This is something I never thought I would have to write.  I don't even know where to begin...but it has to be said.  It has taken me several days to type this...it was hard to put in to words exactly what needs to be said.  But, here it is and I hope you all read this with not only your eyes, but your heart.

First, I want to thank all the volunteers, fosters, board members, past adopters, and supporters for all you have done to make ROR what it is today

ROR has come into a problem.  Our vet bill is extremely high.  It is currently at $26,000.  Our vet has informed me today that if we do not get it down to at least HALF in the next couple of weeks, they will be forced to stop service on our kids.  Without a vet, there is no ROR.  Our vet is amazing and we understand where they are coming from.  We have 7 dogs in boarding that will have NO PLACE to go if they tell us we can't use them anymore.  No place for them to go.  We have no fosters and no funds.  Donations are low, adoptions are low, and volunteers are scarce.  If we do not get our bill down SIGNIFICANTLY by July 15, 2012, I will be forced to close ROR.

I put the blame on myself for letting it get this far, this bad.  I have a problem, as most rescues do, with saying "no" to the ones that are special needs, less adoptable, and injured.  My heart goes out to all of them and it has brought us to this situation.

Since January, we have taken in over 20 heartworm positive dogs.  Heartworm treatment is $500 per dog...resulting in $10,000 being for the care of those dogs, not to mention their regular vetting (shots, altering, fecal/deworming, cost of food, etc).  We have had dogs needing leg removals, cats needing eye removals, 16 Parvo puppies, 16 puppies with Mange, and the list goes on and on.  Not to mention, we have seven dogs in boarding at our vet.  It is $12 a day per dog.  That is over $2,300 a month in boarding costs.  These dogs are amazing and just need a foster or fur-ever home.  We have lowered their adoption fee to $50, and are even willing to go lower to help them go home.  We just want them to find their fur-ever family....

I love what I do.  I love ROR and the fur-kids in our group.  I love our volunteers, fosters, supporters, and adopters.  We ARE a family.  But our family is hurting right now and we are at a point where we don't know what to do.  We have had fundraisers, but $1,000 here and there does not help much when our bill is so high.  We are setting up a couple of other fundraisers such as our "BowWow" BBQ in August, a Poker Run in September, and some online fundraisers, but we need to do something NOW. 

I am asking you all for your help.  I am so worried that ROR will have to shut our doors due to lack of funds...and I do not want to see that happen.  ROR was my dream as a child and it is now 7 years old.  We have saved over 1,000 dogs and cats from death, neglect, and abuse.  We CAN save ROR...but we can only do it together.  We cannot go down without a fight.  We ARE the voice of the voiceless and without us...what will they do?

Please, if you can make a donation, any amount will be eternally appreciated.  You can mail you donation to us at:

Reach Out Rescue, NFP

P.O. Box 706

Oak Lawn, IL 60454

You can also donate online.  We have started a chipin and it can be found here: 

http://reachoutrescue.chipin.com/help-ror-stay-alive (Just copy this link and paste it in your browser.)

**Please remember, Paypal does charge us a fee.  You an donate directly to us by using the GIFT option on Paypal and our email address: info@rornfp.org.**

If you wish to donated directly to our vet, please let me know and I will give you our vet's info.

The pictures on this post are just six pictures of animals ROR has saved.  ROR has saved over 1,000 dogs and cats since 2005.

Thank you so very much...remember, without you, we are nothing. 

Tracy Perrin

Founder - Reach Out Rescue, NFP - www.rornfp.org