08/14/2026
A little bit of a life update. Wow, I have been thinking about making this post for months. What to say, what to think, and what to feel. The rescue was my whole life for so many years. I started MAR at the age of 12. I was full of dreams, full of passion, and ready to take on the world one rescue at a time. My parents blessed me with a home where they fostered my drive and passion. They let me do what many wouldn’t at such a young age, start an animal rescue. I’m sure at times they doubted their decision haha, as what was expected to be a very small “one animal at a time,” quickly grew to being not only the biggest rabbit rescue in Utah, but at one point the only rabbit rescue in Utah. The rescue has always been a bit off and on for me since high school. There were moments where I’d organize massive dump site rescues, hoarding case aide, and more, and then months when I needed breaks in between. Running this rescue has taught me so much. It has taught me about people, finances, vet care, communication, networking, the list goes on and on. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without MAR. I am so so grateful for what I have built, and not only what I have built, but what the community has built for me. You guys have helped me save the lives of over hundreds of animals. They all got new beginnings, forever homes, and for those that were too far gone to save… they were able to know love and comfortability in their last moments.
I am now grown. I am 21 years old. The rescue isn’t active anymore besides our few long term residents ❤️ It has taken me a while to feel at peace closing this rescue. It will forever remain open in my heart, and I know without a doubt that I will never fully leave animal rescue… in fact I hope one day wether it be a few years in the future or when I’m settled down into my own home that I can reopen MAR or found a new rescue. I am currently studying at SLCC. People and animals are my biggest passion and I believe I have found my next purpose in this life. I have always wanted to do more people work, but have been immersed in the animal work. Now I am going to school to be a social worker. My associates is done but I am sticking around at the community college to get my certificates for substance abuse counselor, case manager, and behavioral health technician. I currently work at a foster care agency, and am started my internship at a substance abuse treatment center. One day I will become a listened therapist and work in equine therapy. There is power in animals, and there is power in people, I believe I have found my path in embracing both of my passions and using it to help others heal.
While MAR will not longer be active I am still paying off years of veterinary debt. I never imagined I’d be 21 with over $10,000 in debt, but here we are. When the rescue stopped accepting new surrenders the care did not stop. Up until now we always had nearly 20 rabbits still in foster homes and with me. They still had needs that were essential to meet, and with animals always comes more unexpected emergencies. With no new surrenders and no fundraisers for incoming animals our donations stopped. I have been doing my best to pay off the bill in monthly increments of $500+. It’s been a lot, but if I could I wouldn’t rewrite anything I did. Saving lives was so incredibly worth it. That debt symbolizes animals that either went on to live happy lives, or received life saving measures and proper care as an attempt to spare them more time. This is one of my last calls to the community… if I could ask everyone to band together once more to help me make a dent in this bill it would mean the world to me. Even if we were to gather just a couple hundred dollars it would bring me one step closer to putting these vet bills behind us. So please share this post, engage with it, and if you are able please donate.
I love you guys. Thank you guys again for making my dreams a reality. I am truly blessed. Below there are some pictures of me attached. They represent my childhood journey through animal activism, animal rescue, my passion for animals, my family that made this all possible, and the person I have grown into ❤️
I will be linking some of the stories done on me and the rescue in the comments. Just feeling like doing some reminiscing on the past 🥹🐰💌
Donations can be accepted directly via our exotic vet. You can call in and ask to contribute to MAR Animal Rescues vet bill.
+1 (801) 683-6201
Our Venmo and PayPal are also attached below if that is preferred.
Venmo: Mar-Animalrescue (security code 0173)
PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/maranimalresueUT