Sponsership

[den]

During a discussion with some of the other members of the local WIRES branch, someone suggested we look for sponsership of various animals. Since we're volunteers we don't get any funding: all our care work is self funded. Bats are easy so I'm not looking for money, but Kangaroos, euros, and wallabies can be in care for 6 months. One of the members has 25 joeys, 1 kestrel chick, 2 herons, 3 falcons and an eagle.

So, if you had a chance would you sponser an animal? WIRES is a registered charity so Aussies get a tax refund. Sponsers would get a photos of the animal/bird, and emailed updates. And the thanks of some tired people 8)

The money would go toward food, vet bills, bedding, transport for THAT animal only.

[Poll #81930]

Comments

[elynne.livejournal.com]

My thought is that I don't have much money, but I can make jewelry - necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and such. I'd be pleased to make a few with proceeds going to WIRES. Um... that first requires me making some jewelry to sell so I can afford to make more, of course, but I'm working on that. ;) Just a thought. Let us know how things go!

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

(hugs) thanks. But we only wish for what you can afford. It's all still in the air at the moment

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Three questions, really, rather than answers:

First, would you be set up to accept donations from outside Australia, and if so, how?

Second, would you consider an option, like with the child sponsorship programs, of "whoever needs support the most right now"? Because I'd be hard pressed to decide among all the options. I mean, sponsoring an echidna would be cool, 'cause they're just weird, but then, so would a bearded dragon. Baby animals are cute, but then so are nocturnal marsupials like the antechinus (I assume the description I found at http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/antechin.htm is missing either a decimal point or a zero -- something shouldn't be 121 cm and only weigh 50 g).

Third, platypus?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

1- We're considering something like Paypal.

2- "Right now" is a bit difficult. Right now, 39 kangaroos and wallabies are being cared for by 3 people. Thses are mosty juvenile roos almost ready for release that still need hay, there are some very young joeys (red and grey roos, red-necked wallabyes, 2 wallaroos and a swamp wallaby) all still in the pouch requiring 3 hourly feeds and care (1 joey is so young she's only just got her fur. Say awww. She will need up to 6 months of care.) Reptiles don't need a lot of care, but they need meal worms for beardies), fresh fruit and veggies (for blue-tongues), and they they do have vet bills, and... um... so does their food. We don't feed snakes live food, of course, but the rats and mice have to be kept healthy. (I've helped train an owl to hunt by tying a peice of cotton to a dead mouse and making it do little moves in some grass.) Eagles and other raptors are really intensive to care for.

(antechinus are 12.1 cm, not 121. When the males mature they bonk themselves to death do that by late autumn they're all dead, and the population consists entirely of pregnant females.)

3- Platypus are all taken to the zoo. They are so difficult to care for we can't do it.

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

bats, let me know if you guys set up something that lets us donate over the net from the states, i'll try to send a little.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

We're looking at Paypal, and I'll be talking to nome about a site.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Mind if I post a link to this to the WomBAT mailing list? (It's a bi women's list: Women of Beauty and Temptation, but we're awful fond of the critter variety too)

[http://users.livejournal.com/crossfire_/]

Would this work for non-Aussies? I mean, would I be able to pay in US dollars and such?

Not that I have a lot of money right now. But...if you ever needed help with the bats, I would adopt one in a heartbeat.

You should mention this on alt.callahans, if you haven't already (I haven't read my news in a couple of days).

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

We're looking at Paypal or something like that, or even direct deposits, but I don't know how they will go from OS. Bank fees will eat them I expect.

It'll be cheaper for you United Statians to donate; the AU$ is worth 50% of the US$

Hmm... haven't mentioned this on a.c. Maybe I should

[kittiwake.livejournal.com]

I put Echidna (because monotremes are such interesting animals), but I didn't realise I could have ticked more than one box. I think that if it's open to non-Australians, they are likely to go for the animals that are only found in Australia, rather than things like magpies that they can see in their own back gardens.

Isabel.

[ngarewyrd.livejournal.com]

of course, the Magpie that Batty was talking about is not the bird that is common in the UK, it is something looking more like the bird described here (http://home.mira.net/~areadman/magpie.htm)

[kittiwake.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. I've bookmarked the site to have a thorough look at later.

I see it's got information about thylacines. Last month's Fortean Times magazine had an article about a thylacine rug (made from 8 skins) that was recently auctioned for $270,000. there was a picture of the seller with the rug over her lap. Unfortunately, you can see why people would have killed them for their skins as well as to protect the sheep, as it makes a very pretty stripy rug.

Isabel.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Ah but the mapies here aren't the same as the mapies there. 8) In fact, we are by law not permitted to keep introduced species, as much as it pains us. One of my fellow rescuers is English and she cries every time she has to euthanise a blackbird.

but the Aussie magpie looks a lot like a small crow, except in black and white.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I can't help but think the members need sponsorships, rather than an individual animal group.

Cute pictures, reports on how much more sleep they're getting now that they don't have to scrounge for food, etc.

*grin* Just a thought.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

This is Den. He's a short, fat bastard who loves beer, seafood, saussage rolls and curry meat pies. He is currently trying to get a degree at Charles Sturt Univerity, and ultimately hopes to get a job that will pay him enough so that he can travel to Europe and North America.

Re: Sponsorship

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

If you do get something set up so that those of us in the United States of Bush can donate over the Net, please reply to this comment or send me e-mail at wolfieboy@livejournal.com.

Re: Sponsorship

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Right now Paypal looks like our best option for Over Seas sponsers. The way our currancy is at the moment, you only need 50c to send us AU$1 8)

ADOPT-A-WOMBAT

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone know where i can actually find a wombat that i could adopt?

Re: ADOPT-A-WOMBAT

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Try a zoo near you. They're always greatful for a little extra cash for the animals. A lot of Aussie zoos have a sponsorship program.

ADOPT-A-WOMBAT

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone know where i can actually find a wombat that i could adopt? please let me know jacojacobs1@hotmail.com