"Gina" wrote in message
om...
It has come to my attention that a particularly alarming, and
disrepectful thread has been posted to a newsgroup on Google Groups.
As
President, Founder, and primary Caretaker, I am resisting the urge to
feel hurt, not to mention furious.

On July 22, 2002, The Last Resort Animal Sanctuary, Inc. became
legally
incorporated with the Pennsylvania Department Of State Corporation
Bureau. Incorporated as a "Domestic Nonprofit Corporation, Entity #
3084565", we indeed CAN legally call ourselves a nonprofit
corporation.

On August 30, 2002, The Last Resort Animal Sanctuary, Inc. was granted
by The United States Internal Revenue Service the status of 501c3,
tax-exmpt.

We were granted both the incorpration and the status because not only
did we follow proper channels, we indeed adhere strictily to our
Mission
Statement, Article 2 of our Articles of Incrporation.

The primary objective of our mission is to provide life-long care to
unwanted and abandoned domestic animals, and when possible find them
new forever homes. Our adoption policy is strict. We make sure that
any animal which leaves our shelter is moving on to a lifetime of love
and care. If our policies deter someone, and they instead adopt from a
"Kill" shelter, I'm pleased that an animal has been spared unnecessary
euthanasia.

At The Last Resort, cats and bunnies enjoy a cage-free life. Because
of this, surrenders are required to provide proof of spay/neuter,
vaccines, etc., and must give a surrender fee of at least $50.
Considering it costs any shelter an average of $700 per year to
support one animal, I think our fee is a bargain.

I, as President, manage the administration of this shelter, it's
website, and all operations. I have the help and support of my very
dedicated staff: Nicole Newark, Ibai Munoz, Nathaniel Snyder, Lori
Rodgers, Steve Smith, Heather Baublitz, Sandy Leathery and Joe
Cartwright.

I, as Caretaker, am personally, daily involved in all aspects of the
cats and rabbits of The Last Resort's care, welfare, and happiness. I
do
this every waking hour that I am not at my full-time job. I sleep very
little. My clothes smell like cats. My home is my office. My answering
macine is always blinking. My phone rings every day and night,
including
weekends.

I, as Founder, am deeply saddened that a few disassociated cyber
posters, would defame the name and mission of a charity and it's
people,
who give everything, every spare moment, every spare penny, to enable
the shelter to grow and flourish.

We work hard, together. We scoop poop, we vaccinate, we haul litter in
our cars, we return calls to people who want to give up their
life-long
pet "just because", we trap, we fundraise, we beg, we bargain, we
network, we laugh, we cry and then we laugh some more.

THis shelter IS legitimate not only because the state and federal
government say so, but because of the love, blood, sweat, tears and
joy
we pour into it every day of our lives.

The picture on our web site, which I've read one faceless poster to
desscribe as an
"atrocious... tiny room..." was taken in our former barn of 2000
square
feet, with multi levels, windows and screened sitting areas.

We indeed are registered with PetFinder.Com, our shelter # is PA295.
When the farm was sold out from under us in July 2004, we relocated
our
animals in to 5 foster locations, one being a 50 acre private farm,
with
use of a 3000 square foot barn and a summer house. Our PetFinder site
is
temporarily hidden while we reorganize, repair our newly donated
building, and continue to grow.

I'm ashamed for the people in the world like Edwin, and perhaps some
of
these cyber posters, who see the world through a veil of cynicism.
It's
as though they need to destroy what is good and joyous, so that they
may
have some captive company in their dark, lonely lives.

My email is always accepting. My phone always rings. ANyone with
questions need only call or write. I'm damn proud of our Last Resort
Animal Sanctuary, of our mission, and most importantly of our
volunteers. Time and time again the outside shows me how lucky I and
the
cats and the bunnies are to have them. Thank you Nicole, Ibai, Nate,
Lori, Steve, Heather, Sandy and Joe. I love you.

Gina Henderson, President/Founder
717-792-3203


www.thelastresort.us

From everything you say above, it is clear that you are a collector, with no
real intentions of rehoming the animals you take in. I certainly would not
want to support this organization. There will just be more and more animals,
and something will eventually have to give--which is why you are resorting
to soliciting funds online.