Today we’d like to introduce you to Cammy Ripley And Sandy Horvath, Esq With Sunrise Sanctuary, Inc.
Hi Cammy Ripley and, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sunrise Sanctuary, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has rescued and cared for farmed and companion animals for over 20 years. Animals who were once abandoned, abused, or neglected receive a second chance at life and a forever home. At Sunrise Sanctuary we encourage more humane and compassionate behaviors and believe that each living creature has value and deserves to live free of suffering and exploitation. There are over 140 precious souls that call Sunrise Sanctuary their forever home. As a volunteer run organization, we rely on many dedicated volunteers, friends and supporters to keep our doors open. We have new volunteers joining all the time and several that have been with Sunrise for many years. Cammy Ripley began volunteering at Sunrise in 2010 after meeting Mindy Mallett, Sunrise’s Founder, at a protest with Mercy For Animals at Conklin’s Dairy Farm. Cammy fell in love with the mission and the Sunrise babies and has volunteered ever since. Cammy is currently the Board President, a dedicated on-farm volunteer, our primary grant writer, fundraising and event coordinator. Sandy Horvath began volunteering in 2013 after coming to Sunrise for an event. She joined the Sunrise Board in 2014 and she currently serves as Treasurer. In 2015, Sandy moved next door to Sunrise and is currently the primary caretaker which involves coordinating the many professionals that help care for the Sunrise babies, feeding them, coordinating the many volunteers that come to help keep their space clean, comfortable and safe. There are so many other wonderful, dedicated individual and corporate volunteers, supporters and donors that allow Sunrise to exist.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a Sanctuary is challenging on many levels. We receive no government funding, so keeping the donations and revenue flowing is always a challenge. Probably the hardest part of the job is saying goodbye to our precious babies when they pass. Having been around for over 20 years, we have some older babies and it is inevitable that we will lose them as time passes. We are comforted knowing they lived their best life at the Sanctuary and only knew peace and love, but the absence of a loved one is always felt by everyone. We take in as many as we responsibly can, but the need is great. Sadly, we have to turn away many beautiful, deserving souls. Our first obligation is to the ones in our care and we have to ensure we have the space, manpower, and financial resources to support anyone we take in for the rest of his or her natural life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We rescue abused, abandoned or unwanted farmed and companion animals and give them a lifelong home where they are safe, cared for and loved. While we are so grateful and blessed to have saved hundreds in the years we’ve been here, we grieve for the ones we can’t save. The work is incredibly fulfilling when we are able to take in a beautiful soul that has no other option and know that this baby will thrive because we are here. It’s difficult at times, because the need is so great. Sometimes it feels like we are trying to empty the ocean with a bucket. In addition to helping these special beings, we hope to educate the public along the way to the plight of these babies in the hopes that compassion will spread. We hold Open Barn Days and events with this in mind. They are important fundraising initiatives for us, but we know that when people meet these babies up close and learn how sweet, sensitive and loving they are, it does impact many animals we will never come to know.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
All of our volunteers, donors and supporters have one thing in common; they love animals and have a passion for making the world a kinder place for them. No matter the individual’s race, religion, dietary choices, political affiliations, sexual orientation, or gender choice, the many people who work on our babies behalf have an unwavering dedication and passion to help them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunrisesanctuary.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisesanctuary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunriseSanctuary
