10/02/2026
Time to break the silence and let you in on a little bit about what we are facing. Who knew when I posted "I lost Hope" it would be one of the most profound posts I have ever made. For those new here, Hope was my heart pup who came to me at 8 months old with an estimated life-span of 2 years old. She lived to be 6 years and 2 months. Born on my birthday and loved so deeply.....but that was just the beginning of the landslide that would follow.
This is long, but its just a little about the last 8 months.
Help Save My Hopes In You Small Animal Rescue
My name is Deana Matero, and I am the founder of My Hopes In You Small Animal Rescue, Inc., a community serving, family-run, not-for-profit rescue dedicated to giving abandoned, neglected, abused, and unwanted small animals a second chance at life.
This rescue has never been about making money. It has always been about compassion, hope, and giving a voice to the animals who have nowhere else to turn. Every animal that comes through our doors deserves a safe place, a full belly, proper medical care, and the opportunity to find a loving forever home.
For years, we have operated on an incredibly limited budget. I have very little personal income, and nearly every dollar available goes directly toward the animals’ care—food, hay, bedding, veterinary treatment, medications, housing, everyday supplies, monthly rent, and utility expenses like electricity and heat. My dream has always been for the rescue to become self-supporting (main goal is to open a small animal clinic to make proper vet care affordable to all), allowing us to continue helping animals for many years to come.
Unfortunately, over the past several months, our family has been faced with one devastating hardship after another.
My husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident that changed our lives overnight. As a result of his injuries and ongoing medical care, he cannot return to his job, placing an enormous financial burden on our family while we continue to navigate an uncertain road to recovery.
As if that wasn’t enough, a powerful storm swept through our area and caused widespread damage to our property. The rescue lost electricity for nearly a week, creating an incredibly stressful situation while trying to care for the animals who rely on us every single day. We lost our generator, blew a friends generator and then a friend of my son allowed us to borrow theirs until the power was restored. Unfortunately, the storm caused approximately $10,000 in electrical damage to the rescue building, requiring extensive repairs by a private electrician just to restore power and make the rescue safe and operational again.
During that same storm, my car —the “Bunny Mobile,” which is used to transport parents to numerous appointments and my husband to all his scheduled procedures as well as pick up rescued animals and supplies—was involved in a crash while we were on our way to pick up dad so he could be with us in the a/c. What was already an incredibly difficult time became even more overwhelming.
Despite everything that has happened, the animals still need us.
They still need food every day. They still need fresh water, clean habitats, veterinary care, medications, warmth, and love. They have no idea what financial hardships are—they simply depend on us.
There have been days when we’ve wondered how we were going to afford the next load of hay, the next bag of pellets, or the next emergency veterinary visit. But giving up has never been an option because every one of these animals deserves a chance.
Today, we are asking for help.
Your donation will go directly toward:
Food, hay, pellets, and fresh produce
Veterinary care and emergency medical treatment
Website hosting, domain, and online services that help us showcase adoptable animals, process donations, connect us with volunteers, and find loving forever homes for the animals in our care
Medications and ongoing animal care
Bedding, habitats, and enrichment supplies
Continued recovery from the storm damage
Helping restore and maintain the rescue including electric bills and rent, so it can continue serving animals in need.
If you’re unable to donate, sharing our story with your family, friends, and community can make an incredible difference. Every share helps us reach someone who may be able to give these animals the future they deserve.
We know times are difficult for many families, and we are deeply grateful for every donation, every kind word, and every person who believes in our mission.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us keep My Hopes In You Small Animal Rescue alive. Your generosity isn’t just supporting a rescue—it is giving vulnerable animals hope, safety, and the chance to experience what real love can be.
https://gofund.me/950fb9508
With sincere gratitude,
Deana Matero
Founder
My Hopes In You Small Animal Rescue, Inc.
