We need YOU to help Open Our Doors!

Exactly two years ago, the National Marine Life Center had a crisis situation. The roof over our rehabilitation facility began to collapse and we had to move out of the building.

We put in a massive effort to raise the $3.1 million needed to remove the original building and replace it with a new hospital that will serve many of the nearly 300 turtles, seals, dolphins and even whales needing help in our area each year.

But again we have a critical situation and this time we need your help to solve it.

We need to raise $200,000 by January 15 to continue our mission and complete the hospital and open for patients.  The building is up and the sea turtle ward is nearly ready, but we still need to connect the life support system and complete the plumbing and electricity; we need to install the sprinkler system to obtain an occupancy permit; we need to install stairs in order to safely access the mezzanine level and life support rooms; and we need to close up the main wall to make the building weather-tight and secure.

We are so close! We just have a few more steps to complete the building and sea turtle ward before we can open our doors to animals in need. Once open, the first patient to enter our new sea turtle ward will be named “Betsy” in memory and honor of Elizabeth Hornor who, along with her husband Townsend, had a dream to build a sea turtle and marine mammal hospital right here on Cape Cod, where hundreds of these critically endangered animals strand or coldstun. “Betsy” may be a Kemp’s ridley, a loggerhead, or a green who will strand cold-stunned and near death. “Betsy” may even be a seal who will strand with severe illness. We have a brand new rehabilitation tank waiting for her, but we need your help to hook up the life support system. We have trained caregivers standing by to help, but we need your help to install necessary equipment for them to do their life-saving work. We are very close to realizing Elizabeth and Townsend’s dream, and we need your help to succeed.

Help us do this NOW. Please, donate what you can. We will give every donor a membership and thank you gift in return. If you are already a member, we will gladly give a gift membership to the person of your choice. Think of it this way – we are so close, but at a standstill. Help us help “Betsy” and other animals like her.

This year has been challenging for people and animals alike. If you are able, please consider a year-end gift to the National Marine Life Center. The sea turtle ward of our new hospital is nearly finished, but we need your help to open our doors and begin accepting new patients. Any amount will help save stranded animals and return them to their ocean home. Thank you.