Inspiring Conversations with Isis Temple of Always Sunny Sanctuary and Rescue

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isis Temple.

Hi Isis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
When I was in college I volunteered at a rabbit rescue and rescued my first five rabbits. They came from a horrible situation in which they were neglected and starving. Three of them were skin and bones. One of them had a respiratory infection and kidney infection that she passed away from shortly after I got her. And worst of all, one of them was paralyzed from the waist down and had chewed off a few of her own toes. The rescue wasn’t able to help because there is so little funding available for rabbit rescues, so me- and a friend paid for the medical bills ourselves.

From that point on I’ve been rescuing bunnies since there was such a huge need for another rescue in Arizona. At first, I was just taking in a few at a time and keeping them, but then in February 2020, I decided to create Always Sunny Sanctuary and Rescue and become official. Now we continue to rescue bunnies, but also guinea pigs, goats, sheep, pot belly pigs, and more. It’s been hard work, but a dream come true.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Rescue work, or charity work in general, is extremely difficult financially and emotionally. Some people think it’s a dream job of just getting to play with puppies (or bunnies) all day, and maybe clean up a little poop. And don’t get me wrong, this is an amazing job, but it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. I witness a lot of animal abuse and neglect and abandonment. I am up late almost every night medicating people’s pets that were brought to me nearly too late, or after they had been abandoned. I have been the one holding many animals as they take their last breath and pass over the rainbow bridge. Sometimes I’m the one who has to make life-and-death decisions. Sometimes my job is just saying “No, I can’t help because I’m full, or we don’t have the money.”

There is a lot of guilt that comes with that because you feel like you will never be able to do enough, even when you’re giving your everything. Rescuing animals also comes with the unique challenge of not making any profit. You have to get by on donations, and it’s difficult to get into the mindset of asking for money, especially as a new nonprofit. Some people don’t even know bunny rescues exist, let alone that we need money to keep rescuing. Just likedog and cat rescues, we have emergency vet bills and spay/neuter costs, but the costs are actually higher since rabbits are considered to be exotic animals and need specialized vets. And that can open a can of worms to a whole other issue, which is the lack of resources for rescues that specialize in any animal that isn’t a dog or cat.

We’ve been impressed with Always Sunny Sanctuary and Rescue, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Always Sunny Sanctuary and Rescue specializes in rescuing rabbits, guinea pigs, and livestock. We take in the animals that others might see as lost causes and do our best to give them a second chance at life. Abandoned, sick, and disabled bunnies are our main focus, but we won’t turn away an animal in desperate need, so we’ve seen just about everything. We like to show all the ups and downs of rescue so that people can see how the decision to abandon or mistreat animals can be so detrimental. We also find loving homes for hundreds of bunnies and guinea pigs every year,

We strive to make sure all our adopters walk away with the education and support they need to be wonderful forever homes.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
You can support your local rescues in so many ways. Donating is a huge help, but even something as simple as commenting or sharing posts helps so much in this digital world. If you prefer to be more physically involved though, we love volunteers! Even just offering to help with transport can make all the difference.

Pricing:

• Bunnies adoptions start at $40
• Guinea pig adoptions start at $15

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/alwayssunnysanctuary