Dear Friends of Cottontail Cottage,

It's that time of year again to thank our beloved supporters, without whom we wouldn't be here today. And for that, we are utterly grateful to you! It truly takes a village to care for all these rescues, and it is a relief to know that you are there to help in our mission to provide a safe, loving home for animals in need.

In some ways, it's been a challenging year. Due to the rising cost of living, donations aren't what they used to be - and that is a real worry. Hay prices have skyrocketed, and grain prices as well. For this reason,  we want to knock this Annual Appeal out of the ballpark ! End-of-year giving is our biggest and most counted on fundraiser. Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation and help keep us hopping! It would be the greatest gift of all this Holiday Season! And if you have already donated, well, you are angels walking on earth and we are incredibly grateful to you! 

Did you know we have been rescuing animals since 2012? That's over a decade! We are proud of all the lives we have saved; all the human hearts we have touched; and the current lives who still dwell within our keep. Currently, that would include 12 horses (three of whom are minis but equally "horses" just a lot shorter - but don't tell them that!) 2 steers, 4 goats, 2 sheep, 3 mini-pigs, 24 rabbits, 8 birds, 3 cats and (scratching my head) I think that's it! 58 animals! Wow! And most of them have been with us a very long time. I think that is quite special. Many of the bunnies came from our old home in Lamoine. These bunnies are now elderly. Wise, beautiful old souls who break our hearts every time we have to say the long farewell. For you see, the minute we took these animals in they were guaranteed a life-long sanctuary with us - and that is exactly what we give them. The chance to live out their lives free from worry, stress, neglect, abuse, and the tragic cycle of rehoming. They are family! And like any family, each member is cherished.

Maybe you ask: why aren't we helping more animals? Why aren't we accepting, say, a hundred more animals a year? Well, we can answer that: because every truly good sanctuary knows its limitations: both financially and capability-wise. We see far too many places trying to save every animal and it's not long before they need rescuing themselves. Or even more tragically, the old residents are pushed aside, not given appropriate care, and eventually, find themselves back in a crisis. That is not us. And never will be. And maybe it's not exciting enough for donors. I don't know. But I do know we are doing everything in our power to care for these animals and give them their best life. (That is not to say we don't help - but, only when we can. We have a responsibility to the animals already in our care.)

But it doesn't mean we don't need your help: because we certainly do! Incredibly so! Just the cost to feed all the animals here runs thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars a year. And that's just for food! Figure in vet bills, farrier bills, supplies, hay, utilities, and shelter! The list goes on. And the price for everything goes up, up, up!

 Therefore, we are hoping to make a tremendous success of our Annual Appeal and end-of-year fundraiser for 2024! Please note: all donations are HUGELY appreciated (from $5 to $500) as they add up and make a big impact for the animals (and are tax-deductible.) We are not funded by state, local, or government agencies but by big-hearted, compassionate, and kind souls - like you - who truly love animals. Who truly cares.

 Thank you for including the rescue animals at Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary in your Christmas Giving this year! Thank you for jumping in to help whenever you can. And thank you for your everlasting love, support, compassion, kindness, and generosity. You are old friends. Dear friends. And we can't imagine doing this work without you by our side. Thank you for being angels walking on earth and cherished members of the Cottontail family.

 Wishing you a beautiful Christmas full of light, love, laughter, and peace. Go gently into the new year!

With Love From,

Jenny and Mathew - and all your animal friends