MARCH/APRIL

MARCH AND APRIL UPDATE: Greetings, Kinkatopia!

Welcome to our first double-month newsletter! I may lean on this format as I am taking on new projects, but want to keep everyone completely informed as to our happenings at Kinkatopia.

MARCH/APRIL

We celebrated one year as Kinkatopia in March! This is incredible and what a year it has been! Here are some highlights:

  • We took 5 kinkajous permanently and placed 4 at sanctuaries, equipped to keep them forever.

  • Expanded our indoor enclosures and established enclosures outdoors.

  • Kept multiple kinkajous for short- and long-term boarding.

  • Publicly exhibited.

  • Held multiple fundraisers.

  • Reached out to zoos and sanctuaries all over the world, creating relationships for networking. I have also visited multiple sanctuaries and consulted for them, as well as the Austin and San Antonio aquariums.

  • Our board of directors has grown and evolved.

  • Mentored many owners and found working relationships with kinkajous, who have behavior issues. Answered questions and concerns 24 hours a day.

  • Documented info regarding diet, husbandry, health, enrichment, etc.

  • Created a veterinary database.

  • Created a state-by-state legality reference.

  • Started working with a trainer and enrichment specialist.

  • Held outreach campaigns.

  • Ran successful social media platforms on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

  • Initiated an informative video series.

  • Established a kinkajou community.

What a year it has been! Thank you for the continued support — none of this would be possible without our community as a whole. I look forward to many more years working to raise awareness for our mission.

Chloe also celebrated one year at Kinkatopia in March!

Michelle of Essential Animal Training has been visiting weekly to train the kinkajous and help us with our enrichment program. The training has been incredible to observe and execute! She is teaching basics like: target training (to help with shifting), stationing (to help with weighing or command), coming when called, etc. These are directives that make everyday living with kinkajous more efficient, and they enjoy the interaction. Michelle is available for in-person local training sessions, as well as virtual sessions — so any kinkajou can benefit, no matter where they are!

As for enrichment, we are sharing ideas with the community to promote the use of enrichment to keep brains busy and spirits happy. I absolutely adore all the questions and happy to see so many owners investing in enrichment activities for their kinkajous. I also recently compiled an enrichment PDF that I am happy to share around.

Binx has been painting in both March and April! Remember that direct donors receive a thank-you masterpiece as a token of our appreciation!

We launched sponsorship of the Kinkatopia kinkajous. It’s been so moving to watch everyone support and be involved with “their” kinks. Thank you to all the sponsors!

Chloe is still suffering from ongoing health issues. Throughout these two months, she has had more testing, procedures, tried new medications, and gotten a personalized enclosure. All findings point to severe, chronic cystitis. I am still consulting with vets and specialists to look for a solution to this problem. I will continue to post updates about her. To catch up on her health issues, please check out #sickychloebear.

Kinkatopia has held multiple fundraisers, including raffles and selling of Kinkatopia merch. Thank you to those who participated. These fundraisers have given us the ability to get Chloe care, run Kinkatopia, and try to replenish our prudent reserve. I literally could not do any of this without all of you. The kinkajous and I are forever grateful.

Willoughby kinkajou visited Kinkatopia and hit it off with Binx. It was super adorable. I am always up for kinka-visitors.

We revamped some positions on our board of directors. Michael Evans has taken on the role of director of marketing. He has also been executing outreach to media companies and helping to create Kinkatopia’s photos and videos. Allison Rogers is now our chief operating officer, and Dakota Terrazas has officially joined the board.

We’ve also welcomed our first official volunteers — Olivia and Thomas! I am excited to have them working with the kinks, and let me say, the kinkajous love them!

At the end of March, we welcomed Kinky to Kinkatopia! Kinky was patiently on our waiting list for five months and is now settling into his new home. He is transitioning slowly, but surely. I feel so blessed that his loved ones stuck out the wait and have joined our Kinkatopia family.

All the kinkajous had an Easter egg hunt and received basket for the holidays. I love celebrating with them. It is also a great source of enrichment.

Kinkatopia has teamed up with Reach Out Recovery, a social media company dedicated to addiction prevention, healthy living, and recovery. I have been given the opportunity to write articles for a blog dedicated to my experiences with recovery and living with kinkajous. Please follow and share, as this platform can help us raise more awareness for Kinkatopia!

UPCOMING

Planning stages for website development was put on hold. I am still looking into this and will execute. I hope to have a website sooner than later. Until then, I will continue compiling information sheets to share with community.

I am still working on the veterinary and state-by-state kinkajou legality lists. I have many holes in my data so please continue to update me on this information!

More videos and information will be published.

Please keep Chloe in your thoughts and prayers as we try to find a solution to her health issues. Remember that we board kinkajous! Summer is approaching … when you schedule your vacations, make sure to schedule your kinkajou’s stay with Kinkatopia. It’s a great peace of mind for you and I love doing it!

WAYS TO SUPPORT

Kinkatopia has many ways to support our cause — not just directly, but indirectly as well.

1) We accept monetary donations in many ways: PayPal, GoFundMe, Venmo, CashApp, Facebook, ApplyPay, check, and other basic forms of money exchange. Also, most of the above companies recognize Kinkatopia as a charity (if they provide that feature) and you can donate that way as well.

2) The Kinkatopia Amazon Supply List can be accessed at: Amazon Supply List. This is a new way to support Kinkatopia! You can do this on Amazon or for a double win, on AmazonSmile. Donations will be mailed directly to Kinkatopia and Amazon provides you with a receipt for tax time. If you don’t feel comfortable donating funds, this is a great way to help us get supplies.

3) We are on AmazonSmile! Go to amazonsmile.com to make your Amazon purchases and they will donate a percentage to Kinkatopia! We should be receiving our first quarterly payout in February.

4) As mentioned earlier, Arm the Animals will donate to us! Purchasing from armtheanimals.com and using the code “Kinkatopia” will donate 20% of your order to the kinkajous!

5) LOCAL SUPPLY DONATIONS — We are always in need of particular items: newspaper, used furniture, cat trees, cut tree branches, etc.

6) “Like” and share on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

7) Check out my articles on Reach Out Recovery! Please follow, like, and share. This platform can help us raise more awareness for Kinkatopia! There are nuggets in these posts that everyone can enjoy.

All donations are tax deductible and receive a thank-you painting by a Kinkatopia kinkajou.

Thank you to everyone for your continued involvement and support. Take care!!

Peace, love, and kinkajous.