Marion animal ranch faces shutdown
Without an infusion of donations, All Mosta Ranch, an animal rescue in Marion, almost certainly must close at the end of February.
After 13 years of caring for all manner of creatures great and small, Kate Borton, founder of the nonprofit adoption and educational center, said donations have slowed to the point where she has just three weeks of hay money left and must think about finding homes for more than 80 animals.
As the recession stretched from months to years, more and more requests poured into All Mosta Ranch to accept animals from people hard hit by job losses and then foreclosure of their homes. Compounding the problem, donations dropped just as demand for care soared.
Borton’s husband, an electrician, has been out of work for more than a year.
She accepted animals until her budget could take no more. Borton said the calls from desperate people losing animals they love on top of their other losses couldn’t be sadder.
“It tears me up when I have to say I don’t have room,” she said.
It was Borton who was first contacted by the couple in the news with more than 100 cats. She did what she could by referring them to other resources, helping them with vehicle problems and even took in the couple at the ranch as they struggled with health problems.
Located on Lost Prairie Road, the ranch now shelters one pot-bellied pig, three cows, three ducks, five dogs, five llamas, six rabbits, seven sheep, nine cats, 11 geese, 16 horses, 18 goats and a large flock chickens.
Borton and her board of directors hope people in the community will donate as little as $5 to help feed the animals. People may send a tax-deductible donation to All Mosta Ranch, P.O. Box 937, Marion, MT 59925.
To use a credit or debit card, go to the website, allmostaranch.org, then click the “budget and needs” page to reach the donation button. Anyone interested in adopting an animal may call 270-7513 or 249-5956.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.