Crash's Landing kicks off capital campaign to purchase Diamond Avenue NE facility

Crash's Landing was just about to go live with its crowd-funding campaign on indiegogo.com when its founding feline passed away on April 11. A quick edit was made, and the fundraising video now ends with a tribute to Crash.

"Our hearts are tender right now, but the need for a safe haven for stray cats has not lessened," says Dr. Jennifer Petrovich, founder of Crash's Landing. "Tomorrow is a new day, so we'll roll up our sleeves, set aside our grief, and get back to work making a difference in our little corner of the world, one cat at a time. This is the true legacy of Crash, and we are proud to continue what he inspired."

Crash's Landing needs to raise $210,000 to purchase the building it is currently renting at 1545 Diamond Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, and the capital campaign is being handled in four phases. Phase I, which kicked off April 12, seeks to raise $52,500 on indiegogo.com. (And we pause here in the interest of full disclosure: I am Director of Grant Writing and Alternative Fundraising for Crash's Landing, and I live with two Crash Cats.)

The namesake feline, only eight weeks old when he was rescued after being hit by a car back in 1999, became the catalyst for starting the organization.

Since 2002, Crash's Landing has offered a no-kill haven for stray, abandoned, abused, and neglected cats. And since 2004, the building on Diamond has housed 130+ Crash Cats at any given time. Big Sid's Sanctuary -- Crash's sister organization in a separate facility -- is home to 130+ cats who test positive for FIV or FeLV.

Crash's Landing has been in the news a lot lately for taking in and medically treating a little cat who was tossed from a car going 70 mph, and then tumbled across two lanes on the expressway. Although healing nicely, Squirt -- as she is now called -- is not out of the woods yet.

Get involved:

- Visit the website to learn more about Crash's Landing and Big Sid's Sanctuary. You'll find Squirt's story there, too.
- Donate to the indiegogo.com campaign and share the link with your family and friends.
- Or donate on Crash's Landing's website.
- Send a gift from Crash's Landing's Amazon.com wish list.
- Adopt a cat and give him or her a loving home.
- Volunteer.
- Sponsor a cat.
- Like the Crash's Landing Facebook page.

Source: Dr. Jennifer Petrovich, founder and executive director of Crash's Landing and Big Sid's Sanctuary
Writer: Victoria Mullen, Do Good Editor

Images courtesy of Crash's Landing