My love for animals has prompted me to write this letter to you. I need your help with a situation I am finding increasingly frustrating.

On this past Thursday, as in every year, I made a call inquiring as to where to set up my equipment for the Humane Society during Sand Castle Days. I was told that things had changed and were being run differently this year; I was told I would have to speak with (##) of the convention center. When I did make contact with her, she informed me that the Laguna Madre Humane Society had been excluded from Sand Castle Days! She stated that it had been decided the Laguna Madre Humane Society did not qualify for the newly adopted theme of “coastal animals”?

(##) informed me that I was not going to be allowed to participate by providing chair massages for donations to the Laguna Madre Humane Society. For many years, out of my love for the animals, I have participated in Sand Castle Days to raise funds for the Laguna Madre Humane Society as my way of giving to my preferred charity. This years, as always, I made my preparations forSand Castle Days by hiring additional staff, organizing equipment, buying supplies and in addition, I committed to a repeat client to provide chair massages at his booth at the Convention Center on the same dates as Sand Castle Days. The conflict was trying, but for the sake of the animals, I would make it happen. To say the least I was quite disturbed not to have been informed of the changes earlier; in fact, I was told later that as far back as six months ago, it was stated at meetings that, “your activity will be where Dolores was last year”. Where was the dignity of a simple call? Is this the way the Town intends to increase Sand Castle Days?

As my way of providing for the animals, through out the year, I have donated every dollar I recieve for chair massage to the Last year I donated $3,112. to the LMHS; this represents 3,112 minutes of hard work which I gladly give of myself to care for the animals! The LMHS provides necessary services and we owe them our support. why has Sand Castle Days chosen not to support our animals in need?

Please call me within the next week with your advice. I may be reached at my office, (956)761-1814 or feel free to contact me on my cell phone (956)459-2672.
Sincerly, Dolores Ferrentino