"I shall never be sold and so I have nothing to fear, and here my story ends. My troubles are all over and I am at home..." Black Beauty |
Latest Updates
Sarasota In Defense of Animals
P.O. Box 15653
Sarasota, FL 34277-1653
Events and News
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Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA)
NEWS & VIEWS
Plans are underway for our annual fundraiser, with a tropical theme, "Reggae for SDA" that will be held in late summer at the Daiquiri Deck's new "platio" on Siesta Key. Auction items are needed and anyone who wishes to help with this fun-filled event to raise some much needed funds for SDA's animals, please contact Russell at ram2528@gmail.com.
The annual SDA picnic & open house was held on Saturday May 9th. Our 114 guests, most of whom are contributors to SDA, toured the ranch to visit with all the happy and healthy rescued animals. Russell Matthes, pictured below, was our cookout chef who grilled veggie burgers and "not" dogs along with all sorts of salads, beans, and sides. Thanks to The Daiquiri Deck and Sysco Food Corporation for donating the picnic food. It was a gorgeous Florida day and everyone enjoyed the picnic/open house with lots of good food, great weather, lucky rescued SDA animals, and caring friends.
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BELOW ARE TWO STORIES OF INSPIRATIOINAL COMPASSION IN ACTION BY CHILDREN (some adults could learn a lesson from these great kids):
When 9-year old Keiley Banks sent out her birthday party invitations, she asked her friends to bring gifts for SDA animals instead of personal gifts for her. Thanks to Keiley and her generous birthday guests, over $500 worth of gift certificates, dog & cat food, treats & toys, were brought to the party for donation to SDA. A smiling Keiley is pictured below:
Keiley surrounded by her birthday gifts for SDA
A lot of people talk about doing good deeds to help animals, but for the second year in a row, Ms. Ozkan's kindergarten class at Tatum Ridge Elementary actually DID SOMETHING! They made UNLESS necklaces, grew plants, and sold them to raise $400 for the SDA animals. The theme for the UNLESS necklaces comes from the Dr. Seuss book, "The Lorax", that explains "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
The SDA Feral & Free Roaming Cat Clinics continue to be a huge success and a much needed community service. We started the free to the public clinic in 2006 and to date have spayed & neutered over 1,000 cats preventing thousands and thousands of unwanted kitten births! Thanks to a grant from the Florida Friend License Plate Fund, we will be able to keep the clinic funded for 4 more months. Each clinic costs SDA $1,000. SDA has a highly skilled and dedicated team that works hard at every clinic to make it run efficiently and effectively. (Please note: Appointments are required and can be made ONLY by telephone to Elise at 941-924-2505)
These are hard times for people and for animals. Finances for all non-profits are bleak and this is certainly true for SDA. We have made deep cuts in our budget and are doing all we can to survive in this recession. We appreciate your monetary support and have great faith and trust that we can continue to provide the necessary care for our 400 precious animals. PLEASE help SDA help our animals by making a contribution on our website at www.sdasarasota.com or by mail to SDA, PO Box 15653, Sarasota, FL, 34277-1653. SDA is registered with the IRS as a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, ID No. 65-0124076. SDA is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida, filed on June 29, 1989 and the document number of the corporation is N33042 and has complied with the registration requirement of Chapter 496, Florida Statutes, the Solicitation of Contributions Act. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. Registration #SC-07264.
Sarasota in Defense of Animals:
* Was founded in 1989 as an animal protection agency.
* Provides sanctuary lifetime care to 350 - 400 animals.
* Takes only animals that were abused, abandoned, sick and cruelty victims.
* Sponsors a spay & neuter clinic (monthly) for unowned free-roaming cats.
* Annual budget for 2009 is $140,000 (reduced from $200,000 in 2008)
* Does not receive any public funds from any federal, state, or local agency.
* Is an autonomous organization and does not receive any operational funding from any other animal welfare group or any coalition.
* Is supported primarily by tax-deductible contributions.
* Does not pay any administrative salaries as most non-profits do.
* Receives 100% of all donations.
* Does not hire professional fundraisers. All fundraising is done in-house.
* All contributions go toward animal welfare.
"The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor 'Can they talk?' but 'Can they suffer?'"
--Jeremy Bentham
UNWAVERING LOYALTY AND DEDICATION
Since 1989, SDA has helped the animal victims of cruelty, neglect, sickness and abandonment. SDA is proud of its accomplishments and the establishment of not only a credible reputation for protection of animals in Florida, but nationally as well.read more...
photographyView
Look at Pictures from the Shake Rattle & Roll Event
A COMMITMENT TO THE ANIMALS
Take a look at the Animal Gallery!
Keep in mind Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity and all contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. SDA receives 100% of all donations and does not hire professional fundraisers. All fundraising is done in-house. Also, SDA does not pay any administrative salaries as many other non-profits do. Please help us make Sarasota a better community by helping SDA help animals.
Thank you for your support,
Russell A. Matthes
Fund Raising Chairman
The question is not, 'Can they reason?' nor 'Can they talk?' but 'Can they suffer?'
SDA Awarded Animal Friend License Plate Grant
We are pleased to announce that our application for a $12,000 grant to fund SDA's free spay/neuter program for feral & free-roaming cats has been approved for 2008. The Animal Friend License Plate grant committee selected 21 recipients in Florida and has informed us that disbursement will be made in August. The funds will enable SDA to continue this special clinic to sterilize hundreds of unowned free-roaming cats. The next clinic will be in September and for appointments, please contact Deb Berg at 941-925-2592 or by e-mail dab482@verizon.net
Special Gift from Tatum Ridge Elementary School kindergarten class: When SDA received a letter from this school, it was like a breath of fresh air! The children in the kindergarten class sent SDA a donation of $261.00 that they had earned from the sale of "UNLESS" necklaces that they had made from mulch pieces. All year the children scoured mulch piles looking for just the right wood chips, the ones with with a hole in it, to make the necklaces. The "UNLESS" necklaces are from a Dr. Seuss book that says "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." We at SDA are so grateful and honored that the Tatum Ridge children and their compassionate teacher, Mrs.. Ozkan, did such a thoughtful deed for our sanctuary animals.
Animals Displaced from Home Foreclosures: SDA continues to be bombarded with pleas from frantic and often destitute people who are losing their homes. It is a sad sad situation! We do what we can but can only help a select few. Among the geese, ducks, chickens, and cats that we have taken in, is a 10-year old pot-bellied pig, named Pumba. We constructed a special fenced enclosure for her because she is smaller than our 8 other pigs and an old lady, but has adjusted to her new environment quite well.
Contributions: Pumba and all the other 350 precious animals at the SDA sanctuary need care and food each and every day. SDA pays no administrative staff and we stretch every dollar to make ends meet so that these animals have a second chance to live a comfortable and safe life. But, we must have help! It takes commitment, time and money. So please won't you help by going to the SDA website at http://www.sdasarasota.com and make a donation through "Just Give"? Donations may be made by mail to SDA, PO Box 15653, Sarasota, FL 34277-1653. Keep in mind Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity and all contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. SDA receives 100% of all donations and does not hire professional fundraisers. All fundraising is done in-house. Also, SDA does not pay any administrative salaries as many other non-profits do.
"Compassion in action may be the glorious possibility that could protect our ctowded, polluted planet." --Victoria Moranread more...
