Of the News-Times

Renee Adair and Marty Fordyce have loved animals all of their lives. At the age of 9, Adair nursed kittens back to health, and both are suckers for strays.

So it was only natural, after years of taking in abandoned or lost animals in need, that these two women are finally following their hearts and opening a non-profit, no-cage, no-kill pet sanctuary for south Lincoln County.

"This area desperately needs something like this," said Adair, who has many plans for the sanctuary. "I want to have it be a home atmosphere for the animals...with a few fenced acres so the dogs can run and be dogs...and maybe a series of tunnels going to trees, so the cats can feel like they're outside, but still be safe."

Inside the sanctuary, Adair pictures separate rooms for washing, feeding, and quarantining the animals.

Although the women have incorporated the sanctuary and are in the process of attaining non-profit status, their current location is not large enough to sustain the operation of their dreams.

In order to raise money for the sanctuary, Adair and Fordyce, with a little help from some friends, are relying on a combination of donations, grants, and their own entrepreneurial skills.

Already, the women own a truck, donated by Chantall Van Wey. Grabbing some household paint, Adair painted the truck white with big black spots. "It's supposed to be a Dalmatian, but some people think it's a cow," said Adair, explaining that she "went a little wild with the spots," making them bigger than what a Dalmatian might have.

For a small fee, Adair and Fordyce started selling the spots to local businesses and pet owners, who get their names printed on the spot. As the women drive the truck all over the county, the spots are great advertising for a nominal cost, said Adair.

"And, all profits go to the sanctuary," she added.

"There's just no more room here for the sanctuary," said Adair.

"What we're hoping is that someone will donate, lend, or give as a tax write-off, some property with a mobile home or some sort of living quarters on it," explained Fordyce, who said the women will live on the property and care for the animals at the sanctuary full time. Fordyce, who owns Rainbow Chase Computers in Yachats, will keep running her business, while Adair, who is a housekeeper, will dedicate all of her time to the sanctuary.

"Some people have asked us how we'll handle all of the hard work, and we tell them it's not hard work, it's a lot of work, but it's not hard work when you are doing something you love," said Adair.

The love these women have for animals and for their friends is apparent in their stories of the past and the way their current band of animals leap into their arms and nuzzle their necks.

Some animals have even found their own way to the women's modest Yachats home, including "Christopher Lame Bear," also known as just plain bear. The two women found Bear curled up on the porch on day, and he's been with them ever since.

In addition to having a sanctuary with the normal adoption fees, Adair and Fordyce hope people will "will" their animals to the sanctuary when they die.

This will let people know that their animals will be properly taken care of after they've gone," explained Adair. Once the sanctuary has acquired adequate property, the women will begin to take in more cats and dogs and will be available if people wish to will or bequeath their pets to the sanctuary.

"We've already had people calling us to take more animals, but until we have the space, we won't be able to take anymore," said Adair.

To raise sanctuary funds, the women have participated in some sales, and will hold a thrift sale at the Yachats Commons on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anyone within the Yachats area who may have some vacant land to donate, lend or give to the pet sanctuary should call Adair or Fordyce at 541-547-3902.