2022 Year in review
Rescue, Outreach, Education and Sanctuary Safety
A Reflection on Our First Full Year as a Non-Profit
This has been the busiest, most rewarding year of my life. I am humbled by the community’s generosity and by the warm welcome we have received. We spent the first six months of 2022 still dealing with COVID. We were able to get through those first six months thanks to a very generous grant from the Tompkins County Community Foundation. We are forever grateful to the Community Foundation for recognizing the gap in services we are filling and taking a chance on our new, fledgling organization at he end of 2021 when we were less than 6 months old! In June, we presented ourselves to Ithaca and other area communities by participating in the Ithaca Festival. Our education program has blossomed. We currently have two weekly partnership programs with Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) and Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC). We focused a lot of our energy on sanctuary bio-security and safety to ensure our facilities are prepared for any incoming disease, and doing this gave us the opportunity to rescue more animals, some who are settling into their first year here at the sanctuary.
Our fundraising and outreach efforts have been a huge success. We gained volunteers, donors, and general support from many who heard about us and learned about what we do. Last year we closed out 2021 by attending the Apple Harvest Festival in Brooktondale, NY, followed by the Holiday Craft Market in Pressbay Alley (downtown Ithaca). In June of 2022 we setup shop in Dewitt Park for the 3 days of Ithaca Festival. We had wonderful corporate sponsorship support from CFCU Community Credit Union and Staples to offset costs for participating in the Festival. While this helped us financially, it also strengthened ties to our community. We held our first annual Flea Market and Bake Sale in September at Northstar Pub in Ithaca’s Fall Creek neighborhood during PorchFest. The sale was accomplished using all volunteer staff and community donations, resulting in a very successful fundraising event. The last few months of 2022 have been filled with crafting as we prepare to participate in the Pressbay Holiday Craft market on December 17, 2022.
Our newly developed educational programs are flourishing, and so humbling. A lot of our initial volunteers were teens looking for an opportunity to be around animals. I know I would have loved an opportunity to be around animals living as naturally as possible when I was growing up. I truly believe we all come into this world loving animals and the natural world, but all too often our culture diminishes this natural empathy and awe. I want to make sure young people in our community have this opportunity that I missed, for them to learn how weak animal welfare laws and protections are; to understand just how large and under-regulated our food system is… that we can do better for the animals and for each other. It's about compassion. We were able to join LACS Community Outreach Program as a part of their volunteer program. The first quarter with our first 7 participants is coming to an end and another will start shortly. These young adults range in age from 6th to 10th grades, and they are inspiring. Students are here at the sanctuary for two hours each week and assist with barn chores, snuggle the animal residents and work together as a team. We have had a blast! We also have an amazing partnership with two different classes from GIAC. One class comes out every Tuesday for an hour of compassionate animal caretaking. They have brought us hay, pumpkins, and so much love! I am in awe of these kids. Their enthusiasm each week is infectious. I know this is special for them, but it is just as special for me and all our residents. By far the highlight of our year.
Bio-Safety! Between COVID and Avian Influenza we decided to increase our already stringent quarantine protocol. With the help of a small grant from Visions Federal Credit Union, we were able to set up a new, permanent quarantine enclosure and pasture for new residents or those staying with us for a short-term. This allows us time to have the animals properly vetted and vaccinated, and to treat any diseases they may arrive with before integrating them into our other herds. We had two local stray/owner surrender potbelly pig intakes this summer. Both were intact males. An intact male in close proximity to our resident herds can cause a lot of drama so having this facility farther away allows us to keep everyone calm and safe. I also participated in an online forum regarding African Swine Flu. This was presented by multiple international veterinary organizations and our collective rescue partners were all in attendance. While this horrible disease is not yet in the United States we believe in being prepared. I also participated in an online fire safety forum. I have checked with our local municipalities to make sure I know which first responders would be coming in the event of a fire. I’ll be working with them to make sure we have our fire safety in order.
As we close out our first year we have actively taken part in helping 72 animals including pigs, cows, rabbits, pigeons, chickens, goats, and alpacas. We work with an amazing group of rescue partners. Without this rescue community, our ability to help all the animals in need would be much more difficult. I am proud of this community and honored to be part of it. As we close the chapter on 2022 I would like to thank you all for your support and for believing in our mission. A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers who come out rain or shine, warm or freezing, bringing their wonderful energy and love to the animals.
We wish you and yours well this holiday season. Please reach out if you’d like to schedule a visit to the Saoirse Pastures animals.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Shannon Hamilton
