by Lorraine Monfils
It will be a year ago this November that The Ark opened its doors to the public. A day we all worked so hard for and a day that we all were so proud of. Though it was short lived, it was a day that we all hold close to our hearts and a day we will never forget. I remember feeling so proud and so grateful for that tiny little cabin, it was small but it was ours and completely paid for.
That day our hopes and dreams became a reality. Members of the community came out and supported us and were amazed at our accomplishments. I think we all had permanent smiles glued to our faces. We learned so much and all of the hard work was more than worth it.
This November I would ask you all to remember that day and that feeling as we prepare to move forward with our new plans. Once again our dreams will become a reality. We will always carry a special place in our hearts for that tiny little cabin. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t walk through that cabin room by room in my mind, it was a beautiful place filled with love. That cabin defined who the Ark was. It was a simple cabin, nothing fancy but it was beautiful, it served a purpose and became a home to many special needs and homeless animals. That cabin came from hard work and love. Any one individual did not own it, but instead it belonged to everyone who opened their hearts and minds to it and supported it. It brought a community together and we all believed in its future. We hope to carry those attributes forward to the new sanctuary.
As we prepare to move forward, it is bittersweet. We are anxious to build our new building, so we can continue our very important work and we are excited at the new possibilities. I am certain that the hallways and rooms will be filled with the same laughter and smiles that the cabin was filled with.
We will cherish the memories of the cabin and the journey we took to make it what it was — our home and a true sanctuary for animals that had no other alternative. Those accomplishments and memories will be forever ingrained in our hearts and our minds. The foundation for the new building will be the ashes of the cabin that we lost in March. My husband and I carefully gathered the ashes and spread them where the new foundation will be. The new building will stand tall and proud and the two sanctuaries will become one. The new sanctuary will be built on a foundation of love, compassion and so much character it will be a true success.
There is still much work to be done but we are up for the challenge, we know that with your continued support that anything is possible and that dreams really do come true. With every bump in the road that we have stumbled over we have become stronger and more determined for a new beginning. Here’s to new beginnings a bright future for The Ark Animal sanctuary.
Thank you for your continued support and as always thank you for reading our column.
