My Story…
Hi there! I'm embarking on my most ambitious running goal yet - my first full marathon in the ~hilly~ city of Pittsburgh - and this year, continuing the fulfilling tradition of running for a charity partner, I'm fundraising for Animal Friends!
Animal Friends envisions "a humane and compassionate future for every animal friend" by tending to animals in crisis, finding a good home for furry friends, providing resources and services to support pets' health, and championing the animal-human bond [Animal Friends website].
Animals have been an important and beautiful part of my life. I grew up mostly around dogs - there was a dog around our house all the time, a face with a long snoot who was as much a part of our family as any of us humans. Sparkey was my broccoli-hating guardian (and I, his little menace) from before I was born until 5th grade, Charger flaunted his grand personality and ego with us until I was in middle school (he’d get jealous if you pet a blanket instead of him), and Skye was my best buddy and a most loving soul from when we brought him home for my 8th birthday until after my TA shift for a sophomore circuits lab when I was 21 (he knew what family hugs meant and was absolutely a part of them).
Moreover, most people I know could tell you a fun story or fond memory of their pets - my grandparents could regale you with tales about their horses back in the day and their floofy collies over the years, and one of my go-to fun facts is about how my late 8-year-old goldfish was a shark of a tankmate. My friend Julia could tell you about her family’s labradors Max, Molly, and now Buddy who loves hugs. My mum’s friend Sue sends pictures of her family’s animated Alaskan malamutes, and I remember Doc the border collie and Oscar, the sweet cat who tended to vomit in inconvenient spots. During the pandemic, Herbert the Betta fish was my friend whose tank I’d carefully tote back and forth between Oakland and my parents’ house in a Lowes bucket.
And those only scratch the surface of the volumes so many of us could tell you about the pets and animals in our lives!
Nowadays, although my parents and I haven’t had any pets in a while, I have the sincere pleasure of animal-watching (friends sharing pictures and videos of their pets, seeing a French bulldog who’d had enough of their walk and stubbornly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, spectating a giant tortoise out on the town in Milwaukee, and realizing the squirrels at the Cathedral of Learning litter) and getting to love my friends’ and family’s dogs, cats, and bearded dragons.
In honor and celebration of the animals that brighten our lives, I invite you to consider contributing to this fundraiser for Animal Friends! To make a donation, please use the buttons above this "My Story..." section. Thank you!
A picture of our goodest boy Skye:
Description
Thank you for being a big part of the Animal Friends mission.
Animal Friends envisions a humane and compassionate future for every animal. They aim to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in crisis, ensure healthy pets through education, advocacy, and affordable services, and inspire a community that celebrates and nurtures the animal-human bond. They are driven by the core values of being solution-driven, resourceful, compassionate, and committed to integrity and excellence. Your efforts help to support our many programs.
- Rescue and Rehabilitation: We rescue animals in crisis and provide necessary medical care and rehabilitation to prepare them for adoption.
- Adoption Services: We help rehome animals by matching them with loving families.
- Education and Advocacy: We offer educational programs and advocate for animal welfare to ensure healthy pets and responsible pet ownership.
- Affordable Services: We provide affordable veterinary services through their Animal Wellness Center.
- Community Engagement: We inspire and nurture the animal-human bond through various community events and programs.
🐾 Donate Here: Animal Friends - Donate
Your support means so much to us—and to the animals whose lives we can change together. Thank you for being part of this mission.
P.S. Every dollar counts! Let’s make tails wag and hearts happy
Recent donors
| Donation date | Donor name | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 05 | Anonymous | Undisclosed amount |
| Mar 19 | Hannah Day | $54.10 |
| Mar 05 | Anonymous | $54.10 |
| Mar 05 | Liz H | Undisclosed amount |
| Mar 04 | Nasrin | Undisclosed amount |
| Mar 04 | Julia Rayburg | Undisclosed amount |
| Mar 04 | Anonymous | $22.15 |
