One Volunteer's Voice —
Why Fellow Mortals Deserves Your Support
I can’t remember the date of the first time I took an animal to Fellow Mortals, but I will never forget being so grateful to find out that such a place existed. It is a place where all life is treated with equal importance—regardless of species. Fellow Mortals is truly a beautiful place in a world where life is so carelessly disregarded and blind eyes are turned to suffering. It is a place full of hope, caring and compassion.
I have learned so much from Yvonne, founder and licensed wildlife rehabilitator, who in a busy day, during a busy season, when injured and orphaned animals don’t seem to stop coming all day long, will stop to answer a question I have because she knows I care too and am eager to learn as much as I can from her in what little time I have to give. I have seen Jess, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, working to piece back together a broken bunny hit by a car, with so much gentleness that to this day, when I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes. And just for perspective, I had been there for 11 hours that day and Jess had been there hours before me and would be there hours after I left, yet her kindness and compassion and patience never wavered. I have seen Karen, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, give her very breath to bring warmth to a cold baby bird, literally breathing life into him. I have been privileged to see that same baby bird grow and fly free.
I have seen all of the staff at Fellow Mortals (interns included) on their “day off” stop in as they were running errands for Fellow Mortals while out taking care of their own. I have seen animals come in so injured that I thought their lives were surely over and I have seen Yvonne, Jess and Karen give each of them everything they have—time, knowledge, care and compassion in order to give them a second chance. And I have been blessed to be there to see many of those animals who would have died instead be set free—returned to the wild where they belong, made whole again because of the fact that Fellow Mortals exists and there are people who dedicate their lives to the care of the wild ones when they are found injured or orphaned.
I know that every animal that comes in to Fellow Mortals does not make it, but I also know that those who don’t live are not suffering long, slow painful deaths. They were brought in by someone who saw their suffering and cared. And if they cannot be saved, they are being gently released from their pain by kind hands with as much dignity and respect as possible.
I am so grateful to have found Fellow Mortals. They breathe life, love and hope not just into the animals in their care but into the world at large. Please help if you can, because everyone at Fellow Mortals donates much of their time and every penny counts and is truly needed and appreciated.
