Page 12 - Harnett Life Summer 2019

Animal Ed.ventures Sanctuary

seeks donors for ‘Soldiers and

Scholars Dollar Drive’

By Morgan Brown

Presently, Animal Ed.ventures has a small staff of about groups.” There is no formalized launch date set for the
7 people. Freeman and the team, in addition to complet- fundraiser, but some promotion has already been posted to
ing the daily tasks necessary to care for the animals, are social media, informally indicating that it’s currently active
all working to constantly improve the property. Freeman and will be open ended, remaining active until the goal is
said they are working to get everything set up in such a met. To make a contribution online, there is a ‘Make a Do-
way that the sanctuary can be open to the public through- nation’ button on the website which will redirect to the site
out the entire week, given that Mondays and Tuesdays are where payments can be processed, then the patron has an
closed to the public. The primary employees are assisted option to make the donation a recurring payment. “Ideally,
by interns, some of whom are students from North Caro- our end goal is that we get enough donors to where we can
lina State University pursuing biology or agriculture ma- just be free to the public.”
jors. The university interns learn handling skills and health
assessment techniques. “It gives them an opportunity to Freeman continued, “Really, what we offer here is the abil-
take that technical education and give it a practical appli- ity to get close to nature – raise awareness about these ani-
cation,” she said. mals and their habitats worldwide and, as well, how they’re
impacted in the commercial pet trade.” She said being able
As a 501c3 nonprofit, donations from the public are crucial to “step away from the chaos” is a valuable benefit for the
for Animal Ed.ventures to continue operations, prompting sanctuary’s visitors, providing them a chance to take a few
the inspiration for a new fundraiser called the ‘Soldiers moments away from the worry, stress, and pressure that
and Scholars Dollar Drive.’ Freeman said, “If we can find stems from our fast-paced, everyday life. “What’s really
10,000 people nation-wide that are willing to commit to a one of the most fabulous things out here is just watching
Nestled under the trees at the end of a dirt path, you’ll find taking shape over the course of the last 20 years.” dollar a month, we would be able to be free to all military people almost be a kid again, get excited and smile.”
Animal Ed.ventures Sanctuary in Coats, home to a variety families, veterans, and all school, student groups, youth
of animals you may not expect to find in North Carolina Coming into the front gate, an assortment of friendly dogs
outside of the state zoo. The dirt path leads down to the leisurely wander, and a carefree camel slowly ambles by
front gate where a large house sits, surrounded by the an- while a few small kangaroos hop about. Foxes peer out of
imals’ enclosures. Bordering the right side of the path is their enclosures behind the safety of their hiding places,
a pasture full of grazing horses, some looking up with a each of them a bit unsure of, but still interested in, any hu-
fleeting glance that serves as your initial welcome to the man who approaches. Various birds chirp loudly from inside
sanctuary. From the day Animal Ed.ventures opened to the their roomy perch, but other creatures, such as the emu or
public in 2015, director Cory Freeman has whole-heart- ostrich, seem unfazed by any observer, as does the colossal
edly committed herself to this endeavor, just as she had tortoise meandering through the grass. An area attached to
in years past while living in Montana, traveling to local the back of the house is home to some animals that require
schools and the surrounding communities to provide edu- an indoor habitat – in this case, a monkey, sloth, and the
cation on the importance of animal rescue and sanctuary. lemurs, plus a few more brightly colored birds and a small
“There’s a lot of heart and a lot of passion, a lot of animals number of some other small critters.
in need out there. It’s a mission of the heart that’s been

Page 12 Harnett Life ~ Summer 2019

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