Give to the Max is a state wide day of giving where generous people from across the state of Minnesota come together to support their favorite charities. This year, Home for Life® has a matching grant of $25,000 riding on this 24 hours of giving, and all gifts made that day will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000! We hope the enthusiasm and generosity this day of giving inspires will encourage YOU to make a gift to help the animals of Home for Life®.
Home for Life®, a care-for-life-sanctuary, offers a service to animals in need like no comparative organization. For dogs like Zee, an 8 year old collie mix, and who is also diabetic, we offer a true and loving home where they will be cared for and loved for as long as they may live. Zee had been in at least three homes that we know of, and was surrendered back to the organization he had been last adopted from when his owners thought he had kidney failure and didn't want the responsibility of caring for him. The shelter discovered he was an untreated diabetic with sky high blood sugars! After three homes had not worked out for Zee, he now found himself back in a shelter, a senior black dog,with no prospects for rescue and adoption, and a medical condition that would need lifelong management. Still, Zee was a wonderful dog who wanted to live and was eager for another chance. Because of the loving care Home for Life® provides, Zee will have the opportunity to have the great life that he has hoped for. Because of your generosity, dogs and cats like Zee need not hope in vain for loving care, a place to belong and a Home for Life®!
Most people don't realize that shelters and rescues make from 35% to 90 %of their operating budgets from adoption fees, turning over animals they take in for adoption fees that can be several hundred dollars or even more for a young kitten or puppy or type or breed of animal in demand . A care for life sanctuary, in contrast, had huge expenses to take care of our dogs and cats, many like Zee with medical conditions that are costly to manage.
It takes more than mercy and good intentions to take care of animals like Zee for life. It takes a commitment of our resources—time, care and money—for the rest of the dogs' and cats' life. Home for Life® doesn't do constant Facebook or GoFundMe type campaigns for every case we take in—we rely on our steady stream of support and dedicated fundraisers throughout the years so we will have the ability to respond when a special dog or cat needs our help, when we must often make a decision with short notice and under pressure to save the animal.
A House is made with walls and Beams—A Home is Made with Love and Dreams
At Home for Life®, we envision a world in which the most vulnerable animals, like Zee, can reach their full potential.
Part of Home for Life's® mission is showing what's possible—that animals like Zee can live a great life if just given the opportunity. Everywhere there are animals who deserve a chance and want to live, but for whom adoption into a typical home is not an option. While conventional shelters and rescues focus on "adoptable" dogs and cats, few opportunities are available for special needs animals. Home for Life, the third door in animal welfare, provides a loving lifesaving and innovative alternative for animals who may never find an adoptive home but for whom euthanasia is premature and inhumane.
Animals like Zee illustrate what's possible—that these dogs and cats can live a great life in a setting suited for their needs. Their lives and stories prove that it's possible to make the best of a terrible start in life-—living examples of goodness triumphing over cruelty, as they go on to have a full life and even give back as part of Home for Life's Peace Creatures community outreach programs which reach over 5000 at risk kids and adults each year through our pet therapy programs.
Many shelter and organizations aspire to find a home for every animal. and dream of the day when there will be no homeless animals At Home for Life®, that's what we want too—and that's what we provide—for dogs and cats that are overlooked for placement. For cats and dogs entering typical rescue or shelters, there have been two options—adoption or premature death through euthanasia if they are passed over for placement. Home for Life® has created a new idea, the care for life sanctuary—a life- saving and life affirming alternative for dogs and cats who have not been able to find a home or keep the home they had and for animals who have lifelong special care needs, like Zee, that most adopters cannot provide. We call our idea the "Third Door" in animal welfare which gives at risk dogs and cats like Zee, animals who might have been passed over for adoption, an alternative to an undeserved death. The dream of a home should be an opportunity that is available for all dogs and cats, and now with Home for Life®, and the innovative model we have created at our prototype sanctuary in Star Prairie, WI, it can be!
More animals need the life-saving dream that only Home for Life® can provide. This holiday season, and on Give to the Max day, with a $25,000 match challenge at stake, now is the time to make a dream come true for another dog or cat like Zee who might not have that chance without your support.
Thank you for all the dreams you have made come true for Zee and all the animals at Home for Life® in 2018. Think of all the animals we can continue to reach in 2019 with your help, and Thank you for your gift on Minnesota's Day of Giving, Give to the Max!
PS: This year, we're making it easy! Since we're asking you to give any way, any amount to make it count, all donations won't be reflected on the GiveMN leaderboard. But check back on this page, and we'll be sure to provide you our overall totals!