My fish rescue business is in danger. Can you help? - Page 9

pk · 09-08-2008, 01:21 PM

I am so sorry to read that things are just getting more difficult for you Kelly as I've said in pm's that we have wrote back and forth. I know you are such a great animal lover and it just sad that you are working so hard to help and everything just seems to continue to go wrong.

I don't think that if you have to somehow shut down or reduce greatly for now isn't the same as 'giving' up but maybe it's more like you are taking a few steps backwards to take the time out and get things right again. It's going to take awhile to get your furnace issues through the court, and a working furnace going again. I understand without the use of a good furnace your fish will not be able to live. Take a step back and get it worked out not to 'give up' but so you know that you can once again be able to work with the fish in the future.

I am sure this is devastating to you right now but I'm sure it will even be worse if you wait for donations and everything gets taken away in the meantime. Make provisions for your fish now, and then deal with the problems that caused this to happen. Then get back to your dream when you are on a more stable time again.

Don't ever give up just sometimes you have to stop and get around the road blocks life hands out I guess. But a dream is a dream and even if you end up putting it aside for now, don't ever give it up. Get back as soon as you can and then keep going.

Sometimes we have to do the hardest things in life to show how strong we can be in the end.

Please keep us informed and I do truly hope that a miracle happens that you wish for to keep everything safe.

Patti

Kelly68 · 09-08-2008, 08:19 PM

I spoke with the mortgage company late this afternoon and we came up with a temporary agreement. This is buying me two months to hopefully find a resolution. They said I have been great to work with and they really don't want my house as long as I keep working at paying them. I guess with all the foreclosures out there they really don't want one more.

In the mean time, I have higher than normal payments (along with my outrageous power bill that came in the mail today). So I will be posting some fish stuff I had on other fish sites for sale. Fish will be available too so check them out along with their adoption prices. I am really trying to do what I can do to save my dream....saving fish. I am unique and love doing what I am doing. Thank you everyone for your kind words of support. And Patti.....hug to you!

kookookachoo · 09-12-2008, 03:38 PM

Wow! What an interesting business! I loved aquariums as a kid.. glad to see yer getting some slack and things are hopefully turning around for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly68

My fish rescue business is in danger. Can you help?

Last year, I finally started my dream job. I opened an aquatic rescue and angelfish breeding business. I thought I had done my homework, and hired all of the appropriate contractors. Unfortunately I was wrong. The person who installed my heating and cooling system, which heats my tanks and runs all of the air to my aquariums, completely scammed me. Because of this, my utility bills have tripled, and I am in danger of losing everything. If the utility company shuts me off, I will lose all 12,000 of my fish. This is only a small portion of my story. For the complete story and information about my business, please visit Finned Friends Aquatic Rescue & Angelfish Breeding. There you will find the information regarding this story. Can you please help me salvage my dreams?

Thank you,
Kelly Rector, Owner, Finned Friends LLC.

pk · 09-26-2008, 11:39 AM

Just checking on this topic and noticed over 8,000 views and over 200 comments. Wow. People are really interested in this topic. So Kelly, just wondering if you have any updates for us?

Hope no news lately means better news for you.

Kelly68 · 09-29-2008, 05:12 PM

Thanks kookookachoo and pk! Things really aren't any better with the issues at hand, I am just trying to do other things to keep the rescue open.

Finned Friends and KARS is going to be holding an online auction at some point here in the near future to help raise money to keep our doors open. As soon as all the items are in that are being donated (mostly all fish related stuff from wonderful fish related companies) I will be putting a list of items up on my site. This is only one way I am trying to keep the rescue operating. Rescues keep coming in, but the problem on hand is still a major reality. Now going into the heating season and still don't have 100% functioning equipment it is going to really tough.

But I will keep everyone updated on any new developments, ideas or when the auction will take place.

Thanks

Kelly

pk · 10-24-2008, 02:41 PM

I just noticed you started this thread back in 03-28-2008. Such a long time to have to deal with all these problems. Do you see any 'light' at the end of the tunnel as far as getting your furnaces fixed yet? The winter is almost upon us, how will you cope with the heat not working very well?

CarolsCritterCare · 10-24-2008, 03:41 PM

That is a long time to have been dealing with this issue. Hope it has since resolved itself

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 09:19 AM

Hi guys. Sorry for the delay in responding. We have been extremely busy with rescues. But as of today, nothing has been resolved. The case is still pending due to some new information. I cannot say much more as it is ongoing. But thank you for asking.

However, this weekend we will be holding an online auction (hopefully) to help raise money for the rescue. With thanks to a lot of generous companies and individuals we have a lot of items. Granted, a lot of it is fish related, BUT there are certificates, magazine subcriptions, movie rentals, etc too. Including a few priceless paintings by a world famous Artist by the name of Schim Schimmel. These were picked out, signed and sent specifically from Schim himself for the rescue. What a wonderful man he and his friend Kirk are. If you have not seen his work, please visit his site Official website of artist Schim Schimmel

I should know later today if the work has been complete to hold the auction this weekend. Some GREAT individuals have been helping me set this up to make this a success. I will say who later.

So please, if you know anyone who would like to help by still donating an item for the auction or would like to take part in the bidding, please share! As always we do take monetary donations and we are in desperate need of a few large tanks to house BIG rescues that we are getting calls on. Two 20" inch Pacu's are in the works to rescue from the southern part of the state. And two more Oscars are coming in today and two other oscars were rescued last week. Large goldfish are coming in with ponds closing too. So if you know anyone, let them know about me.

Thanks everyone

Kelly

CarolsCritterCare · 11-19-2008, 12:21 PM

Keep up the good fight Kelly!!

**dgridley** · 11-19-2008, 01:18 PM

Great work you're doing, kelly.. good luck on your auction..

CarolsCritterCare · 11-19-2008, 03:30 PM

You should hop over to the classifieds and advertise your auction there!!

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 03:34 PM

Thanks Dave & Carol. I will post something over there as soon as I know it is for sure happening this weekend. I am awaiting word that it is good to go. I could not do this on my own site as I cannot post pictures of some of the auction items. I felt I would lose bidders if they would have to jump from site to site to look at this here and that there. It is complicated, I know. But would like to have everything at one site, so hopefully I will hear yet today whether it is a go and post it everywhere that will let me.

It was in discussion last night about this weekend or next weekend. Sure this weekend is hunting season, but next weekend is Thanksgiving weekend so it was a toss up. I have plans the first week in Dec, so it was this weekend or wait almost a month. Keep your fingers crossed it all works out.

Kelly

CarolsCritterCare · 11-19-2008, 03:35 PM

Run it 2 weekends in a row?

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 03:42 PM

I was debating if I would have more traffic during the week instead of the weekend. Like maybe hold it this weekend and whatever don't sell, try like Tuesday or so to hold another? Any thoughts?

**dgridley** · 11-19-2008, 03:53 PM

Weekends are always best as most people work during the week..

if I ever post anything on eBay, I always post on Sundays so the auction runs from Sunday to Sunday.

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks for the info Dave. I thought it would be better, but it seems like to me at times the forum traffic slows down on weekends and picks back up more during the week.

CarolsCritterCare · 11-19-2008, 05:09 PM

The online autctions I've been involved with for the skunks ~ those are a week long. It gives everyone a chance to come look, see, bid, come back and bid more. Get some bidding wars going.....

You might consider holding it for a whole week. Then you can get a huge audience to attend....plus get some bidding wars going.

bbsaquaticservice · 11-19-2008, 05:25 PM

I agree weekend would be best. Also if you need any help please call me. I have many tallents that could be usefull.

**dgridley** · 11-19-2008, 05:39 PM

I agree.. a couple days isn't long enough unless you have a really great item and/or lots of traffic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolsCritterCare

The online autctions I've been involved with for the skunks ~ those are a week long. It gives everyone a chance to come look, see, bid, come back and bid more. Get some bidding wars going.....

You might consider holding it for a whole week. Then you can get a huge audience to attend....plus get some bidding wars going.

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 06:31 PM

Cool, thanks guys. Now I got to ask the man in charge if he will allow me to go 1 week instead of 48 hours. Still start it monday then let it go for one week. Hopefully he will agree.

He also was mentioning that I should have a starting bid, around a quarter to one third the retail price? Does everyone agree? But on the expensive items have a reserve for those. Also he suggested that I add a buy it now price. How does this all sound? I should have done this weeks ago, asking your guys' opinions, but didn't want to waste anyone's time here by asking dumb questions.

Kelly

BTW, thanks Brad. Glad to see you here. For those that do not know Brad aka bbsaquaticservice....he has his own aquarium cleaning business and he was kind enough to donate some of his services for the auction. He is a very nice guy!

bbsaquaticservice · 11-19-2008, 09:30 PM

I think a week would be better. Also as a starting bid I would keep it low. Also u are having raffle tickets right. If you are send some my way I have alot of friends in the bar business that sell alot of tickets. I will tell you all I have seen Kellys home and I am very impressed on how much work she has done to keep this cause going. I will do what ever I can to help out.

Kelly68 · 11-19-2008, 09:50 PM

Thanks Brad. Not sure if I am going to hold a raffle anymore as there is not much interest here in my own home town to sell tickets. So I figured I would just auction off everything. Dave, Patti and Carol at one point I thought about holding an auction for all the small stuff that can be shipped but hold two raffles with the large prizes....example two 55 gallon complete aquarium kits, 1 custom made stand and canopy for a 55 gallon and two beautiful expensive paintings. Have a grand prize then lets say a smaller second and third place. But hold two as there are two tanks and two paintings. This was just a thought that was going through my head. I was told the rescue may make more selling tickets for the large items so I don't lose money on those. Any thoughts??

CarolsCritterCare · 11-20-2008, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly68

He also was mentioning that I should have a starting bid, around a quarter to one third the retail price? Does everyone agree? But on the expensive items have a reserve for those. Also he suggested that I add a buy it now price. How does this all sound? I should have done this weeks ago, asking your guys' opinions, but didn't want to waste anyone's time here by asking dumb questions.

Indeed!! You want to start off with a starting bid. Any auction I've participated in always has a starting bid.

CarolsCritterCare · 11-20-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbsaquaticservice

I agree weekend would be best. Also if you need any help please call me. I have many tallents that could be usefull.

This is great ~ more help here....

CarolsCritterCare · 11-20-2008, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly68

BTW, thanks Brad. Glad to see you here. For those that do not know Brad aka bbsaquaticservice....he has his own aquarium cleaning business and he was kind enough to donate some of his services for the auction. He is a very nice guy!

That's wonderful! Sounds like a nice guy!