Hi, my name is Ben Terwilliger, and I volunteer at the Southern Tier Animal Shelter in Elmira, NY. Every day, I see dogs come through our doors scared, confused, and in need of love, safety, and a second chance. Our shelter does everything it can for them—but right now, we need help.

We are trying to raise funds to build/repair two new kennel spaces so we don’t have to turn dogs away when they need us most. In the pictures posted, you can see the quote and mockup of what we had given to us. We also urgently need to fix a leaking roof that drips into three kennels, especially during bad weather. No dog should have to sleep in a cold, wet space while waiting for a forever home. You can see in the pictures that there are green spots on the roof which are causing the leaks. On top of that, we want to expand the outdoor play pen, giving our dogs more room to run, play, and feel joy—even if just for a little while. Photos of our play pen area are also posted.

These dogs have already been through so much. They deserve warmth, comfort, and a safe place to heal. Your donation—no matter the size—will directly improve their daily lives and help us give them the care and dignity they deserve. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser also means the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing up for the dogs who can’t speak for themselves. ❤️

We also have an anonymous donor that is willing to match every donation we get!!!