[FEL-L] CO: Pat Craig "bluffing" say other sanctuaries

[Mindy Stinner]

I'd like to have a $2500/month salary from here like Pat is reported to 
have.  I just can't imagine thinking that is a priority.

Threatening to kill the animals if people don't send money is despicable, 
in my opinion.  But then, I am appalled at many methods used to raise money 
that are clearly profitable. I am all for telling a story as it really 
occurred, and many sanctuary animal stories are indeed awful enough without 
embellishment.  Perhaps that is one reason we are not as well funded as 
some places that do engage in this behavior.

We have 87 animals on site, including 35 large cats and a number of 
abandoned chaussies and other hybrids.  We run on under $3500/month.  I 
would like to have a salary. And more hired help.  And perhaps a butcher to 
process our downed livestock and deer. And while I am at it, more cages and 
some hired construction help.  For $20K a month I feel certain I could do 
all that and more.  :)

Some days it is very hard to stick to our ethical beliefs, including that 
we don't run marketing this way, don't lie to the press, don't sell our 
animals, and don't breed hybrids to sell as pets.  I don't look down on 
other people who do breed or sell animals responsibly, but it is not what 
our tiny breeding program and sanctuary are about. Then, when it becomes 
hard to pay the mortgage, I occasionally think that one F1 savannah would 
pay that bill and then some.  Or we could hire Bruce Eberle to publicize 
us. Or maybe I'll just go buy a lottery ticket.

Mindy



>From: "Laura Morin" <lmorin67 at earthlink.net>

>His cats look Very well fed... maybe he can cut back just a bit on the food
>he feeds to save some money and help the cats lose a little of the extra
>weight since this is lean times....Does he work? Or does he pay himself?
>take a pay cut? or get a job? He must have volunteers who can help out even
>more if needed....just a few thoughts...
>
>Laura Morin
>lmorin67 at earthlink.net
>www.WildAboutCats.org
>Exotic Feline Conservation-Education-Rescue