As California State University, Bakersfield searches for new shelters for its injured and misplaced birds in advance of its June 2015 closure, CSUB students and Facility for Animal Care and Treatment volunteers are attempting to open their own rehabilitative facility.
According to Julie Asperger, 40, a volunteer at FACT, she and Donna Noce, a fellow CSUB student and FACT colleague, have decided on a name for their prospective facility.
“It will be named Talons and Paws Rescue – TP Rescue,” Asperger said.
Asperger said she and Noce are hoping to open their new center in advance of June 2015, in the hopes that any of FACT’s unreleased birds may be transferred to them. She added that, because FACT is unable to accept new cases due to their imminent closure, her center will address a need in the Bakersfield community – the unavailability of rehabilitation shelters.
Sue Hammer, Director of Tehachapi Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education, said that their center, due to the ongoing California drought, was unable to accept new cases.
Don Richardson, Curator of Bakersfield’s California Living Museum, said in interviews that he was uncertain how many, if any, of FACT’s birds CALM could receive. Richardson cited the costs of each bird as a major determinant in how many birds CALM could accept.
The search for premises
According to Asperger, the two biggest challenges the prospective center faces are finding grounds on which to open the center and financing the center itself.
Of the $10,000 necessary to open what Asperger considers a small-sized center – “half-an-acre of land with five-to-six cages and a lab that can store four or five birds” – she and Noce have received roughly $300 in donations.
Asperger said approximately 20 community members have volunteered to donate a variety of services, including labor, construction supplies and facility supplies. She added that people have also offered veterinarian supplies once the opening of the facility appears imminent.
She added that a fundraiser would be hosted on Dec. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hart Park. Activities include a cake and pie sale, airbrushing and a Christmas dog contest.
How to donate
For anyone willing to donate supplies, volunteer time or help finance the center, Asperger said she could be contacted through email at [email protected] or on Facebook.
