09/09/2026
I don't usually make personal posts on our rescue page but here it goes...
Next week is my birthday. I'm extremely grateful for the family and friends who will celebrate it with me, and feel equally grateful for the good things in my life. I would love to say those are my only feelings surrounding the occasion but, sadly, they're not. Not even close.
I also feel tired, sad, frustrated, isolated, angry, resentful, scared, and disheartened. Why? Because of rescue.
This is my 15th year running Funds for Pets, and my 20th at being involved in rescue in general. That's a long time to be heavily into something that causes stress and heartache every. single. day.
Don't get me wrong, animals are my passion, and I can't imagine a world in which I don't actively support their care. BUT, the burn out for those in rescue is real. It is so real, and it's not something talked about enough.
The reality currently, for me, is that I've never felt closer to the edge of needing a long (maybe permanent) break. Rescue has affected my physical, mental, emotional, and financial health for years.
The lack of hands, the lack of fosters, and the lack of funds are at an all-time high, and anyone in rescue will tell you the same. I rarely like to speak for "everyone", but I would wager a guess that it would be hard to find anyone doing rescue who would contradict me when I say times are tougher than they ever have been before.
So, my choices are down to one of two options:
1. Leave rescue. This would be devastating but, at some point, I have to put me and my family & friends first. It's hard to explain how much I've given up (we've given up) for rescue over the years.
2. Find a better way. This includes asking for more help, and relying on the community to step in when I/we can't keep up.
I'm doing my best to take a breath, gather myself, and put a very temporary pause on exploring option #1 in order to first try option #2.
Option #2 looks like this: I've created four thermometers for our four largest financial burdens right now: vetting, boarding, storage and food/supplies. We are in debt (as we've been transparent about since spring) and we're not able to plan & run fundraisers fast enough to pay down existing bills, and keep up with new ones.
So, for my birthday this year, as far as rescue is concerned, I'm asking for help. Help to raise enough money to sustain us while we plan and execute a string of exciting in-person events (soon to be announced!). Help to find the tiniest bit of peace in rescue and help to continue doing what I love - volunteering to save the lives of innocent animals.
Whether you know me personally, or whether you don't - it's an opportunity to show support to our pets, to the rescue community as a whole, and to all of us who dedicate SO much of ourselves to this work.
You can even choose where you want your money to go! Let us know which thermometer to apply it to, if there's one over another that you feel is most important. Otherwise, any donations coming in will be split between the four areas in need.
Donations can be made via e-transfer to: [email protected] (password: BIRTHDAY). Or, to Arrowwood Animal Hospital at 204-334-9306 (please make sure it's applied to our account AND send us a private message/email to let us know).
My birthday is next Tuesday (September 15th) and I'm incredibly hopeful it will feel like the best one yet - for personal reasons AND rescue reasons.
Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to read this post and to give me space to talk about how I'm feeling. I sincerely appreciate it.
--Amber (Director, Funds for Pets)
P.S. - Please note, we also desperately need LARGE BREED FOSTERS and ADOPTERS (for the dogs pictured with each thermometer). Securing just 4 fosters/adopters will reduce our boarding bills immediately. If you're able to open your home, please reach out via email asap. They are all incredible dogs who deserve a home environment!
