We’re keeping homeless dogs — and donkeys — safe this summer, thanks to your support of our Summer Cooling Campaign.
Lusco Farms Rescue in Malvern, Iowa, and HOPE Animal Shelter in Tucson are the latest recipients of Summer Cooling grants. Each has received $1,000 to help keep the animals in their care cool, comfortable and safe in the heat.
For Lusco Farms Rescue, that means donkeys like Storm E., who came there with multiple medical issues caused by a lifetime of poor nutrition, will finally have new, shaded lean-tos in her pasture.
“Because we’ll have more areas covered with shade, we can take in more donkeys,” Lusco Farms President Lura Shehan tells us.
Many of the group’s donkeys come from people who acquired them as pets without thoroughly researching the care the animals need, she says. Still more come from cattle ranchers, who purchased the donkeys to protect their herds but lost the herds when the economy worsened.
In Tucson, HOPE Animal Shelter will use its grant to install a new misting system and sunshades so dogs can be cool in their outdoor runs.
“It has been over 100 degrees for 24 days in a row,” Executive Director Susan Scherl tells us. “Because of our hard water, the inexpensive mister we currently use keeps getting clogged.”
The improvements will help dogs like Rizzo, above, get more socialization and exercise time outdoors. HOPE has a soft spot for senior dogs, Scherl says, so she works with other local shelters to take in older dogs who are at great risk of euthanasia. She also takes in abused and abandoned dogs like Evie, below, who was tied to the shelter’s fence overnight and spends many hours in its outdoor runs.
“We don’t have air conditioning, so anything that can cool off the dogs outside in this Tucson heat is wonderful,” Scherl says. “The misters will be a great addition.”
Donate to help us keep more pets safe and cool this summer, and Orvis will match your gift!
