Source: The Walton Sun (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.))By Deborah Wheeler, The Walton Sun, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

June 26–Laurie Hood was struggling to stay afloat at Alaqua Animal Refuge prior to the oil spill in the Gulf. But since the spill, it is nearing a mission impossible status.

“Since the oil disaster happened, all attention has been on it, and I haven’t been getting donations,” said Hood. “It’s been really hard at the refuge. I don’t know how to stay afloat with the oil situation going on.”

To compensate for the lack of donations coming to the no-kill shelter, Hood is being forced to refuse many animals in need of homes.

“It’s really sad. I am turning down 40 or 50 calls a day asking for help for abandoned animals,” she said.

To keep the shelter open, Hood has not only had to turn down homeless animals, but also she has had to downsize and let her help go. So, in addition to being a wife, mom, shelter owner and grant writer, she is also now the office manager and worker at the shelter in any capacity where she is needed.

The refuge is in Freeport on Hood’s 10-acre tract of land. She founded the refuge four years ago when the county closed its shelter and homeless animals had nowhere to go.

Alaqua currently houses about 100 cats, 100 dogs and 50 farm animals and costs about $1,200 a day to run.

“I am writing grants left and right but am getting no new ones,” she said.

Destin developer Peter Bos donated a storefront at Harborwalk Village last year where Hood has been able to show some of the adoptable pets in hopes of finding homes for them. However, Hood said she doesn’t know how she will maintain the space as she has no one to run it and can’t afford to pay anyone.

“It was hard before, but this time seems particularly hard,” she said.

A fellow animal-lover and friend, Joseph Cook, owner of Scavenger’s at Emerald Coast Plaza, is trying to help. Cook has donated one end of his shop to Hood as a thrift store, where donations of clothing and household items are being accepted. He has named it S.A.I.N.T.S. (Saving Animals In Need Thrift Store). Lynn & Mim’s on U.S. Highway 331N also accepts donations. All sales benefit AAR.

Hood is thankful and hopeful that the effort will bring in some more money for Alaqua.

“I don’t want to have to close the shelter,” she said. “I just don’t know what to do.”