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Tails of Bakersfield: Anonymous donor wants to 'save more animal lives'

The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Jul 25 2008 1:35 PM

Last Updated: Friday, Jul 25 2008 1:42 PM

A donor who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to match up to $3,000 in donations given to ALPHA Canine Sanctuary through The Californian’s Tails of Bakersfield program, according to the no-kill shelter’s director and founder.

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Show off your pet in the pages of The Californian. Each photo is $10; all proceeds go to local animal shelters.

Here’s what you do:

• Come to The Californian offices at 1707 Eye St. with a photo of your pet. Fill out the Tails of Bakersfield form and pay $10.

• E-mail your photo to smallard@bakersfield.com. List your name, phone number, pet’s name, breed and age. Include a one-sentence interesting fact about your pet. Photo will run after payment is received.

• Mail your photo and the above information, with your $10 check (payable to Bakersfield SPCA, ALPHA Canine Sanctuary, The Cat People or The Friends of the Kern County Animal Shelters Foundation) to Shanan Mallard, P.O. Bin 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302. Your photo will not be returned.

“The more money we get, the more lives we save. It’s just a simple equation. And that’s where the goodness of it comes from,” Marilyn Stewart, said Friday, one day after receiving her benefactor’s offer. She said the donor is a “major, major animal lover” who has come up with other creative ideas to help animals in the past.

“We need to save more animal lives,” said the donor, who added that she feels sickened every time she passes dead animals on the road during her daily commute.

Tails of Bakersfield was launched June 22 as a way to help Kern’s homeless pet population. Readers of The Californian can submit a photo of their pet or pets for publication, together with a $10 per-photo donation designated for their local animal shelter of choice.

Total donations received as of noon Friday amounted to $4,445, including:

• $533.75 for the Kern County Animal Shelter;

• $1,213.75 for ALPHA Canine Sanctuary;

• $733.75 for The Cat People; and

• $1,963.75 for the Bakersfield SPCA.

Stewart said she hopes her donor’s generosity will inspire others to do the same for the other local animal shelters.