Dear Friends,
While TCHS continues to celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, on Nov. 1, I’ll be celebrating my one-year anniversary as executive director. I’m happy to report that I LOVE MY JOB! TCHS has grown so much over the last 50 years, and being at the helm this past year as we continue to expand our services and programs has given me a new level of appreciation for all that goes into our shelter’s growth. There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved in this field, and yet our overworked and underpaid staff, and our dedicated and passionate volunteers and fosters, keep coming back for more. The love and support they give - not just to animals in need, but to each other - is truly heartwarming.
We’ve had some challenges this year. (I still can’t believe we were able to take in 94 cats in one day from the rescue mission in Crosby!) But when we’ve needed it, the help was there. It’s been amazing watching our community show up in full support each time we’ve put out a call for help.
THANK YOU. Animal people are truly the best people in the world, and there’s a lot of animal people in Central Minnesota! I wouldn’t want to do this job anywhere else in the world.
It truly takes a village to make a difference in the lives of so many animals every year – 3,157 reunited with their families or adopted into new ones so far this year and counting – and we have an amazing village!
With gratitude,
Marit Ortega
