Salt Spring Island Rescued Dogs Need Your Help

Hi, my name is Max Miller and I have started this GoFundMe campaign for Jaime Halan-Harris. She and her son Jack have been rescuing abandoned and injured dogs on Salt Spring Island for nearly five years at their own cost. During the pandemic, the number of dogs suffering this fate has jumped, and Jaime needs support to save them.

In the last year she has taken in 54 dogs, up from 39 dogs in 2021. For me this has struck an emotional nerve. I find it very upsetting that almost no one is giving her any financial assistance for this ongoing work that she continues to do from her heart. She has received little support. She hasn't asked anybody for help, because that's the way she is. She wants to help the animals and has no clue how to create a GoFundMe campaign. I'm sure that if our community knew, we would all be pitching in, especially us dog people who understand the love that dogs give back. My late wife, Victoria Mihalyi, aka Vickie Miller would be pleased.

In Jaime's own words:

"In the past year we have had 54 lost dogs, 9 rescues and 4 rehomed pets due to medical issues with the owner, including hospitalization or death of the owner. We have cared for malnourished/starving dogs, those with seizure disorders, heat exhaustion/heat stroke, car accident victims, and dogs abused, neglected, and dumped."

They find homes for all that they can. Last year they had one dog for 9 months because they had to wait for the right owner to come forward. They had a pair of siblings for five months because they wanted to home them together. However, they eventually had to send the siblings to separate homes.

I am a client of Jaime's excellent doggy-day care, Salty Dog Daycare. To be clear, this fundraiser is not for her business in any way--it is for the growing rescue service she and her family have been undertaking. The costs she incurs are not sustainable. I have seen first hand her commitment to these four-legged friends, whose care she covers completely out of her own pocket.

She pays for all their food, shelter, shots, medicines, and even surgeries. In July, she paid about $600 in food alone; a surgery for a dog with seizure disorder, including IVs, Xrays, care and so forth set her back $2800. It's time we gave her some support!

Goals: Jaime would like to set up a separate shelter with play area for rescue-doggies. When new abandoned dogs arrive, Jaimie needs to keep them separated from her doggy-day care clients until she knows whether they are vaccinated, sick, etc. This would involve a concrete play area of approximately 60 X 30 feet, with an enclosed structure. Sustained care costs include food and medical supplies, not to mention toys!

Any amount you can give would be welcome! Small, large, one time, or repeat donations will save lives, heal wounds and wag tails.

Love is what they need.