I’ve written several times on this blog over the years about my youngest daughter’s unyielding compassion for animals. I’ve watched it shape her as she matures, from a small person taking it in and questioning to a girl on the cusp of nine who now asserts her compassion, and who is hard to say no to.
Her desire to be around dogs here in La Paz isn’t a case of a young girl pining for the pet she doesn’t have, it’s her sincere want to help, however she can. Over months, I’ve watched her bond with three dogs we’ve fostered aboard. Both times I wondered how in the world we were going to be able to let someone take her “pet” away. My impulse was to remind Frances daily that this situation was temporary. Windy urged me not to worry. In both cases, when we found permanent homes and said goodbye, nobody was happier than Frances, overjoyed for the animal.
This cruising life, and the longer periods of time we’ve been able to spend in places like La Paz and Guaymas in Mexico, and Victoria in B.C., has afforded us the time to facilitate and support Frances. Now, four days away from her 9th birthday and completely unknown to her at this point, we are facilitating her compassion in the best way we know how.
Please help, by donating or spreading the word. Any amount raised beyond the minimum goal we set just increases the long-term good that will be done.
Click here to help Frances reach her goal.
Birthday Girl!
The day before yesterday was Frances’s birthday. The campaign to raise money to fund a local spay/neuter clinic in her name was a surprise gift to her. She is away for three weeks visiting family and I just got this picture from her, taken when she was told about the gift. I talked to her on the phone and she couldn’t be more excited.
The results have been phenomenal. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to raise enough meet our goal to fund one clinic. It looks like we’ll be able to maybe fund FOUR clinics in her name. There is still a week left, but thank you to everyone who publicized or donated in support of this cause.
It’s a big responsibility to solicit money on behalf of an organization. It’s very assuring in this case to know the individuals who will be using it. Every dime will go towards directly addressing the mission to fix as many cats and dogs as possible, with no overhead (except the small percentage that Indiegogo takes off the top).
The first clinic in Frances’s name is scheduled for mid-March and I will document that event here.
In our twenties, we traded our boat for a house and our freedom for careers. In our thirties, we lived the American dream. In our forties, we woke and traded our house for a boat and our careers for freedom. And here we are. Click here to read more from the Log of Del Viento.
