Hi, my name is Kyle Kesterson, and I’ve created this GoFundMe to save a dog rescue run by my mother, Tamera, and for a life & death surgery of one of the rescue’s dogs.

My mother and the rescue is in a crisis and doing everything she can to keep the few dozen rescue dogs she currently is caring for supported until adoption. For the last 15+ years she has operated a private dog rescue, successfully saving over 4,700 dogs from abuse, neglect, and euthanasia to find adopted loving homes, including 300+ saved and adopted already this year. Some dogs take 1-2 years on avg to find a home, she's had some up to 4 years before they were adopted.

Due to extreme overpopulation of dogs in need and rescues being inundated, this has been the hardest year for her rescue with all time low adoptions, and $60,000 so far in vet bills in 2024 alone, and truly working 18hr days, 7 days a week while still trying to take on additional paid work. It breaks me hearing how she’s overwhelmed, burned out and suffering with her own physical health, but so very stuck financially and keeping these dogs alive, cared for and adopted. (Some crazy stories below)

Outside the enormous operational costs of running the rescue, she has successfully reduced the veterinary debt down to $12k but needs to cover the remaining balance before end of year in order to have access to base services needed going into the new year and upcoming significant surgeries.

One of those surgeries she's urgently trying to prioritize due to the life/death nature of it is for her long-term rescue dog, Peter, a fully blind shepherd she rescued 7 years ago. If his infected eye ruptures it will kill him. His surgery is $5,700. (His story below)

How You Can Help

1. Donate: We need to raise $12,000 to clear the vet debt balance and Peter’s surgery will cost $5,700.

2. Sponsor a Dog: A donation of $160 sponsors a dog’s average medical care, food, and basic needs, while waiting for their adopted home. (If you are able to offer a smaller monthly donation, DM in comment and we can help set that up.)

3. Share: Spread this campaign to friends, family, or anyone who might care. Awareness saves lives.

Thank you so much for your support in donating and sharing to create more awareness!

Quick backstory of Peter

Peter was born in a barn, completely blind and as a puppy was abandoned along with his blind sister Kathleen and three other blind shepherds. Tamera rescued 3 of them. While she was able to get eye surgery for one, and then eventually adopt one out to a great home, Peter and Kathleen remain with Tamera because they are a bonded pair, permanently blind and nobody else would take them with their challenging circumstances.

For the past seven years, they’ve lived happily in her care, finding joy in their routines, exploring the yard, and playing together. But Peter’s health has taken a serious turn due to disintegrating eyes. Earlier this year she was able to have one eye successfully removed, but now the other is breaking down so quickly causing visible pain and suffering and bringing up other potentially life threatening issues. The other needs to be removed immediately in order for him to continue living.

OTHER RESCUE DOGS THIS YEAR

If you’re interested to see more of dog rescue reality, below I’ll share some photos and stories of dogs that Tamera’s rescue has fortunately saved this year, as told by her. Be mindful some images are a bit graphic.

Merry came to us with a severely lacerated neck from a dog attack. Once we received her, we found she also had a broken jaw. After numerous vet visits, X-rays, orthopedic specialists, surgeries and 5 months of recovery, she is now in an incredible, forever home.

Nacho was found after he was hit by a car. As soon as we were contacted, we had him taken to a hospital to begin diagnosis. He had a fractured pelvis, broken hip and a damaged kidney. After the corrective orthopedic surgeries, kidney removal and 5 months of therapy and healing, he is also now in an awesome forever home.

Jenny came to us at 6 months old with a broken pelvis, fractured rear legs and a damaged spine. It was unclear for two months whether or not she would lose her life. After numerous vet visits, assessments and X-rays with specialist, she had numerous surgeries, including an amputation to her tail to relieve the pressure on her spine. After the surgeries it was still unclear for another month whether or not she would survive. She truly has a warrior's spirit because after 6mo of healing and therapy, she has fully recovered and now runs and play with no limitations. We expect she’ll find her forever home soon.

One of our newest cases is little Birdie. She, along with numerous other small dogs, were confiscated from a home by the authorities due to severe abuse and neglect. Someone in the home was breaking the legs of the smallest dogs (Birdie being one of them), and then performing home amputations! Luckily a concerned neighbor heard the screaming and crying of the severely underweight dogs and reported the abuse. The dogs were confiscated in enough time to treats the infected wounds before it was too late to save their life. After the courts released the dogs, our rescue was able to step in and help 4 of them.

Little Birdie is just over 2lbs. Appropriate treatment is still being assessed, although we’ve learned that the animal prosthetic specialist can design a brace for her front leg so she will be able to stand and walk as a three legged dog. It will be a couple more months before her care plan is completed, and then we will begin to look for her forever home.

Each of these dogs was saved because people like you stepped in when it mattered most.

Thank you again so much.

- Kyle, Tamera & the dogs