Support Phoenix's Legacy: Kitten Rescue

I Held Her As She Died, Because the Shelter Failed Her

Hi, my name is Brittany, and I started Phoenix’s Promise Rescue because I held a dying kitten in my arms, and I made her a promise I will never break.

Phoenix was just 10 weeks old when I picked her up from the Riverside shelter after her spay.

She wasn’t groggy or resting, she was crying in pain

They handed me an e-collar in a plastic bag, not on her, and there was blood already visible on her belly

I asked the staff about it, but they brushed it off

On the way home, I stopped at Dollar Tree to grab gauze, hoping to help her myself

When I checked her again, I saw the unthinkable

Her incision had opened

Her intestines were hanging out

She was bleeding internally and externally, and she was still crying

I immediately called the Riverside emergency shelter line, but they refused to help

They told me to find my own vet

So I rushed her to the Veterinary Emergency Center of Redlands, a 24-hour hospital

They diagnosed her with spay incision dehiscence and internal bleeding

She needed

• Emergency exploratory surgery

• Removal of damaged tissue

• Drain placement

• And multiple days of hospitalization and recovery care

But the cost? Up to $15,000 or more, just to try to save her

And even then, they couldn’t promise she’d survive

I didn’t have that kind of money

I had nothing but fear, heartbreak, and a kitten slowly dying in my arms

So I did the only thing I could

I stayed with her, I kissed her, and I held her while she was put to sleep

Scared, broken, but not alone

That night, I made her a promise

No other kitten would suffer like Phoenix

Not if I could help it

That’s how Phoenix’s Promise Rescue was born

I don’t have a facility

I don’t have staff or grants

I run this rescue from my small apartment, because I can’t afford a home right now

But I couldn’t wait for the perfect setup to start saving lives

Right now, it’s just me, my family, sleepless nights, donated supplies, and the fire Phoenix left in my heart

Here’s What I’ve Done So Far

Thanks to your support, I’ve been able to raise 14 donations through GoFundMe and 3 more through Cash App

Because of that, I’ve already taken huge steps toward making this rescue official

✔️ Filed the Articles of Incorporation with the state of California

✔️ Got our official EIN

✔️ Submitted our Statement of Information

✔️ Reserved the name Phoenix’s Promise Rescue Corp and got state approval

✔️ Wrote our nonprofit bylaws with a built-in conflict of interest policy

✔️ Chose our board members and set our fiscal year end to December 31

These steps are done and paid for, because you believed in this mission

But we’re not done yet

Here’s What Still Needs Funding

CT-1 Initial Charity Registration — $50

RRF-1 Annual Charity Filing — $25

IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Application — $275

This is what stands between us and becoming a fully recognized nonprofit

Once that is complete, we will be able to apply for grants, receive donations through shelters and pet stores, and grow this mission into something real and lasting

Meet Echo and Nova

Our first rescues after Phoenix

Two baby sisters pulled from the same shelter system

Echo is calm and gentle, just like Phoenix

Nova is bold and bright, like her spark lives on in her

They are safe now, but I can’t keep doing this alone

What This Fund Supports

Your donation helps

• Cover vet care, vaccinations, and emergency visits

• Buy kitten formula, food, litter, blankets, and heating pads

• File the remaining nonprofit paperwork and fees

• Build a safe nursery space inside our home for critical care babies

• Provide emergency prepaid debit cards for our foster families

• And most of all, keep Phoenix’s promise alive

Why This Matters

I don’t want my fosters to feel helpless like I did

Each foster will receive a prepaid debit card for emergencies

It won’t be a huge amount, but it will mean peace of mind and faster care

I just ask to be notified when it’s used so I can reload it if needed

Phoenix’s Promise will not just rescue kittens

It will support the people who step up to save them too

My Goal

The GoFundMe might say $18,000

But my real goal is $600,000

That would cover

• Registering the nonprofit

• Emergency vet care

• Medical supplies and equipment

• Playpens, bedding, shampoos, bottles, and more

• Everything a foster or fragile kitten might need

This is a mission built on love, loss, and a promise I will never break

This rescue carries her name

Your support carries her legacy

Thank you for reading

Thank you for helping me keep this promise alive