|
The Vet 50th Gala Dinner held in July was not only a fantastic evening of celebration; it helped raise a further $26,000 for the vital new Wildbase Hospital building.
Massey University’s wildlife hospital (Wildbase) began operating in 2001 when it had two staff and saw 50 animals in its first year. Today there are 11 staff who treat upwards of 300 animals a year, however a severe lack of space and inadequate surgical and recuperation areas means that some animals cannot be given the care they require or cannot be accepted at all.
The new hospital will see facilities increase from around 25 square meters of space to ten times that size. It will include a purpose built sterile surgery, an intensive care unit and temperature controlled wards specific to patient’s unique needs.
Fundraising over the past year has seen us raise over $1m towards our $1.47m target. The University kicked off fundraising by contributing $300,000 and Shell NZ came on board in January as our Gold Conservation Partner with a significant donation of $400,000 and a further $400,000 over the next ten years. Since then Massey University Foundation has been successful in achieving a number of grants and corporate and personal donations. But we need your help to get us across the line by the end of the year in order to start building early in 2014.
According to Wildbase Director Dr Brett Gartrell “the new hospital will give us the ability to increase both the quality of their medicine and the volume of wildlife patients we treat. As a direct result we will save greater numbers of many of our unique and endangered species.”
It will also attract more veterinarians, students and researchers; expanding global knowledge of the treatment and care of wild birds and animals and the causes of decline in wild populations. This state-of-the-art wildlife hospital will enable Massey to make greater gains in the conservation of our precious native species.
Please help us build this vital new hospital and strengthen the global reputation Wildbase holds as a conservation authority. You can donate online to the Wildbase Fund at http://foundation.massey.ac.nz or contact Maree Hoare at Massey Foundation on 021 423 932 or m.hoare@massey.ac.nz
Best wishes
Frazer
Comedian and Wildbase ambassador Te Radar visited Massey recently to find out more about Wildbase's work and help with fundraising efforts.
|
