NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte rescue has announced that they will be temporarily closing their doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Fur the Love of PAWS Rescue made the following announcement:
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that today we announce the **TEMPORARY** closing of the Fur the Love of PAWS Rescue FURcility.
We know that COVID-19 has affected our entire world, and it has finally affected us.
Our rescue program is based entirely on volunteers. Even myself, the Director who never sleeps and eats, breathes and lives for rescue - rescues voluntarily and runs the rescue after a regular job and regular life stuff. Because of this, I depend greatly on other volunteers to help me care for the cats in our facility.
We've been open for three years and had some amazing, AMAZING volunteers and also some not so great ones. I've been stolen from, lied to and betrayed. All part of the learning process. But I've learned that I must be picky about who I allow into our program. They must meet standards of responsibility, reliability, and honesty. Not all do. I only mention this because integrity is important to me and this program. And not every person who applies has that. I can't and won't just allow any 'ol person to come in here.
I have a volunteer that has been with me since day one who recently had to step back for personal reasons. I've had some with me for 2+ years who had health issues and had to step back. I still have some that have been with me for a long time and remain. It's just always a juggle for them and me, and that's fine. I can handle it, I appreciate all my volunteers from the depths of my soul, and they know that. But when you take the normal struggles and changes in a volunteer program and mix in COVID-19..... Everything changes. Everything.
Let me say that we are all fine.. No one is sick. We're fine. But it's ever-changing and in the blink of an eye, that can be different. We lost two volunteers when we weren't even a full bunch again, due to the college closing and an (understandably) self-imposed isolation for safety. We tried to fill those spots and can't. Then we lost another for another reason. We can't have open shifts, or the cats don't get care. They don't get meds, they don't get the things they need. I have to work, I can't afford not to, so I can't be there at all hours of every day. I depend on volunteers...
Yesterday, I learned a third volunteer needed to take a break as she works directly with the public and could have been exposed to someone who may have been exposed. Sounds like a long shot right? Yes. Not panic for me, even 6 months pregnant, I'm OK with that - but I am not OK with putting volunteers I love at any possible risk. Our doors are closed to the public and have been. We have one person per shift, so there is zero minglings. We are literally the cleanest, most disinfected building you'll ever find. But....... I am killing myself with stress trying to make sure my volunteers stay safe and finding new ones to come help. The help isn't coming right now... Because the world is locked up, scared and we all want to protect ourselves and our families.
Our vets are closed except essentials. We can't do anything about that. They are continuing to see Cyrus but they are also in a predicament and affected.
I have cried for weeks over what to do and where to go. I have prayed for answers and sat quietly trying to be the best, most responsible leader I can be. It is a gut-wrenching choice, but it is the right one. Until this all passes, and once Cyrus gets adopted, we will lock up for a bit. *Temporarily.* Take a break. And return when it is safe for the humans who sacrifice so much to help us save our furry friends.
We will still have all our other programs running. We will still support the city shelter, provide them medical care, make sure those aninals are safe. They are also closed to the public at this time. But we will continue to communicate with them and keep our promise to protect those animals.
We will continue our Snip it in the bud program for spay-neuter assistance.
We will still run LOST PAWS - North Platte, NE., Cans for Critters and co-op the North Platte Pet Food Pantry.
We will still do all the things behind the scenes that we always have.. You have our word we will still be here, fighting for the animals. Nothing else changes, we just won't have a facility capable of running without humans hands inside, for a little while.
Thank you all for understanding and please, selfishly, say a pray for me as I try to come to terms with a gigantic change in my life, although temporary, this is my life work. My everything. And I will pray for all of you. Thank you all.
We will be back in action soon. God Bless. Stay safe. Stay strong! It's all only temporary, for all of us.