A woman spent 30 days and nights at the Madison County Humane Society in Anderson, Indiana to help raise funds for the animal shelter which was close to shutting down.
Rhonda Estes volunteered herself for this fundraising. She brought her pets in with her to spend the holiday over at the shelter with more than 100 cats and dogs.
According to Estes, it costs about $17,000 to $20,000 per month to keep the shelter afloat. However, due to the economy, adoption rate has decreased and more animals have been brought to the shelter. The shelter's operation was in the red for many consecutive months.
The shelter largely relies on generous donations. Estes spent a month at the shelter back in 2008 and successfully raised $23,000. This year around she has raised $22,500 in approximately 20 days.
Estes said it got a little boring sometimes in the shelter because the weather was cold and she had to stay in most of the time doing treats with the animals. She became extremely bonded with some furry friends while gained trust from others that were once not fond of her.
There have been many sleepless nights, but Estes is determined to keep all the animals fed and healthy in the shelter. Madison County Humane Society is a no-kill shelter. According to Estes, one resident has stayed in the shelter for 12 - 13 years. The shelter promises to keep all the animals until they get adopted or pass away.
If you want to make a donation, you can go to their official website to help out.
Image via flickr: Muffet