A Merry Community
The change of the seasons brings many uncertainties for animals and their people. Temperatures drop, snow begins falling, and animals seek shelter to ward against the whipping winter winds. Rescue Village has seen first-hand how winter can impact homeless animals, causing displacement, hunger, and illness, and is prepared to answer the call to serve our community.
Beyond providing care and resources to shelter animals, Rescue Village is committed to helping keep people and pets together. In 2021, Rescue Village launched its Pet Food Pantry to combat pet food insecurity. To help Rescue Village prepare for the season’s needs, All About Dogs, a long-time supporter, ran a Pet Food Pantry drive in November, donating necessary food for people with owned pets that are struggling to make ends meet.
Rescue Village is overwhelmed with joy year after year to see our community’s commitment to homeless animals. While the holidays bring cheer, good tidings, and opportunities for connections, daily care is an ongoing need for homeless animals in NE Ohio. Rescue Village relies completely on the community to help care for the animals, not just this time of year but every single day — seeing that over 140 animals get all the daily treats, toys and nutrition they need to thrive.
Giving Tuesday support started in November this year and continued through December 3rd with donations being matched, up to $50,000. The community responded with an outpouring of generosity and raised over $100,000 for animals. These funds support vital medical care and complex surgeries for animals like Alvin the cat. However, Rescue Village consistently relies on plenty of cleaning supplies, food, towels, linens, and toys to meet the daily care needs. Donations drives from business like the one Joann Fabric and Craft held for Giving Tuesday 2024 are important to help keep our supplies well-stocked. There were so many donations that we made two trips!
Vitalia Highland Heights had a Christmas Tree Lighting event on Giving Tuesday 2024, inviting vendors to come talk with residents, families, and friends about how they can get involved with their community and to accept donations. Rescue Village’s Ambassador dog, Sky, made a special appearance, excited to meet everyone and giving lots of love to everyone she met. Rescue Village is dedicated year-round to humane education and being out in the community promoting its programs and services.
One local business that supports Rescue Village every holiday is Arborwear. Arborwear hosts a series of happy hours each year to benefit a worthy cause and for Rescue Village this year it was called Bourbon, Burgers, and Brews. Attendees donated at the event and received merchandise discounts and could meet Hank and Willy, two Tree Walker Coonhound puppies. Both puppies were adopted after the event but were great ambassadors for all of the residents at Rescue Village waiting for homes.
For the past several years, Rescue Village has been the lucky beneficiary of two spirited individuals that go out on the town during the month of December to fundraise for the animals. It’s Geauga’s very own Grinch and Cindy Lou Who — riding in style on their motorcycle and collecting donations for homeless animals on Fridays in Chagrin Falls. There are all sorts of ways to support Rescue Village, but this effort wins the prize for most fun and creative!
A community event that helps Rescue Village year round and that we are particularly fond of is the Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market! Held every summer and winter, this market serves as the perfect venue for Rescue Village to promote its programs and services, and to showcase the adoptable dogs. The market is a great way for Rescue Village’s dogs to decompress and practice good manners while meeting other dogs and lots of potential adopters. Malcolm recently went to the Holiday Market and was so calm, enjoying pets and people-watching and all the smells of the season.
Rescue Village is thankful to all the local businesses and individuals that support its lifesaving work. There are many creative ways to give back to the animals, like Bella Designs Jewelers that is selling handmade ornaments by a local artist, and all the proceeds raised are being donated to the animals at Rescue Village. Individuals can contribute to Rescue Village in other meaningful ways, like Patricia, who held a holiday party and asked her friends to bring toys and food for the animals. Jolly Pets‘ We Give A Jolly Program donates a toy for each purchased toy to Rescue Village animals. Golden Retriever, Moose, will deliver the gifts after Christmas. Support Rescue Village by using code “MOOSE” at checkout.
The giving season continues through December 31st, with Rescue Village donations doubling to $80,000 for shelter animals thanks to a generous donor. Help Rescue Village continue addressing pet homelessness, overpopulation, and disease control by joining this merry community and donating today!