<div>It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share this message: 
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<div>Without emergency funding, the shelter will be permanently closing by the end of the year. (AZ Family recently featured this story online and on their news broadcasts. You can read about it and watch the video <a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2024/08/21/its-been-big-rollercoaster-scottsdale-animal-shelter-risk-closing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> .)
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<div>When Desert Tails first opened, volunteers took over the work and location of a prior shelter. (This is actually when my family and I first met Adama, when she was a previous volunteer.) In the six and a half years since, they've managed to save more than 2500 dogs, largely from underserved rural areas. They take in dogs from all walks of life and of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Often, these are pregnant mothers that would otherwise be euthanized at overcrowded kill locations.
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<div>Adama is <em>the</em> hardest working person I have ever met in my entire life. And when I say that, I mean she is literally Superwoman. Saving dogs is her passion, and running this shelter is her entire life. Anyone who spends more than a few minutes at the shelter is blown away by her dedication, work ethic, and genuine love for the animals in her care.
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<div>The shelter runs completely debt free and is entirely donor funded. Dogs leave for their forever homes spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
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<div>Large commercial space plus veterinary bills are not cheap - as you can imagine, and it costs around $7000 per month for the shelter to operate, which is done almost exclusively with the assistance of volunteers. This is <em>not</em> a case of overspending.
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<div>Operations have been able to continue thanks in large part to a sponsor that previously covered the majority of these costs but unfortunately no longer can.
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<div>Adama and her crew have been holding events in the dead of summer here in Phoenix, where it routinely gets to 115°F / 46°C, and thanks to the generosity of some other donors managed to secure enough funding to make it through the end of the year. 
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<div>We are hoping to give the shelter a cushion of about six months to either keep going until they can find the sponsorship that they need or acquire a property (instead of leasing), which is their ultimate goal, as it would ensure future viability and give long-term dogs a more permanent place to call home.
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<div>What is really needed is consistent sponsorship, and that would most easily come from a corporate or philanthropic sponsor. 
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<div>Of course, every amount helps and is appreciated!! 
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<div>The main reason for seeking larger donors is that the time it takes fundraising exclusively from multiple smaller amounts is extremely taxing and honestly unsustainable due to the number of hours it takes. 
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<div>A balance of $5000 monthly from larger sponsorships and the remaining balance from other donations (to cover emergency costs, dog treats, dog food, and various other much-needed supplies) has worked reasonably well in the past and continues to be a feasible goal.
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<div>Essentially, in order to survive, they really need funding that requires less effort but has a big impact.
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<div>Information directly from the shelter:
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<div><em>WHAT WE NEED TO STAY OPEN</em>
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<div><em>$5,000 from a sponsor (or cumulative sponsors)</em>
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<div><em>The cost just to keep the doors open for us to continue rescuing dogs is $5000</em>
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<div><em>This does not include any animal care or supplies, transports, or any other random costs that rescuing comes with every day</em>
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<div><em>AND / OR</em>
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<div><em>Donated property (we have had this dream for so long)</em>
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<div><em>Plus $3000 monthly sponsorships</em>
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<div><em>Things we have done to raise money in the past that have kept our doors open and us saving over 2,500 animals while doing it DEBT FREE the past 6.5 years:</em>
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<ul>
<li><em>Social media</em>
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<li><em>Adoption events</em>
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<li><em>Fundraiser events</em>
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<li><em>Thrift sales</em>
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<li><em>Register round ups</em>
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<li><em>Pumpkin patch</em>
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<li><em>Christmas tree lot</em>
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<li><em>Skate party at the shelter</em>
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<li><em>Kids puppy birthday parties</em>
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<li><em>Bar/restaurant fundraisers</em>
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<li><em>Dispensary events</em>
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<li><em>Group volunteer days</em>
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<li><em>Girl Scout badges</em>
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<li><em>Junior volunteer program</em>
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<li><em>Sorority and fraternity fundraisers and volunteer days</em>
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<li><em>Fitness classes held in the shelter</em>
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<li><em>Puppy yoga</em>
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<li><em>Singles parties</em>
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<li><em>Airport event</em>
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<li><em>Car washes</em>
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<li><em>Dog washes</em>
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<li><em>We’ve been on the news 15 times</em>
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<li><em>Movie theater nights</em>
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<li><em>Medicated movie nights</em>
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<li><em>Canal adoption events</em>
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<li><em>Copy shop, adoption, events, and fundraisers</em>
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<li><em>Food truck festivals</em>
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<li><em>Golf courses</em>
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<li><em>Wine mixers</em>
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<li><em>Various bloggers and people with great platforms posting</em>
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<li><em>Conventions</em>
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<li><em>Car dealership</em>
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<li><em>Christmas wreath sales</em>
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<li><em>Calendar</em>
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<li><em>Working with a VA program for dogs for vets</em>
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<li><em>Fire pits</em>
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<li><em>Literally begging on the street with a sign</em>
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<div><em>Some of these things have honestly been life saving and most worked until they didn’t. Not all of them are feasible. </em>
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<div><em>The point is we are willing to do and try anything to keep this legacy that everybody’s helped us create with Desert Tails alive.</em>
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<div>Please join me in helping save Desert Tails! 
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<div>If you are unable to donate, that's okay! Other ways you can help: 
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<ul>
<li>Share this GoFundMe 
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<li>Follow Desert Tails on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deserttailsshelter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/deserttails/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@deserttails" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok</a> 
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<li>Comment on one of their posts
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<li>Share one of their posts
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<li>Share their <a href="https://deserttailsshelter.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 
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<li>Create your own post about them! 
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<li>Help us get this message to the right people.
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<li>Be sure to take advantage of any corporate matching donation programs.
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<li>Have a fundraising idea we haven't tried yet? Let us know! 
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<li>Please contact Adama for planned giving or corporate sponsorship information.
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<div>Thank you so much!
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Angela Miller

Michelle Dobrowski

Anonymous

Lauren McDonald

Laura Prather

Kristi Baranowski

Jason Kunert

Nancy Zimerowski

Adam Markowitz

Rachel Ewell

Lisa Dru

Nancy Bernstein

Courtney Cassells

Dawn Stephens

Dylan Wagers

Save Desert Tails: Keep Our Shelter Open

Save Desert Tails: Keep Our Shelter Open

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