Main fundraiser photo

Keri's 50th Birthday FUNraiser!

 On August 2nd, I will turn 50 years old.

In 2009 after adopting our second dog from an animal rescue, my entire world changed. Our lavish parties were replaced by fundraisers, our home was transformed into a sanctuary for foster dogs, and our credit card receipts changed from restaurants and home furnishings to veterinary invoices and pet supplies. But the most important change was in my heart.

For most in rescue, their story starts in early childhood. Mine doesn’t. We had a dog growing up, but it wasn’t until I was an adult when my priorities started expanding beyond myself.

When Jim and I began our lives together, we didn’t know if we would have children (we didn’t), but we always knew we would have a dog (we did – five of our own to date, and over 50 fosters who will always be a part of our little family).

Over the years, Jim and I increasingly involved ourselves in rescue, which later expanded to animal rights and welfare, and ultimately founding our own 501(c)(3) animal rescue. We have cried endless tears together in shelter parking lots, knowing that no matter how much we tried to help, it would never be enough. We have cried tears of sadness knowing that the dog we just held in our arms would be euthanized the next morning if a family or rescue didn’t come for them. And we have cried tears of joy seeing the dogs walk (or usually run!) out the shelter doors to freedom. And watching our fosters transition from frightened, malnourished, broken souls, to happy and healthy animals who finally get to experience the love they deserve.

It took me 40 years to figure out the purpose of my life. And my heart will never be the same.

To celebrate this half century mark of my life, I am raising funds for two important groups who work tirelessly for the animals. I will be dividing 100% of the funds equally between these two groups:

The first is the Animal Care Center of St. John – our local animal shelter. The manager, staff, and volunteers not only care for the animals brought in to the shelter, but also educate our residents about the importance of spay and neuter, heartworm prevention, and basic care. They earned the right to call themselves a no-kill shelter, which is no easy feat. It’s especially difficult running a shelter in an area with many animals and few residents, because it makes it that much harder to find adopting families. As such, they thought outside the box and realized if they could send our animals to states with fewer animals, these island dogs and cats would have a better chance of finding a home. They work hand in hand with other rescue groups, pairing the animals with tourists flying home to the states after vacation, or sending them on flights with the Pets with Wings program. It stands to reason that keeping a shelter no-kill, flying dogs to less crowded shelters in the states, and caring for the animals who remain in the shelter with heartworm, and even just the costs of food and supplies – it all requires a tremendous amount of energy and funds.

The second is K-9 Spirit Organization, in honor of Stacy McNab, Natalie Simmon, and Michele Do-Magnano. Stacy is the founder of the rescue. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word “impossible”. Her philosophy is that every animal deserves a chance. And she walks the walk every single day, pulling dogs from the shelter with medical needs who would otherwise never be adopted without her help. She saves the dogs who are scared and therefore hide in the back of their kennel, never noticed by adopters because of their fear. She saves the ugly dogs. The old dogs. The forgotten dogs.  And she matches them with families who see their beauty. 

Natalie and Michele are volunteers with the rescue. They are two of the most incredible people I’ve ever known. I am pretty sure that Natalie has single-handedly raised the most funds in history for various rescues (including my own). This is in addition to working a full time job, pulling  and transporting dogs from the shelter, and being an amazing human being. She is one of my favorite people.  Ever.

Michele is one of the kindest souls on this earth. She fosters, she fundraises, she transports, she reaches out to help friends and strangers (including helping us with Cooper), and she does all flawlessly and selflessly. And beautifully!  Even though she is battling her own health issues, the animals still come first in her life.   She is an inspiration to all who have the honor of knowing her.

If you have a few extra bucks, please help these two rescues help more animals. I promise, it will make you feel great about yourself.  And you’ll make this gal really, really happy on her 50th birthday. xo

Donations 

  • Keri LaMar
    • $30 
    • 6 yrs

Organizer

Keri LaMar
Organizer
Coral Harbour, United States Virgin Islands
Kisses and Paws Inc
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.

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