My friend has a 501 c3 that works with dogs slated for euthanizia within the rescue/humane society world.  How come there are no areas where politicism, jealousy, name calling, and judgmental libel doesn't take place?? I thought, in the world that saves animals, people would work together ... but she has found little to no cooperation from the dog world, business world, or similar non-profits.  There are other points to her mission, including taking senior dogs who belonged to seniors who have passed, and the rest of the family says to put that old dog to sleep.  She had a 15 year old sheltie mix from Lewistown who had 2 more good years with her, and it's something everyone should think about.  Also homed are animals belonging to soldiers of foreign wars, and victims of abuse so they can get into a shelter.  She also travels all over the Gallatin valley to train shelter adopted dogs for FREE.  Yes, I said FREE.  I'm sure a gas donation would be appreciated, but it's not asked for.  Nice mission.  How does she support all this ??? She works outside the facility.  Full time, part time, overtime, whatever she can get.  I will say some rescues have helped in the past, but everyone is in the same boat.  Especially non-profits working under the laws governing them, but without 501c3 status yet.

She has tried for years .... YEARS ... to get a low cost, servicable and reliable used truck donated for hauling things around ( dog houses, hay, straw, dogs, etc) and pulling horses. Her vehicle is on it's last legs ... literally.   Not one dealership from here to Helena to Butte to Missoula to Big Timber and Billings has even tried to help.  Billion said there's no money ... but they just bought Whiting Motors in Livingston.  Whiting said no, plain and simple.  Ressler, same thing.  Now, Yellowstone Country Dodge in Livingston ... another story completely ... they wanted to make as big a profit as possible on her needing a truck ... there was one on the lot for $1500, and told her she's have to come up with an additional $500 after the trade in ..... for a non-profit???? Shameful!  Wolf auto (they have 3 or 4 dealerships) ... she got the difference between an old truck with no bells or whistles within $1300 of a trade with her vehicle, and still the answer was no.  Randash might help when their lot is full ... which it isn't at the moment.  Bozeman ford ?? The owner wouldn't call back in 07, nor would the son in 09.  Come on ... that's just not considerate!!  So it goes on and on. Everyone knows that it's easy to give when times are good,  but a real sacrifice when times are hard.  But isn't that what non-profit's do?? Give when it's hard to do so?  Give when they are scratching the surface to survive themselves?? Give to the mission when they need things, literally depriving themselves of whatever it was they needed to take care of others?   Why can't people sacrifice a portion of what non-profit's do and go without for a little bit, to make life easier for the non-profits as well as those they help?

Want to help?? Look up the federally recognized non-profits in the Bozeman area, pick one whose mission you support, and then support them ... we as a community need these selfless people to address areas that others don't.  The community members they serve would be lost without them, and the non-profits should support each other and stop the name calling and mud slinging.  If one organization is struggling, ask them if you can help, and how you can help.  Volunteer, raise cash for a used vehicle, fundraise, get business cards printed for them ... whatever ... just help.  It's your community, after all.  I will recognize Bridger Feeds who donates, across the board, 10 percent to non-profits, and sends them a card to have when they purchase food.  One big THANK YOU to Bridger Feeds.