Faith, Fur, and a Fresh Start

Hello, all! My name is Savannah -before I share my goals, I want to provide you some backstory. And before you consider donating, please pray with me that above all, God's will would be done through this.

On March 13th, 2025, I was terminated just before graduating the grooming academy as a dog grooming apprentice for a major corporation. The events leading up to termination are as follows:

On February 28, 2025, I was suspended from work during an open investigation due to allegations made against me.

Two weeks earlier, on the job, my coworkers were making insinuations about my sexuality with each other-and to my face (this, in itself, is sexual harassment, but I digress). They made remarks such as, "You could definitely pass as a dyke, because your voice is low and masculine." To which I responded, "I have a story that I would love to share with you guys, but y'all know that I'm a person of faith and that we're going to have different views and convictions about sexuality." They said, "Oh it's OK! We don't get offended easily! Besides, everything we say in here is an HR conversation anyways, 'L.O.L.,' we get that people have different beliefs!"

So, I shared a brief outline of my testimony of having identified as transgender, almost transitioning, and then, finding Christ in the depths of this bottomless pit of selfish ambition.

Two weeks later, I was suspended without pay. Waiting anxiously to hear who, what, when, where, and why allegations were made against me. I was blameless and in good standing, "Why would anyone do this? I've done nothing wrong. If anything, I've helped these girls by carrying their workload and giving counsel when they've asked me for advice. I've fed them when they couldn't afford it, and ran errands when they were under the weather. What could these allegations possibly be about?" ...Did the Lord ever teach me about washing Judas' feet in this season...

The investigator finally called. And for two full hours, I was accused of seventeen baseless and completely false accusations of "hate speech" that totally contradicted my character. I was in shock, and I felt my heart tear into two, with the devastation of betrayal-that the girls I had come to enjoy working with, and caring for, had teamed up against me to get me fired.

...Thinking back to when I first started on the job, the girls would repeatedly say, "We love you Savannah! You're the best!" I had responded once, "Y'all say that, but there's going to be a day when we really hash out my convictions about life and it'll be a different story." ...Boy, was I right.

With relief I can say that I loved each of these girls from the heart of Christ's love for me, and I hope that they remember Christ by my words and my actions.

Without being terribly long-winded, it has been a couple of months of being unemployed and losing my place of residence. I praise God for faith family -for keeping a roof over my head and enlisting me to perform various tasks that they can pay me for, while I have continued my work search.

About a week ago, I finally realized that I still have the grooming skills that I learned in academy. And I've been bathing dogs for two years. It might seem like a small beginning, but this could be a great start for my own business. I am currently establishing a foundation to start up my own dog bathing/grooming business, but will need some equipment to kick start it!

I have set the goal for this GoFundMe at $3,500 which is a great start to saddle up with the supplies, equipment, licensing, insurance, and all of the things that go into a good foundation.

I would really love to continue my apprenticeship too, under a mentor, so I'm praying that God might line me up with someone who can take me under their wing and help me hone in these skills.

Long-term in mind... I really want to use these skills to equip girls that are coming out of the Amish community in droves, without their social security, and without a high school diploma. That is actually what kept me in the industry! At the heart, I had this hope in mind; that I could pass down this skillset and educate these girls to start up a business of their own so that they don't feel so powerless in this big, beautiful, terrifying world.

And hey, thanks for reading this far. You're a real champ to get to the bottom of this craziness with me. Please pray to God before you donate! I really want what my Father wants. I want to steward how He leads me to steward. Not by persuading anyone to give to my cause, not forcing anything to happen. Just trusting however He moves, with how little or how much He provides with or without people reading this. I completely trust Him.

Pray with me.

Thank you for your real concern and for taking time to learn about my situation. God cover you with peace, strengthen your faith, and sustain you in the work of Christ.

-Savannah Joy