Animal ambulance Hoorn – and surrounding areas – tries in every possible way to gain attention, and especially to raise money, so that they can finally finance their own building. “Now it is the case that people sometimes have to take care of animals at home, or have to look where they should pick up the animal ambulance this time,” says volunteer coordinator Denise van ‘t Ende.
The organization has been trying to get attention for their problem for some time, but support has so far been lacking. This is not only difficult for the volunteers, but is also at the expense of the animals, Denise explains. “For example, because we do not have a permanent location for the animal ambulance, volunteers take it home. Someone else has to pick it up at that address. That just takes extra time, which means you can make fewer trips.”
Collecting rabbits in the backyard
But the animals are also sometimes taken care of at the homes of volunteers. For example, NH spoke with volunteer Ellis Klinkenberg from Hoorn last year. She then caught ten rabbits in her backyard. “You are concerned about the fate of the animals. Letting them run is not an option. My colleague does the homing and show pigeons, I do the rabbits and birds. And occasionally a turtle.”
A new building must therefore offer a solution, where animals can be cared for and also a permanent place for the ambulance. “We now also have a shortage of volunteers. And the ones we have come from Hoorn. While we are active throughout West Friesland. With a permanent location it also becomes more interesting for people from other municipalities to become volunteers. for example, not to pick up the ambulance somewhere, but it is just there.”
Location for your own building in the picture
They have already made quite some progress with a location, but have to cover the costs for a building themselves. How much money they need also depends on the location. “If, for example, no piling has to be done, that makes a significant difference,” she says.
They try to raise money through campaigns. Last Saturday there was a benefit on the grounds of the Zwaluwen ’30 football club. They hoped for a good turnout from the visitors already present. There was face painting, a raffle, a photo studio and you could even get a tattoo. Nevertheless, the bad weather threw a spanner in the works. “We ultimately raised 600 euros and that was disappointing. We had hoped for more.”
A dip in the cold water
This Saturday there will be another promotion: ‘Diving for animals’. Symbolically, employees of the animal ambulance, but also private individuals and some politicians, go into the cold water on a sponsored basis. “It is mainly a symbolic action, because we feel left out in the cold. So we also hope to gain attention for our case.”