Stardust Animal Sanctuary

Stardust Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and home to rescued dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and an 18-year-old goose named Sweetheart. After renting for over a decade, it was seemingly a dream come true in August, 2017, when the sanctuary located its very own forever property in Richmond, Illinois. However, sanctuary co-founder Laurie Kay’s beautiful dream quickly turned into a living nightmare. Through a series of mishaps, the full inspection report on the Richmond property was not provided at the time of purchase. Toxic mold went undisclosed and Laurie moved into the home along with the sanctuary’s ten rescue dogs, many elderly and/or afflicted with serious medical conditions, completely unaware of the extensive health risks surrounding them. The first signs of mold became clear when removing basement carpeting to create a play area for the dogs. Removing the paneling exposed even more basement mold and cracks to the foundation. It eventually became known that mold hid behind the walls from the basement to the attic. Behind the drywall, insulation dripped water into the kitchen leaving black streaks. The moisture-filled insulation created such extensive damage that the cabinets began to crumble and they were forced to remove the entire kitchen. 

Even a whole house mold remediation did not eradicate the mold. Additional tests revealed increased levels of mold because undetected mold inside the furnace spread. Living in the home with this amount of mold took its toll both mentally and physically. Laurie became ill and chest x-rays revealed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a heart condition. Just breathing became a chore. But what hurt her more was the loss of five of the dogs. Already afflicted with chronic medical conditions, the undetected mold was too much for their already weak bodies to bear and they succumbed to the environment intended to be their safe haven.

It was not until a third mold remediation that the house was finally clear of mold. However, the windows and siding were rotting, the home lacked ventilation and the roof leaked. Replacing the windows, siding and roof was expected to finally provide a clean slate for the home and its sanctuary residents, but a new nightmare unfolded when the roofing company failed to fully protect the exposed roof before a rain storm hit. The entire house flooded. Cleaning up the water damage required dismantling all of the rooms and ceilings down to the studs, all while still living in the home. The mold is now gone, the house is dry, but what remains is an empty shell of a house, nearly uninhabitable for the remaining senior, disabled, and chronically ill rescue dogs and their sanctuary co-founder, Laurie. 

Laurie’s dedication to the animals has never wavered throughout her despair. She feels an unfolding as she and the dogs try to move forward. A new beginning is coming. However, she and the dogs desperately need help to create a safe and secure home.  Please help Laurie and Stardust Animal Sanctuary rebuild to make the dream they thought they had found come true for the animals. Their pasts are filled with pain. Pure positive energy is what they deserve going forward. It is estimated to cost $75,000-$100,000 to make the sanctuary home livable. Please help Laurie and the dogs put the past behind them and move forward in the safe haven they so deserve. Even small donations add up. We are deeply grateful for your help and support. 

www.stardustsanctuary.org