Shelter’s Helpers of Pittsburgh

Shelter’s Helpers of Pittsburgh is a local, foster-based nonprofit and rescue. We take most of our dogs from the local animal control facility in McKeesport.

Boo is a super sweet pup we pulled from animal control a few months ago. He was a stray that was never claimed. He has been living the good life in his foster home with other dogs and cats.

Unfortunately, a cruciate ligament tear in one of his legs has slowed down his playtime with his foster siblings. In April, he will need surgery that will cost between $3300 and $3800. He will then begin his recovery with lots of crate rest, walks in the yard, etc.

The good news is we have a wonderful family lined up for him. After his surgery, he will go to their home to recover. This is a huge expense for a small rescue, so we are hoping to come up with enough donations to cover it. Boo is a sweet boy who deserves a fresh start after being abandoned by his original family.

Every dollar helps, and we appreciate any support in helping Boo. Thank you!

Our Next Step ….

After almost 2 years as a foster-based rescue, Shelter’s Helpers of Pittsburgh is ready for the next big step. We need the help of the public to make this dream a reality.

We rescue our dogs from the local animal control facility. They are placed in foster homes, then put up for adoption. We usually take the ones that have been there the longest, the ones that need a little work, and the ones that need to be the only pet in the home. Recently, we connected with a local trainer who has been working with these dogs. We are currently pleased with the way this program is running, and will continue to grow in the next year.

Now for the cats! Over the last two years, we have immersed ourselves in many different ventures. Six months in, we took on a 70 cat hoarding case. We were able to find homes for every single cat. This was an enormous challenge for a small rescue, but we proudly finished the job.

While we have taken some owner surrenders, the main focus of our work revolves around the homeless cat population. We have a huge soft spot for the cats living in our local neighborhoods. Many of them are friendly and have just been dumped there by families that no longer want them. It has become our mission to help clean up some of these communities.

We currently have a handful of cat fosters who are bursting at the seams. We truly need a building to house more cats while we get them the vet care they need, along with socialization. One of our team members is working hard at TNR, and having a facility would mean that she could take the cats directly there. We would be able to determine if they need released or if they can be available for adoption. The building could have separate areas for different needs, like quarantine, FIV, etc.

All we need is a space. We are willing to put in the work to fix it up, fundraise for cat condos, crates, and other supplies. Our team is small, but very hard-working and very resourceful. We could pull together support from the community to turn this space into a life-saving refuge for cats.

We put together this GoFundMe to share our mission and vision for a community cat building. We have multiple fundraisers lined up through summer, and our goal is to be able to purchase a building by the end of the year. Any donations are greatly appreciated, and get us another step closer to our goal!