As COVID-19 creates a new normal throughout the United States, a Florida animal shelter puts a new spin on fundraising to keep their doors open, operations alive, and save animals’ lives in the process.
Alaqua Animal Refuge is a local, private, non-profit (501c3) animal shelter and sanctuary committed to serving the Southeast as the premier no-kill refuge providing protection, shelter, and care to animals in need. It’s a full-service animal adoption center and a peaceful, proactive animal welfare advocate. In fact, Alaqua has become the “go-to” organization to help animals, and grown to be a nationally recognized leader in animal rescue, welfare, cruelty prevention, and advocacy throughout the country.
Alaqua not only rescues dogs and cats, but all domestic animals in need—including horses, farm animals, and birds. The animals come from mostly cruelty and neglect cases, but also from overloaded shelters in the Southeast. From purebreds to special needs, these animals have all found shelter, safety, and second chances at Alaqua until they find a permanent home or sanctuary.
Alaqua operates solely on funds that are raised through private donations, fundraising, and grants. These endeavors provide crucial funding for their entire yearly operation and most of them have come to a complete halt with the country’s shutdown from the spread of the coronavirus. Two major fundraisers were canceled this past Spring which was a devastating blow to Alaqua’s bottom-line to be able to meet the needs of animals in their care and keep the Refuge functional—including its day-to-operations and provision of services and programs to continue its mission.
“As animal shelters and veterinary offices are operating on limited intake, the need for our services are even greater today than they were prior to the shutdown. It is honestly unbelievable the need we are seeing from our surrounding communities and state,” said Alaqua Founder Laurie Hood. “Cruelty and abuse cases are at an all-time high and we had to figure out a way to help. It’s just what we do.”
To supplement the loss of funds from fundraising events and to provide a bridge gap until things could get back to semi-normal state, Alaqua created “Rescue Me,” a very unique type of virtual event that included an Online Live Webcast that ran simultaneously with an Online Auction containing curated items donated before Alaqua’s events were canceled. The event also saluted Alaqua’s supporters, sponsors, volunteers and friends.
Premiering May 16, the show was jam-packed full of special guest appearances including:
Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, of AldenAlli wine, cooking live in their home kitchen; Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line and his wife Brittney, a fashion designer for their Tribe Kelley boutiques; Kenan Thompson, an actor and comedian, and the longest-tenured cast member in Saturday Night Live’s history; Eric Lindell, an American singer songwriter described by USA Today as “pumping soul into funk, blues an roots-rock;” Dr. Will, featured on Love and Vets, a Nat Geo WILD series on his vet practice in Atlanta; Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and former CEO of The Humane Society of the United States; John O’Hurley, an actor, author, game show host, and TV personality known for his role as J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and host of NBC’s National Dog Show; Billy Dawson, Nashville Industry Awards “Artist of the Year”; Cathy Bissell, founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation; Kate McFall, the Florida Director for The Humane Society of the United States; Jon Nite, a CMA and ACM award winning singer/songwriter who has written top ten hits for Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley; Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue and the most talked about reality TV personality today; and a lot of other surprises.
The show was also filled with supporters and incredible stories of animal rescues from the Refuge with appearances by favorite Alaqua alums and friends.
Miss it? Alaqua will be releasing a video of the online webcast soon. Visit the Alaqua Animal Refuge Facebook page for updates and release date.
