The Dobbin Fund, Sustainable Partners

Inspired by Dobbin R. Bergerilind, with the generous support of The DEKM Fund, we are creating a very special program for senior equids (horses, ponies, donkeys and mules), the unwanted, unaffordable and unadoptable equids who have nowhere to go. The lost seniors who wish for nothing more than a home to call their own. It is to be called The Dobbin Fund after our beautiful draft who found a safe, soft landing at Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and touched so many hearts. Perhaps even yours.

Necessitated by the current need in the New England equine community and fueled by the many older lives we have welcomed, this program has the potential to allow us to make a bigger difference to needy equids than ever before.

The truth is, senior horses (ponies, donkeys and mules) experience tremendous need (far greater than their younger counterparts). That's because they are incredibly expensive to support and there are few rescues who can welcome them because they are almost impossible to rehome. If that were not enough of a challenge, prices for horse care (feed, bedding and vet care) have soared exponentially in this area and our veterinarian has noted that many owners/guardians are aging out of their ability to adequately care for their aged equids. Such a sad situation all around. Here in the North Country, there is also a scary and unprecedented shortage of large animal veterinarians. Combined, it all translates into more need than ever before. We know that together, with this generous gift, we can be more, do more and give more to the seniors in need of soft landing.

With you by our side, we can welcome some of these lives to Tomten. Yes, it will be one equid at a time but for those lives it will be everything. We fully understand that some may come to us for their final gift, a kind goodbye in the arms of people who care. Some may be with us for just a season, a time to experience the peace and comfort they need. Others could be with us a year or more. Lives like Dobbin who wasn't expected to make the Winter and had three beautiful years of dreams come true thanks to people like you. But all will benefit from the end-of-life care they deserve -- warm beds, a loving embrace, appropriate food and top-quality veterinary care.

Just who is eligible? Any horse over 25 who finds themselves in real need. Breed, color, soundness and health are irrelevant. Welcomes will be determined by space and fund availability. And here is where you can help us make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is our chance to be sure Dobbin's legacy lives on in the lives we welcome and that we can do our part to provide peace, protection and possibility to the seniors who have no place to go.

But, the future amount that becomes available depends on you. Before we can access the growth of this fund we must gain 100 new Sustainable Partners of just $10 or more. That means if just 100 people (who are not already recurring monthly donors) sign up to give a recurring monthly gift, we will not only have access to the interest on the fund whenever there is a senior in need, but the fund amount itself will actually end up being more than it started with and continue growing. 10% of every new monthly donation will also go into the fund and little by little, together we can watch this fund and its interest grow.

When built up enough, that interest can be accessed as a match for each senior equid we accept in the future, reducing our fundraising needs while increasing our impact. In this way, everyone's gifts will make a continued difference to lives in need in perpetuity. How beautiful is that? I feel as though my heart could burst and am so touched that we will continue to be able to help lives like Dobbin find happiness.

If you are wondering where the other 90% of the monthly recurring gifts will go, responsibly, we must put them toward our daily operating budget. That is what allows us to be here for those we welcome and support their general day-to-day care after their initial welcome funds are utilized. That is important and we want to be sure we can go above-and-beyond to make their dreams come true for as long as they remain with us. Sustainable, responsible rescue is absolutely paramount.

Most of you know that this is the first ever endowment opportunity we have ever been offered. I am sure you agree, it is an incredible way to celebrate our 10th year Anniversary and take a giant step toward the future of Tomten Farm and Sanctuary.

If you are not already a Sustainable Partner, we hope you will join us as we take this momentous step in this magical journey. Already a Sustainable Partner or prefer to make a one-time gift toward the $10,000 match and the first equid to come? It is as easy as clicking the other link in your email.