THE HOPE FUND

The Hope Fund was set up in 2000 to help abandoned animals that needed veterinary treatment.  Caring people came to the vet clinic in Espiche, where I worked, with an injured animal that had been involved in a hit and run.  They could not ignore it, yet they had little or no money themselves to pay for the treatment.  The Hope Fund was specifically set up to deal with these situations.

Soon the fund extended to helping street animals that needed more expensive care, such as heartworm treatment or long-term injury care.  It also became clear that many people on low income also loved their animal and needed assistance just to pay for an annual vaccine or tick, flea and worm treatments, and so the fund extended to help them too.  I felt it was important and humane to help these people and their animals.

The Hope Fund never was, and still is not, a refuge.  I do, however, directly try to assist in rescuing animals that have been victims of a hit and run or neglect, or other similar situations.  Having said that, there are always one or two residing with us that need new homes!  Many animals stay here for post-operative care after neutering or surgery because they have nowhere else to go except the street.  Some are taken back to the life they are used to on the street, complete with a new Hope Fund collar, but many are rehomed for a better life in a loving family home.  If it is not possible to rehome them here in Portugal we do also send dogs to Germany, the UK and even the USA where they are rehomed very quickly with loving families.

With the help of our generous friends at the Hope Fund, I hope to sterilise and castrate even more animals this year.  In the past I have frequently asked the Nandi Fund, Lagos, to pay for neutering of animals from the street with no owner.  This they have done every time.  To them I owe a deep gratitude.

I also hold annual fundraising lunches and a monthly car boot sale in Espiche along with other activities to cover Hope Fund expenses. In 2004 an annual golf tournament organised by Doug Clarke was started and this has raised the largest amount of money every year for the Hope Fund.  This money has gone directly to cover veterinary costs and has saved a huge amount of animals from a life of misery.  If you see these activities advertised please help us by supporting them.  The money raised by the Hope Fund is also used to pay for animal food, cleaning materials, gas for heating, washing powder, petrol and phone calls and other essential things for the regular running and care of the animals such as worm and flea treatments for new arrivals.

There is no full-time paid employee working for the Hope Fund, which helps to keep the costs down.  This also means that I do not get paid for the work I do.

The animals that you save are grateful for all your help.

Michele

 
Gatekeeper @ hopefundportugal.com