a speaking engagement with the Shreveport Optimist club. If you have an organization out there that would like us to speak at their club, please give us a call. We love to talk about the sanctuary and the animals we are rescuing. We love to spread the word.

International Visitor: Several years ago I got a call from a gentleman from Australia. He was coming to the U.S. on business and his wife and son wanted to visit Yogie and Friends. Well, this has become a regular visit. Louise, his wife, has been back to visit and will be returning this month to spend time with us. It’s really cool that she makes this special trip to visit us on her trips to the U.S.

Volunteer of the month: Our volunteer of the month is Nick Kaddatz from Barksdale Air Force Base. Nick has been helping Tim get some of the fence upgrades done for several weeks now. Thanks Nick!

An easy way you can help the cats is when you do your shopping on-line is by using iGive. If you do your shopping on-line then you can contribute by shopping through the iGive tool. Everything helps. Visit www.iGive.com and select Yogie and Friends as your cause when you shop. It’s so easy.

Kroger Neighbor to Neighbor Program The accumulation for the 2009 season ends on 30 April and will begin again in July. Please shop like crazy and use your cards when you do. It can really add up and it doesn’t cost you a thing.

Combined Federal Campaign. Just a reminder that our CFC number is 42427. This is a great program for Federal Employees and military personnel use as a way to do workplace contributions.

Coins for Cats! I recently emptied a little piggy bank I throw all my change in when I come home. It wasn’t even full, maybe half so. It added up to $106! That little bit of effort ended up being a nice chunk of change. I gave it to Yogie and Friends. This is a neat way for kids to be able to help the animals with very little effort.

Cans for Cats! Kids can also help by collecting cans and taking them to the local recycling center for cash and this can also add up to a nice piece of change for the cats. It’s something kids can do to help go green and help the big cats all at once.

Check out the programs being offered at Yogie and Friends. There is the Yogie and Friends Membership Program , Sponsorship Program, and Corporate Sponsorship Program . These are programs that help us support the animals and another way that you can get involved. Program packages are available here on our website.

Go Green with our ink jet and cell phone recycling program. Details are listed on our website.

Please remember to spay and neuter your pets.

Also, do what you can to prevent flea and ticks causing serious illnesses to your animals. They deserve your care and kindness. Prevention should be year round and not seasonal.

Please make sure you provide all your animals, inside and outside, fresh, clean water. Provide good shelter from the elements for those animals that live outside.

Be good to your animals. Be good to people! Be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Jenny and the Yogie Cats!

 


Posted in Monthly Newsletter