WELCOME TO ZITA'S ARC (ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER). DUE TO POPULAR REQUEST, I THOUGHT TO CREATE THIS PAGE TO SHOW EVERYONE HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO RUN THE CENTER MONTHLY. THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE AN ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS TO BUY OR PAY FOR. AS MOST PEOPLE WOULD GUESS, OUR 2 MAIN CASH GUZZLERS ARE FEED / FOOD BILLS AND OF COURSE VET BILLS. THE LIST BELOW GIVES YOU A ROUGH IDEA ON THESE:
VET BILLS (CLINIC VISIT): THIS VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH BUT AN AVERAGE VISIT IS NEVER LESS THAN $200-$400 WHICH INCLUDES THE CHECK-UP ($75), X-RAYS ($160), BASIC BLOOD WORK ($180), MEDS ($100), ETC.....
VET BILLS (HOUSE CALLS FOR FARM VET): THIS VARIES FROM TIME TO TIME BUT IT'S NEVER LESS THAN $300. THIS INCLUDES THE NON-EMERGENCY VISIT ($150), EMERGENCY AFTER HOUR CALLS ARE ALMOST DOUBLE THIS.
HAY: $100.00 / MONTH, THE HORSES AND THE GOATS GO THRU ABOUT 10 BALES A MONTH AS THEY HAVE GRASS PASTURES ALSO.
FEED IN BARN (HORSES, GOATS, PEACOCKS): $100 / MONTH
FEED IN COOPS (PIGEONS, DUCKS, CHICKENS): $80 / MONTH
ORIJEN SPECIAL CAT FOOD: $80 / MONTH
ORIJEN SPECIAL DOG FOOD: $100 / MONTH
BUNNY FOOD: $30 / MONTH
TURTLE / FISH FOOD: $30 / MONTH
FERRIER COSTS: $70 / VISIT
TO CUT DOWN ON SOME COSTS, WE DESIGNED AND BUILT A 12' X 24' GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTED MOSTLY OUT OF RECYCLED WINDOWS. WE GROW ALL TYPES OF VEGGIES AND FRUITS ALL YEAR ROUND. THE HORSES, THE GOATS, THE PEACOCKS, THE DUCKS, THE CHICKENS AND THE BUNNIES ARE THE MAIN "CUSTOMERS". THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL LARGE PLANTER BOXES CONTRUCTED OUT OF RECYCLED WOOD. THESE ALSO GROW MANY TYPES OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR ALL TO ENJOY. IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR WE SAVE APPROX. $1000 BY GROWING OUR OWN SNACKS FOR THE ANIMALS. IT'S ALL ORGANIC WITH NO PESTICIDES OR ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS. WE HAVE 3 LARGE 3'X3' COMPOST BINS FOR THE COLLECTION OF BARNYARD WASTE. WITHIN 3 MONTHS EACH BIN IS FULL OF 1 TONNE OF FRESH COMPOST TO USE IN THE GARDENS. PLEASE SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE ORGANIC COMPOSTERS, PLANTER BOXES AND GREENHOUSE.
AND OF COURSE THERE ARE MANY OTHER HIDDEN COSTS LIKE HEATING THE COOPS IN THE WINTER, 12 HOUR LIGHTS ALL YEAR ROUND, FANS IN SUMMER, TOOLS, REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE, EQUIPMENT, FUEL, ETC...SO IF YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT OPENNING UP YOUR OWN ANIMAL RESCUE PLACE ALONE, THIS MAY GIVE YOU A SECOND THOUGHT. ALL IN ALL IT IS EXPENSIVE BUT IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY KNOWING THAT I AM DOING WHAT I CAN TO SAVE AS MANY ANIMALS AS POSSIBLE FROM MISERY, STARVATION, ABUSE, NEGLECT OR DEATH. MY ANIMALS COME FIRST BEFORE SELF OR OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR VISITING. PLEASE LEARN TO LOVE AND PASS IT ON. REMEMEBR: "THERE IS NO WAY TO HAPPINESS, HAPPINESS IS THE WAY." THE BUDDHA