My Nonprofit Reviews

Two weeks ago, on Sunday January 8, 2012, I was staying at the Best Western Plus Beach Resort hotel at 2600 Sand Dunes Drive in Monterey. Shortly after sunset ~ with darkness setting in, and the temperature dropping fast ~ my boyfriend pointed me in the direction of a sea bird (I later learned it was a cormorant) that was strangely ‘parked’ in the gradually incoming tide at the base of the sandy part of the beach. The bird, struggling and failing to move from its spot, appeared to be injured.
I desperately wanted to help the bird and hoped I could find a way. A quick Internet search on my cell phone pulled up the SPCA Monterey County's Emergency After Hours Wildlife Rescue phone number. The hotel front desk confirmed that this was the correct number for me to call. I was able to swiftly connect with a friendly SPCA ‘dispatcher’ who put me in touch with a woman named Jamie. With Jamie on her way to the Best Western, I decided to station myself on the beach near the bird to monitor its condition and to help Jamie find the bird in the dark. I was able to fend off a large, unleashed dog who came running.
In less than half an hour, Jamie arrived beachside with a male volunteer, a box, a flashlight and a blanket. “Awww, it’s a cormorant…” she said lovingly, as she used the blanket to gently lift the bird into the box… Jamie was warm and professional in all of her interactions with me, and, most importantly, in her treatment of the ailing bird. I was so relieved that the bird would now receive good care!
My boyfriend, who was visiting me from Argentina at the time, and who witnessed the cormorant rescue on the beach, marveled “We don’t have organizations like that where I’m from… You can’t call an emergency after hours phone number and in 20 minutes someone shows up with a box ready to rescue an animal!!!” Hearing his words, I felt doubly grateful for the existence of the SPCA Monterey County -Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center!
As a lifelong animal lover and advocate, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to the Wildlife Rescue team for their wonderful work! I will spread the word about the SPCA Monterey County-Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center in my classes at City College of San Francisco, where I serve on the faculty of the Dance Department (I teach Argentine tango). I so appreciate the excellent work the Wildlife Rescue team is doing!

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