Clair McDougall has a unique job.
The development officer for Cedarhill Animal Sanctuary in Caledonia, she helps take care of more than 250 animals — including lions and tigers — that humans have abused. She shared with Columbus Exchange Club members Thursday at Lion Hills information about the shelter and her experiences there.
“We are a forever home to 216 cats, 22 dogs, 10 tigers, six horses, five parrots, five pigs, three lions, one cougar and one rabbit,” she said. “That’s 250 animals that have been abused, neglected, forgotten or some unfortunate combination of the three.”
McDougall has worked at Cedarhill for two years. But it began in 1987 when founder Kay McElroy traded an old tractor for an abused cougar cub someone had advertised in the classifieds. When McElroy couldn’t find a zoo or other appropriate home to take the cub, McDougall said, she started Cedarhill.
The sanctuary has been rescuing animals ever since, McDougall said. It has continued running based on steady contributions from a loyal donor base.
But that donor base is starting to die off. Last month, staff at Cedarhill told The Dispatch the sanctuary now operated week-to-week. Funds were lower than they had been in about 18 years.
While finances are not as tight as they were a month ago, McDougall still seeks more money to help more animals. Right now, the sanctuary has empty pens. But because the sanctuary’s finances are still low, staff is rejecting calls about animals in need despite having room.
“We’ve got pens where there is just grass growing,” she said.
It takes about $50,000 a month to run the sanctuary, McDougall said.
“It changes month-to-month,” she added. “One big vet bill can completely change the climate.”
The sanctuary has been working a fundraising specialist in Starkville to reach more donors.
While Cedarhill doesn’t adopt out animals, the sanctuary does plan to have a sponsorship program in place by Christmas. Donors could pay for a particular animal at the sanctuary without ever taking the animal home, she explained to the Exchange Club.
McDougall encouraged her audience to donate to the sanctuary and to follow Cedarhill on Facebook and other social media sites. For more information, or to donate to Cedarhill, go to cedarhillanimalsanctuary.org.
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