The Web Site Can Make a Difference

Last Sunday, July 11, 2010, a Leon Valley business held a special concert (6 bands – Country, Jazz, Rock) where the proceeds would benefit the WAO. The WAO’s new public relations person was on KENS-TV on Thursday of last week saying he was hoping this event would help raise $500k required to save the WAO. He proudly showed off a Spurs basketball that would be auctioned off at the event. He also said he had a gift certificate and items from the WAO gift shop up for auction as well. After he spoke, one of the bands featured at the event played for the in-studio audience. The band, in my opinion, was horrible. It probably scared a lot of people away from the event. I don’t know how long the link will last, but here is the KENS-tv interview with the WAO’s public relations’ person:

http://www.kens5.com/great-day-sa/Wild-Animal-Orphange-98112274.html

I learned the event took in approximately $400-$500 dollars and only about 40 people attended the event. Needless to say, this is a far cry from the half a million dollars the WAO was hoping to make.

Even I knew this event would take in very little money since there were two other major and very popular concert events taking place in San Antonio. Sadly, the amount raised would only cover the cost of produce for primates and bears for two weeks.

It was been almost a week since the event, and thus far, the web site announcing the fundraiser has not been taken down. The site contains old material and according to my web tracker, the WAO is losing visitors. Most time visitors are referred from another site, view the homepage, and then leave the site.

The web pages I created are still the most popular, such as meet some of our animals, tours and directions. Visitors spend a lot of time looking at the animal pictures. Unfortunately, the ‘donate’ webpage (via pay pal or check) is clicked on only once per day, and from what I can tell by the time spent on the page, visitors are not making donations.

The web site could be a major tool in fundraising and unless someone takes over the web site administrator’s duties; less and less folks will feel inclined to donate to the WAO. This breaks my heart because we had so many plans for the website and now it is simply wasting away.

I’ve been studying up on website enhancement techniques and how to fundraise on-line, through mail, and on the phone. I have so many great ideas that I know can work in raise money for the animals. I just wish our team had a chance to go in and make a real difference in the animals’ lives.

OAG Open Records

Well, last week was certainly interesting. After several emails to the Texas OAG’s public information office, I finally received my Public Information records requested last month. In fact, I received two copies due to problems in the mail room.

In any case, what was interesting in the records was the assertion from Michelle Cryer that I used to have a sanctuary, which apparently failed, and now I was trying to take over other sanctuaries! Wow, I learned something new about myself.

Hockey puck.

If that twit had checked out my work history, she would have found that I served honorable in the military, worked for large corporations and local government offices as a HR professional for the last 23 years. Now, what has she been doing for the last 23 years?  Oh yeah, scooping poop.

She went so far as to claim I tried to steal a monkey from the WAO and I almost let a tiger out when I tried to retrieve a cat that wandered into the cages—what???? Oh, and she said she was “there” when the "cat" incident occurred. Clearly, this twit is on drugs, for now she’s experiencing false memories! Needless to say, none of these stupid accusations were true, and I wasted precious time writing a rebuttal letter to the OAG so it can be included to their files; just in case someone pulled open records on this case. Clearly her comments were made intentionally and maliciously in order to discredit me with the OAG’s office.

Wow, Michelle Cryer and Carol Asvestas have so much in common!  The both feared me to the point they had to lie about my past association with the WAO!

Farewell Beauty

It is with a sad heart I must report the death of Beauty, the last liger that was housed at the Leslie Road facility. I just learned today she was euthanized by the WAO’s vet. Beauty leaves behind wonderful memories of her playful antics which I will always treasure. I still recall the day we were filming the WAO commercial and Beauty was so determined to be in the commercial. We did not plan to use her in the commercial because historically she has been shy of cameras, but for some reason that day, she decided to play up to the camera man. She had so much life, much which I think dissipated when Beast died in 2009.

Dear Lord, I pray Beauty and Beast are reunited in Heaven as they both truly deserve a special place in Your Arms. Thank you so much for blessing us with Beast and Beauty—I miss them both.

According to Dr. Pannill:

“I am sorry to report that Dr F. euthanized Beauty . She was sedated by Dr. F for a full exam and was found to have a mammary tumor and large masses in the abdomen . I was told there were 2 ovarian tumors the size of a cantalopes.”

Sadly, Beast was also euthanized allegedly due to tumor growths on his shoulders.

In the meantime, the WAO was inspected by the USDA/APHIS in June and was written up for not providing vet care for Beauty, not providing vet care for the chimps in years, not have adequate meat supply on hand (one meat locker was completely empty and the other meat locker did not have enough meat to feed the animals that day), not installing an adequate perimeter fence at Talley Road (they just threw something up and I guess hoped it was pass inspection—it did not), and not making sure the bear and primate enclosures were structurally sound. What is scary is the meat situation as it takes about 700-800lbs of meat a day to feed the cats (cats eat less during the summer) and the lack of vet care.

USDA Inspection Report - 081910 - Talley Rd

From what I understand the WAO was able to purchase some good red meat again, along with chicken, so at least for a while, the animals have food. I pray the WAO vet can resume checking on the animals once again as she used to when Nicole was in charge.

Meanwhile, the WAO still advertises the commercial  on its website that shows Bubba and Beauty. I guess it’s time to take down the commercial as it would be false advertising.

Speaking of taking down, the WAO demolished the clinic building at least a week or two ago, and we still do not know where the long tailed macaques are located. Dr. Pannill indicated that moving the primates may be tricky due to the hot weather. So the question is where are the primates? Talley? Leslie? Hopefully we will find out soon.

Meanwhile, the OAG, for whatever reason, is not sending me my package of documents which I paid for on June 16, 2010 (that is when the OAG cashed my check). I was told it was mailed on June 28, 2010 (Monday). I live approximately 2 hours from Austin, so I cannot understand why it is taking more than six days to deliver. After two prompts on my behalf to retrieve the confirmation number, the open records person finally emailed me the certified receipt number. When I entered it into the UPS tracking system, it came up saying the number does not exist!!! When I requested the date my package was actually mailed, I received this response “my secretary is having mail room track it down.” Oh yippee.

And the government wants to take over my health care? I’m doomed. I am getting a little suspicious as to what is really going on with my package. Is there something in the package the OAG does not want me to see? Or is government truly incompetence? Never mind.  Already know the answer to that question.

So, all I can do at this point is wait and see what happens next. I pray every day for the animals at the WAO. They truly need a miraculous miracle right now.