President’s Letter June 2020
Dear RCHS Friends and Family,
It’s a time for review and renewal. Venus, Mercury, Pluto and Saturn are in retrograde this month. “Expect more twists and turns than a rollercoaster ride,” they warn.
Retrogrades are not synonymous with disaster, despite what people like to say. Retrogrades provide great opportunities to slow down, cross our T’s and dot our I’s, and take a look back at what’s left unresolved. We need to focus on communication. We should not brag, overextend ourselves or use dramatic words. Most importantly, we have to be honest.
Honestly, the past three months have been very difficult! Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) has faced significant challenges with COVID-19, but we are ready to handle this cosmic motion.
Since launching April 22nd, RCHS’s Adoptions by Appointment ONLY has placed more than 65 companion animals, including 2 rabbits, in their forever homes. We didn’t compromise our matching process or put adopters, staff or volunteers at risk. No bragging, just honesty!
RCHS is taking a slow and cautious path toward reopening the Thrift Shop. We added more retail space, cleaned top to bottom, rebuilt production areas, upgraded technology and made a real “break room” for volunteers and staff. We reopen on June 15th, all safety precautions in place and donation bins ready to be filled. We will celebrate our Grand Re-opening later in June – you are all invited!
RCHS is crossing T’s and dotting I’s in our plans to open Animal Camp, beginning July 20th. We see a chance to fulfill our promise to bring children back to the shelter to learn how to care for a pet and how to coexist with wildlife, exotics, bugs and reptiles. We are starting summer camp – eyes wide open, leaning into our creative side, no touch thermometer in hand!
This is a time of reflection. Looking back to see what is unresolved highlights the momentum lost to COVID-19 – in our building project and goals to adopt more than 1,500 companion animals this year, in our stalled Pet Loss Support Program, in lost revenues from the Thrift Shop, and in months spent without our beloved volunteers. Today, we are welcoming back staff from furlough, scheduling volunteers to return to the shelter and the Thrift Shop, and mastering this rollercoaster, arms up and embracing the ride!
Stay Well,
