Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
eBay users donate more than $36,000 to help build a home for sightless cats.
You cannot place a value on the look of contentment that comes when an animal is clean, exercised, warm, fed, and safe for the first time in its life.
For blind cats, that contentment is rare. Too many people want "normal," non-handicapped animals. Shelters do not want to take in an "unadoptable" cat because there are plenty of healthy "normal" cats out there that they can help. Thus, there is no place for them to go.
Alana Miller is working to change that. After she fostered and later adopted a kitten who became blind from a serious eye infection, she discovered the plight of blind cats in shelters. She soon founded Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, which has saved more than 70 blind cats that otherwise would have been killed, and has also educated many people about blind cats. "Louie taught us that a blind cat is just a cat, not a handicapped animal," she says.
"eBay users rocked our world!"
One of Blind Cat Rescue's sponsors, NC Pooch Vintage Cat Postcards (eBay user ID: ncpooch) introduced the organization to eBay Giving Works back in 2006. Since then Blind Cat Rescue has been featured twice in Give At Checkout because of their participation in Spotlight on Helping Animals, where to Miller's amazement eBay members donated more than $36,000—mostly $1 at a time.
With this unexpected windfall the organization built a cage-free, no-kill sanctuary building where the blind cats could live. The 1,600-square-foot shelter has heat, insulation, hot and cold running water, and a comfortable open area where the cats can play and thrive. Volunteers, visitors, sponsors, and donors—many who discovered the organization on eBay—are helping to achieve its mission.
"eBay users rocked our world!" Miller says. "By being featured on eBay we were able to let even more eBay users know that we existed," Miller says. "It was absolutely amazing! We went from 300 listings to more than 2,000 in one week, which helped us raise a lot of money, too. And since eBay is international, we have sponsors and donors from nine countries," she adds.
Volunteers and visitors come from far and near to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary's rural North Carolina location—as do the cats. "We're presently caring for more than 40 cats whose age, medical condition, temperament, or other special needs make them even more precious in our eyes," says Miller.
Only the beginning
Through the generosity of the eBay community, Alana Miller's next goal is to refurbish and upgrade other buildings on her farm, so Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary would be able to house 36 more blind cats who desperately need a home. Someday, she'd also like to provide a home for Feline Immunovirus and Feline Leukemia positive (FIV/FEL+) cats.
Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary
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