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Support Us At Our
Fall Fundraiser!
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TWO WEEKENDS!
October 2,3,4 and October 9,10,11
Fridays: 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Sundays:10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.
Carnation Oxford Building
1920 Main Street, Suite #1
Ferndale, WA 98248
I-5 Exit 262
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WeSNiP depends on the support of our community. Our Not Your Average Garage Sale fundraisers have become events that our supporters look forward to eagerly. Each event is successful in large part because of the gently-used treasures contributed by Whatcom County businesses and individuals like you!
The funds raised at these giant garage sales, along with small grants and direct donations, allow us to continue to provide financial support to help spay and neuter the pets of low-income owners, provide surgery transport, and to assist communities trying to humanely manage feral cat colonies using the proven Trap/Neuter/Return strategy.
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Dianne Bass
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Dianne & Bobbi
It was five years ago that WeSNiP’s funding for operating the Spay Station ended. It was at that time that a small group of supporters gathered to brainstorm ideas on how best to raise money for WeSNiP in order to continue operating. After a short discussion, the top two ideas were to either hold a chili cook-off or to host a garage sale. This is how WeSNiP’s now well-known and highly anticipated, Not Your Average Garage Sale, began. Our upcoming fall sale will be the 12th sale for WeSNiP and the third sale in our new location at the Carnation Building in Ferndale. The sale has grown immensely since its inception and is now the primary source of funding for WeSNiP’s operations, which have provided nearly 15,000 spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in Whatcom County since 2008.
The Not Your Average Garage Sale is an immense production that requires many, many volunteers to make it happen. WeSNiP volunteers are incredibly hard-working and dedicated to our mission. Since the start of this year, there have been over 4,000 volunteer hours recorded. Time was spent picking up, sorting, organizing, and pricing donations. Each job requires a lot of time and coordination. Thankfully, WeSNiP has an amazing volunteer who continually goes above and beyond for WeSNiP as our Garage Sale Coordinator, Dianne Bass. Dianne works very hard and is highly motivated by her drive to ensure that cats and dogs are “fixed” in order to reduce pet overpopulation and to live longer, healthier lives.
Dianne’s passion for spay and neutering is nothing new. In fact, she shares a profound story of her first cat, Bobbi, who she got at age 11. Dianne spent the summer with her aunt on her berry farm. Her aunt’s barn cat had delivered a litter of kittens. Dianne fell in love with the fuzzy little black one, but she knew that her parents would say no if she asked to keep him. All summer long she tended to the kittens and, one by one, people came by the farm and took a free kitten away. There were only two kittens left when another family came by to look. They wanted the fuzzy black one. Dianne’s heart was broken as tears filled her eyes, and she started to hand him over to the family. Her aunt abruptly said, "Sorry! That one already has a home!" Apparently her aunt had called Dianne’s mom and had convinced her that she had worked so hard all summer and had earned a "berry bonus". Dianne recalls this to be one of her happiest moments EVER!
Dianne didn't know anything about cats, so she went to the library. The book she checked out had a chapter about spaying and neutering. She had never heard of such a thing! The chapter explained the many benefits, including a longer life. She was so in love with this kitten that she wanted him to live forever! Her parents were from the generation that didn't spay, neuter or vaccinate, but they listened to her speech. They tried to convince her that since he was a boy, they wouldn't have to worry about him getting pregnant. "But he'll get beat up and get a nasty disease and die!" she wailed. They didn't agree. So, Dianne used the money she had earned on her aunt's berry farm and took him to the vet herself!
Dianne’s foresight and commitment to her beloved cat contributes to her incredible dedication today. With each mile driven to pick up donations, with each box moved and unpacked and with each and every dollar raised at each sale, Dianne has a long-standing passion for helping cats (and dogs) get “fixed” in order to live a better life. The funniest part of Dianne and Bobbi's story is that initially her parents did not want the cat, but when she moved out several years later they refused to let her take him. They had no problem sending her out into the world, but they were NOT going to lose the cat! Bobbi died at age 16 after living a full life and being well-loved by Dianne and eventually by her parents as well.
Way to be awesome Dianne! WeSNiP thanks you for your dedication to spaying/neutering and for making the Not Your Average Garage Sale simply amazing. Without the garage sale WeSNiP simply could not do the work each week of helping Whatcom County pet owners overcome the barriers that have prevented them from having their cat and/or dog “fixed.” WeSNiP works because of your—and numerous other volunteers'—commitment, and the impact is enormous.
THANK YOU DIANNE!
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Chilli was a free dog from Maple Falls, living outside on a chain when his owners met him. It only took one week to housebreak him. Chilli also took almost no time to settle into a domestic lifestyle with four kids and a cat (see cat in photo), and thinks he is a lapdog even though he's about 70 pounds! And now after visiting with us he is neutered!! Congratulations Chilli!
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Thanks to our generous supporters, contributors, and volunteers!
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Labels Women's Consignment Shop — visit their webiste!
http://www.labelsconsignment.com/
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Rescued Hearts Northwest
A dedicated animal rescue group committed to saving and improving the lives of at-risk dogs.
Like them on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/rescuedhearts
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http://www.vacationland-rv.com/
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All proceeds from fundraisers and donations go toward funding WeSNiP’s vision to eliminate euthanasia of healthy cats and dogs in Whatcom County. WeSNiP is a registered 501(c)3 charity. Donations are tax deductible.
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