After 13+ years (7+ years donating Kuranda beds), I’ve made the painful decision to close the Blue Bed Donation Program™.

I considered closing the program a year ago, and frankly, in many ways, I wish I’d done just that: If I thought 2022 was tough, 2023 would have been exponentially more difficult - the most stressful and heartbreaking time I can remember.  Sadly, I know all those in animal rescue will relate to that.

The tough economic climate has impacted everyone. Understandably, charitable giving is the first budget item eliminated in times like this.  Donations are down considerably, and that, together with the significant $25/bed cost increase, made it increasingly difficult to meet the relentless need in the animal rescue community. I relied too heavily on a few exceptional Angel Donors to get by, and that was neither fair nor sustainable. Fundraising is difficult at the best of times. In times like these, it’s hard to describe how painful it is to feel you are never doing enough. It’s a crushing stress only those doing this work can truly appreciate. 

In spite of the challenges, I recognize we’ve come a long way since the inception of the Animal Rescue Aid Blue Bed Donation Program™ in 2010 …At that time, few people truly understood the need for a raised bed in a shelter. This program not only provided beds and toys - it also served to help educate the public about the desperate need for “shelter enrichment,” and I am so grateful to have played a part in that. 

But more importantly, in the past 7+ years alone, donating Kuranda beds, the Animal Rescue Aid Blue Bed Donation Program™ has distributed over 35,000 raised dog beds (plus cat towers and replacement vinyl toppers) all across the USA. Thousands of quality KONG chew toys have been distributed since our partnership with KONG began in 2014!

I pray the majority of these beds and toys are still in use and continue to bring some small comfort to the precious souls in shelters across our country through no fault of their own. 

Thank you, Kuranda, for your support, and KONG company, for your generous donations!

But in the end, this single mission was only made possible through the support of those who donated over the years: Thank you for supporting our endless Facebook fundraisers! Every single dollar was greatly appreciated! I simply could not have done any of this without your kindness, compassion, and generosity! I hope you know how much your giving truly mattered. Thank you.

I am thankful, too, for the many friends I’ve made on this journey. I’ve come to know so many truly good-hearted people in animal rescue who share my deep love of animals. Even though we never met in person, I will always be grateful that our paths crossed, and I wish you well as you continue to care for the many sweet souls you serve. Every. Single. Day. I will always be in awe of your tenacity and grit as you do God’s work.

Let me close by saying I fully understand there are a number of reasons contributing to the crises we’re all experiencing in animal rescue at this time – but personally, going forward, I feel Animal Rescue Aid must find a way to support spay/neuter efforts where possible: 

We simply MUST PREVENT THE UNWANTED LITTERS OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS rather than continuing to build even larger shelters to house them and struggle to provide beds to make them a little more comfortable while they wait patiently for the slim chance of finding a forever home. We simply must.

With love and gratitude, always,

Tracey French | Founder
Animal Rescue Aid

NOTE:

Please kindly discontinue your recurring donations via PayPal.

If you need additional aluminum Slimline Kuranda beds and/or replacement parts for the raised beds we donated to your organization – please get in touch with Kuranda directly www.kuranda.com (they will have records of the beds we donated and will be able to assist).

If you are looking for alternative bedding options for your shelter/rescue, scroll down to the suggested groups /vendors that may be able to help.