By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Mary Birkholz has always set goals and made them a reality. In 1988 she bought over 180 acres of land and created an animal sanctuary for neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs and cats. In her early years, she focused on commercial real estate and finance but continued volunteering with area animal shelters in her spare time. Once it became Birkholz’s true calling, she maintained the vision of a sanctuary where animals could come, feel safe, and eventually find their forever home, even if it ended up being with her.
As any volunteer who has worked in various capacities at CFC knows, each animal who comes to Caring For Creatures—whether surrendered, a stray, picked up in the road, brought in by a volunteer, or dumped in a box at the entry gate—is treated as an individual. The diet, medical care, and training or re-training are customized for their specific needs. The animals reside in spacious living areas that are cleaned daily. Staff and volunteers provide social interaction and behavior modification.
CFC is one of only a few facilities on the East Coast that offer ongoing care for cats testing positive for FIV or feline leukemia. They receive calls for help from individuals and veterinarians seeking assistance for FIV of FeLV-positive cats all over Virginia and surrounding states.
They also take in feral cats and now have a cattery for them to reside and begin rehabilitation. Birkholz recently took in over 100 cats from a cat colony. With donations and volunteers donating time to build the cattery, Magnolia Cove has been added to the campus buildings along with the larger cattery The Scratching Post, built over 15 years ago.
On average, Caring For Creatures responds to over 3,700 calls and 2,000 emails every year, the majority of these communications relate directly to an animal in need of help.
“CFC’s focus is helping animals, but to do that, we must also help the humans behind the animals.” To help in these circumstances, Caring For Creatures has a strong Community Outreach Program. Birkholz explains that their community outreach program is fundamental to their mission.
“Behind every unwanted litter and every neglected, abused, or abandoned animal, there is a human who has made a misguided or uneducated choice,” she said. “Many animals come into animal care facilities because their owners are unable to deal with behavioral problems that could have been solved with some training or behavior modifications. Other animals are surrendered because their owners are struggling to make ends meet and do not know where to find assistance.” CFC’s Community Outreach Program offers one-on-one guidance, suggestions, and referrals to help individuals resolve their animal-related concerns or issues.
Birkholz is now working on the next step, housing for the dogs. CFC is embarking on a capital fundraising campaign to create their first dog residence: Dog Pod #1. All too often dogs are housed in small kennels and confined areas, which has been shown to contribute to behavioral and mental issues. Birkholz has always made an effort to build outdoor kennels for hardier dogs to have some space to play and socialize with a dog house and a shaded area in the summer. Some live in the main office or with Mary in her office with a run outside. Volunteers take them out for walks or take them to one or two of the play areas on campus. But some of the elderly dogs, mothers with pups, or litters of pups cannot withstand those outdoor elements on an ongoing basis whereas others learned to adapt, so they are housed in the only indoor kennel located in a refurbished garage.
Birkholz said that in 35-plus years of doing this work, she and others have learned a great deal.
“That knowledge helps us to understand how to carry out the CFC mission, we need the right physical space. The facility should not only be a sanctuary for the animals in need, but be as light as possible in its impact on the earth. It must also reflect an excellent investment in dollars spent.”
CFC chose the Biotekt Biophilic Earth Structure for their dog residences which they dubbed Dog Pods. Birkholz believes in the environment and feels this is the best option to serve both the dogs and the earth. The fundraising campaign for Dog Pod #1 is now underway. Their goal for this project is $600,000. Thus far, they have received monetary support and commitments totaling just over $300,000.
CFC has taken the first step of placing their order with the manufacturer of the components to create Dog Pod #1. Caring For Creatures is moving forward to build those facilities with the first unit arriving in June. From there we will have contractors prepare the foundation and put the components together.
“We have chosen the Biotekt Biophilic Earth Structure for our dogs. We feel it can accommodate our design needs as well as provide an energy-efficient building. It offers a more budget-friendly option than conventional construction and is produced with recycled materials,” said Birkholz. The way it is built is key to keeping costs down. The Dome House is made of prefabricated pieces, a simple structure with a small number of parts. The parts are lightweight and easy to transport, so they can easily be assembled even in narrow spaces. Construction can be completed in a very short time by a small number of people. It is also wind and earthquake-resistant due to the unique way it is constructed.
Dog Pod #1 will be energy efficient to save on heating and cooling expenses. It will be a low-maintenance building that can withstand the ever-changing climate conditions. It will use dog-proof and soundproof materials for floors and walls. This is key to reducing stress on dogs and staff. Limiting the number of dogs in each Pod to 10-12 will also keep stress and noise to a minimum. This is critical to the mental and emotional health of the dogs. The area is designed for easy cleaning.
Each 1,650-square-foot building will be self-sufficient and provide a space for all aspects of care such as feeding, medical, grooming, and adoption meet and greets. It would be similar to the catteries and also simulate indoor places for dogs to adapt more quickly to a home environment. Access to fresh air and spacious yards in which to play and relax. Inside areas offer comfortable sleeping spaces protected from all extremes of weather.
Donations in any amount are welcomed. Another fun option is to honor a beloved animal companion in a unique naming opportunity connected to their Dog Pod Campaign. Dog Pod #1 will require 2,400 nuts and bolts and 4,800 washers for assembly. Make a donation, in any amount, to the Dog Pod #1 Campaign, and Caring For Creatures will write a beloved pet’s name and the initials of their person on a washer that will be built into the structure. If you are interested in participating or want more information, contact Mary Birkholz, at: Mary@CaringForCreatures.org. Or call her at 434-842-2404.
“It’s kind of a fun thing,” she said. “This is truly a landmark project for us and we are only able to take this much-needed step forward because of your ongoing support over the years.”
