Animal shelters join fund-raising forces to make it to spring

TULALIP — In the insular world of animal shelters, Paul Lewis has been operating in his own niche since opening Forgotten Kingdom Animal Shelter in 2002.

“If it’s not a cat or a dog, I’ll do it,” he said.

One summer he took in 28 roosters all at once, and Lewis said he’s had pet stores that were closing drop off their entire stock.

Forgotten Kingdom is a no-kill shelter.

The shelter, however, has hit a rough patch and might have to close its doors if it can’t raise $6,000.

A fundraiser has been established online at gofundme.com/forgottenkingdom, and on Saturday, Lewis and his mascot, a 5-year-old nutria named Squeak, will be raising money at another animal shelter, All Breed Equine Rez-Q in Marysville, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“At this point, I’m basically just raising funds and buying days,” Lewis said.

Raising $6,000 might keep the shelter open for another six months, he said, when he hopes he’ll be in better financial shape.

The fundraiser at All Breed is to benefit both shelters. Dale Squeglia, president of All Breed, said she needs to raise $10,000 to survive the spring, citing a long list of unpaid bills.

“The hay bill is overdue, grain bill is overdue, and no funding,” Squeglia said.

“I’ve had to turn away many, many horses this winter.”

She has 17 horses; normally she would have closer to 30 at this time of year.

Squeglia said she tried several online fund-raising sites last summer, but nothing panned out.

“We’re one of the few horse rescues left, and he’s the only ‘exotic’ around,” she said. “We’re pretty doomed if we don’t get some funding.”

As an exotic-animal shelter, Forgotten Kingdom takes almost anything. Lewis has approximately 200 animals, many of them small critters like hamsters, rabbits, hedgehogs, snakes and other terrarium pets, plus farm animals. In the past, he’s had llamas, emus and alligators.

The shelter helps the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office when deputies capture an exotic critter. It also boards pets for military personnel on deployment. Affable animals such as goats are donated sometimes to the Forest Park Petting Zoo.

That’s what Lewis hopes to do with Petunia, a 300-pound pig, the largest animal at the shelter.

“She thinks she’s a dog,” Lewis said. “If you go up to her and say, ‘Scratch your belly,’ she’ll roll over just like a dog.”

The more exotic animals get posted to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums database for possible transfer.

Other animals are adopted out as pets, which are the shelter’s principal source of revenue.

“I’m running adoptions full time, trying to save the shelter,” Lewis said. “Nobody donates any more.”

His biggest expense is electricity, which he needs a lot of to keep water pumps running and heat lamps on for the reptiles, which are brought in on an almost-daily basis.

And then there’s Squeak. The nutria’s not going anywhere, because they are a prohibited aquatic animal species that must be euthanized if captured.

Squeak came from an elderly couple whose dog brought the nutria in as a baby.

“They didn’t realize what it was, and when they did, they said, ‘Ugh,’” Lewis said.

The shelter’s permits allow Squeak to stay on as long as he lives, and he’s become sort of a mascot, accompanying Lewis to fund-raising events like the one at All Breeds Equine Rez-Q.

Squeak also acts like a dog, Lewis said, and he admits he spoils him.

“He’s got his own TV,” he said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order halting work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.