2025 Animal Rescue Donations

Sunny and his Upstate Therapy Dog friends (Murphy and Hope) volunteering at the Greenville Memorial Hospital on Christmas week. 

'Tis the season of giving thanks, showing appreciation and helping those in need.

Thank you for supporting Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in 2025. Through your support and purchases (ex. nutrition consultation, bike fit, private or group camp, Trimarni gear, etc.) we are able to support animal rescues. You are making a difference in our lives and in the lives of our furry friends and we are extremely grateful. 

Since our first donation to the Greenville Humane Society in 2018, we have donated $6497 to a variety of animal rescues. 

This year we are donating $500 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control. This shelter is near and dear to our heart because Sunny was taken to this high-kill shelter after he was found abandoned in an apartment. This shelter is constantly at a crisis-level due to severe overcrowding. As a result, the shelter is urgently seeking adopters, fosters, or participants in its short-term ‘Staycation’ program to alleviate overcrowding and prevent the possibility of euthanasia.

We love Sunny so much and couldn't imagine our life without him. 

We also donated $250 to Greenville County Animal Care. They are the largest open-admission animal facility in South Carolina with a care capacity of approximately 400 dogs and cats. They also operate the largest state-of-the-art spay/neuter clinic in SC, capable of performing up to 10,000 high quality spay/neuter surgeries each year. 90% of the surgeries our veterinarians perform are done at no cost to the community thanks to targeted grants and because of donors like you. In 2024, this shelter took in 6327 cats and 4460 dogs. 

Why Animal Rescues and Shelters Matter—and How You Can Help Save Lives

Every year, millions of animals end up in shelters and rescue organizations due to abandonment, neglect, abuse, or circumstances beyond their owners’ control. Animal rescues and shelters serve as a critical safety net, offering protection, shelter, medical care, and a second chance at life. However, these organizations cannot succeed without the help of donations, fostering, and rescuing.

What's The Difference Between a Rescue and Shelter? 

If you were wondering the difference between an animal rescue and an animal shelter, both provide temporary housing and safe place for animals. Animal shelters are often funded by the government (town, city or state level) while animal rescues are funded by donations, their own money and private individuals. In a shelter, you'll find animals in kennels, while rescues are often run out of private homes or buildings.

A big difference between shelters and rescues is that shelters often have a capacity (and limitations) for how many animals they can care for at once and the resources available. Because public and government run shelters are mandated by law to accept all pet surrenders and stray animals brought in by the public.

As a result, many states (ex. Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama) in the United States need to euthanize dogs and cats due to overcrowding at shelters. Overcrowding is often due to breeding (there are 2000+ federally licensed dog breeders and over 10,000 puppy mills - inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities), owners surrendering/giving up their pets, strays, economic factors and not spaying or neutering. The reality is that there are more and more kittens and puppies coming into an overcrowded space, where millions of young, adult and senior animals are in need of homes - there are already 6.3 million animals in shelters nationwide. Sadly, every year almost a million shelter animals are euthanized (from puppies and kittens to seniors, to muts and pure-breds).

Shelters work with rescue groups to help with overcrowding. When you see a plea from a shelter asking for urgent fosters, stay-cations or adoptions, this means that the shelter is overcrowded and must remove animals from kennels to free up space for new intakes (remember - they are required to take in surrenders and strays). Rescues work with shelters to help save animals from euthanasia and to improve the chances that the animals can find a forever (or foster) home. Sunny's shelter is one of many that struggles with overcrowding due to too many intakes and not enough fosters and adoptions. 

The Role of Animal Rescues and Shelters

Animal shelters and rescues work tirelessly to care for homeless pets. They provide food, clean shelter, medical treatment, behavioral support, and love to animals who may have never known kindness before. Many animals arrive injured, sick, frightened, or traumatized. Dedicated staff members and volunteers step in to rehabilitate them, often with limited resources.

Sunny became very anxious and reactive to other dogs after we adopted him. We did a lot of obedience training with Sunny to help him grow his confidence and to develop trust in the world around him. He is now a sweet, loving, funny and happy dog who is thriving in life as a certified therapy dog. 

When a dog is abused, abandoned, or neglected, it is never the dog’s fault that it becomes scared or fearful. Fearful behavior is a natural response to trauma, not a sign of aggression or a “bad” personality. Dogs who have experienced hardship often act defensively because they are trying to protect themselves after learning that the world can be unsafe. With patience, routine, consistency, and compassion, many of these dogs are able to heal, rebuild trust, and show the loving, joyful nature that was always there. Understanding this helps us respond with empathy rather than judgment and gives these animals the second chance they deserve.

Why Donations Are So Important

Donations directly save lives. Funds go toward vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, emergency medical procedures, food, bedding, and facility maintenance. A single medical emergency can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and without donations, many animals would not receive the care they desperately need.

Monetary donations aren’t the only way to help. Supplies such as food, newspapers, blankets, toys, cleaning products, and medications are always in demand. For example, many senior dogs (or dogs with medical conditions) need doggy diapers. After Campy passed away, we donated his unused packages of diapers to rescues who work with senior dogs. Every dollar and donation helps.

The Power of Fostering

Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to help animals in need. Foster homes provide temporary care for animals until they are adopted, freeing up space in shelters and reducing stress on the animals. This is especially crucial for puppies, kittens, senior animals, and those recovering from illness or injury.

In a foster home or during a stay-cation, animals can learn basic social skills, build trust, and show their true personalities—making them more adoptable. Fostering also saves lives by preventing overcrowding, which is one of the leading causes of euthanasia in shelters. For those unable to adopt permanently, fostering offers a rewarding way to make a difference without a lifelong commitment.

Greenville Animal Care offers a doggy day out program. Last February I spent the day with this cutie and we went to downtown Greenville and explored the town. A week later, I heard he got adopted! 

Why Adopting and Rescuing Matters

Choosing to adopt instead of buying from breeders helps break the cycle of overpopulation and neglect. When you rescue an animal, you’re not just saving one life—you’re creating space for another animal in need. Many shelter animals are already trained, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, making adoption both compassionate and practical.

Rescue animals often form deep bonds with their adopters. Despite their difficult beginnings, they are capable of immense love, loyalty, and gratitude. Adopting sends a powerful message that animals are not disposable and that every life has value.

How You Can Make a Difference

You don’t need to be wealthy or have a large home to help. Whether it’s donating a small amount, fostering for a few weeks, volunteering your time, doing a stay-cation or choosing adoption, every action counts. 

Final Remarks

Animal rescues and shelters stand on the front lines of compassion, fighting every day to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Donations keep their doors open, fostering saves lives by easing overcrowding, and rescuing gives animals the loving homes they deserve. By supporting these efforts, we help create a more humane world—one animal at a time.

Thank you for helping us support animal rescues and shelters. 

Found cat/kittens update - ADOPTED!

Around 4pm on Friday April 4th, I told Karel that I wanted to spin my legs. Typically Friday’s are my swim-only days but it was warm and sunny outside and I was itching to be outside. I rarely ride my bike on a Friday afternoon but when I do an easy spin by myself, I typically ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. However, something was pulling me to ride up and over Paris Mountain so I told Karel I was going to ride my bike on our Paris Mountain loop. I left a little after 4pm and headed up the mountain.

After 1.6 miles, I was nearing the top of the 2-mile climb and I was looking forward to a fast descent to the other side of the mountain. As I was climbing, I was shocked to see a small cat and two kittens in a muddy ditch on the side of the mountain. The cats didn’t move when I stopped as they all seemed to be in shock by the situation.

I quickly called Karel and told him the situation. He was planning to go for a swim that evening but he stopped what he was doing at home and drove the car with a cat carrier and food and water. Of note, this is not the first time that I have found and rescued cats on the side of the road so Karel knows the drill.

I sat on the side of the road while I waited for Karel and told the cats that they would soon be safe. Around ten minutes later, Karel arrived with the carrier. Another older man stopped and offered help when Karel arrived.

We were worried about catching the momma and kittens but they were so tired and in shock that they didn’t move. It was very easy to scoop each of them up and put them in the carrier in the car.

It was nearing 5:30pm and our vet closed early on this day so we stopped by a vet in Traveler’s Rest to see if the momma cat had a chip. She was scanned and no chip registered. We noticed that the momma cat had an indentation around her neck which appeared to be from a tight collar or flea collar. At this point, we made the assumption that the momma cat and her two kittens were dumped on the side of Paris Mountain.

We made a stop at the store for kitten food and while Karel was in the store, the kittens started to nurse on momma. My heart hurt for what the kittens and momma had gone through but I assured them that they would be safe, loved and well-taken care of for the rest of their life. 

We took the cats back to our house and quickly cleaned out our upstairs workout room and turned it into the “cats room.” We didn’t let our cats interact with the new cats. Momma and kittens now had blankets, a scratch post, beds, toys, water, food and a litter box and a safe room. We gave them time to decompress (and eat). 

Over the next few days we had a good routine going with our 4 cats, Sunny and our three new fosters. The fosters ate three times a day. We played with them several times throughout the day. We tried to introduce them to different people so that they would become more social. Momma cat was an exceptional mom and taught them how to use the litter box and how to behave. They were pooping and peeing machines - all with healthy digestive systems and no worms. Momma cat was very accepting of pets and enjoyed the company whereas the kittens were a bit timid, but very playful. We would often hear the kittens playing while we were downstairs and it was amazing how two tiny kittens could make so much noise. 

A week later we had an appointment at the Humane Society to get the kittens and momma vaccinated. However, when we arrived, we were told that we couldn’t get them vaccinated because we didn’t have them for 10-days, which is the time that they would be ‘officially’ my cats. We were upset that we couldn’t get them vaccinated because we were eager to start the process of trying to get them homes. We did, however, get their ears cleaned as they were filled with ear mites. The kittens were approximately 8 weeks of age and 1.8-2 lbs. Momma was predicted to be between 10-12 months old (very young for a momma!) and 5 lbs. Otherwise, all three kitties were healthy. We were also told that the two kittens were girls - a family of strong, determined females who fought hard to live. Anytime the kittens were in the carrier with momma (to and from the Humane Society), they tried to nurse for comfort. Momma wasn’t letting them nurse back in their room at home. 

Knowing that we couldn’t keep these three adorable cats, we started the process of trying to find them homes. We posted on social media and passed the word around to friends. If needed, my next steps were to post on websites like Petfinder or Adoptapet. My hope was that I could find people that I knew well to adopt the cats (instead of strangers).

A friend reached out to me and mentioned that her husband owns a vet (Oasis Animal Hospital) and they offer kitten vaccinations and spay/neuter specials on Wednesdays. On April 23rd, we took in the kittens for their vaccinations and momma got spayed. They did a great job taking care of everyone.

Thankfully, the word was passed around and I was able to find homes for all three of our kitties.

After three weeks of taking care of the two kittens and the momma, they went off to their forever homes. I cried as it was hard for me to say goodbye but I knew it was the right thing to do. And I am comforted by the fact that all of these kitties are getting spoiled by their new owners and will live a healthy and happy life without a worry in the world.

                                                                                -----------

Momma (who is now named Clementine or Clemmy) was adopted by my friend/athlete Ruthanne who recently said goodbye to her 18-year old cat. Clemmy loves watching the birds, playing with her fuzz ball and cuddling in the lap of her new mommy. 

Kitten 1 (who is now named Kismet) was adopted by Karen in Pennsylvania. 

A big thank you to my friend Allison who connected me with Karen (a friend of a friend) and drove Kitten 1 up to Pennsylvania to hand deliver to Karen. Karen said goodbye to her 18-year old cat a few months ago and has been actively looking for a boy kitten but fell in love with kitten 1. Kismet is now getting more rubs than she could ever imagine and loves playing with her toys. 

Kitten 2 (who is now named Tele) was adapted by Rachael, who lives outside of Greenville. Leslie (who runs the Greenville Splash) teaches Rachael’s son and Rachael grew up with cats and has been wanting a kitten over the past few years and now was the right time to bring one in. Tele is the queen of the house and loves exploring new places. She demands treats and gets lots of attention from her new furever family. 

Thank you to everyone who reached out and spread the word about momma and kittens. 

Please consider making a donation to a local animal rescue or shelter as it is “kitten season.” From March until October, shelters and rescues experience a significant increase in the number of kittens entering their care. And do your part by spaying and neutering your animals to help with the ever-increasing number of dogs and cats entering shelters. If you have a stray/feral/outdoor cat roaming around your property, consider a local TNR program.

The Story of Sunny

We said good bye to Campy on July 18th, 2025. A few weeks passed and our house felt quiet and empty. We cared for Campy for over 16 years and it felt so strange to go through our day without a dog. Before Campy passed away, we both felt that we would wait a while before adopting another dog but we really missed the routine and responsibility. I found myself scrolling through adoptable dogs on animal rescue websites and feeling like I could open my heart to another dog sooner than I though. I don't think I will never be able to love another dog like I loved Campy, but my broken heart was able to feel some love.

I searched on many different rescue websites, primarily on the east coast and at rescues where the dogs were at risk for euthanasia. Animals in Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama account for more than half of all shelter animals killed in the country.


Over several days, I filled out over a dozen applications for rescue dogs. I found that the adoption process for most of them was slow and extremely detailed. 

On August 22nd, I came across a dog named "Hubert" from Animal Care and Control. He was being fostered by a girl named Meghan in Charlotte, North Carolina. I reached out to her via email and shared my story and our recent loss. I asked a few questions about Hubert to make sure he would be a good fit for us. I was delighted when she responded back rather quickly with additional information about Hubert. She answered all of my questions and appreciated that I wanted to make sure he was a good fit for us. It was important to us to find a small dog (less than 20 lbs) that would enjoy our active lifestyle and travel. We were looking for a young dog over the age of one and a dog that gets along with cats. Hubert seemed like the perfect fit. I'll be honest - at first I found myself primary searching for chihuahuas and any dog that resembled Campy but I knew that was because I missed Campy. There was something about Hubert that reminded us of Campy but he was also very different. We fell in love with Hubert's ears and his innocent eyes.

A few days later we had a facetime chat with Meghan, virtually met Hubert and discussed the opportunity for us to meet Hubert through a program that Animal Care and Control offers called a 'Staycation.' We mentioned to Meghan that we would be traveling to Italy the following week and we didn't want to adopt a dog before we left. Because Meghan wasn't allowed to put Hubert on hold until we came back from Italy, Meghan came up with the idea that we could take in Hubert for a few days as part of their Staycation program. If we decided it wasn't the right fit, he would return to Meghan. If we wanted to move forward with the adoption, she said she would petsit for us (at her house) while we were away for 10 days.

On August 24th (Saturday) we met Hubert in Greer, SC. A friend of Meghans was traveling to our area from Charlotte and said she could transport Hubert to meet us. We instantly fell in love with Hubert. He was sweet, energetic and happy. Karel's mom was with us and we loved how well he acted around her. As soon as we returned home, we stopped by my mom's house and she quickly said "he's going to be a good boy." Despite his background of being abandoned, he was comfortable around people.

First time meeting Sunny

Falling in love with Sunny

Driving Sunny to reunite with Meghan after we officially adopted him.

Sunny gets one last visit with Meghan before he comes to his forever home with us.

Introducing Sunny to his big fenced yard.

Taking into account the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a rescue, we knew the first few days would be a bit overwhelming for Hubert. He was in a new house, he was surrounded by five cats, he was sleeping in a new house, meeting new people, going for car rides and going for walks. Although we probably did too much with him when during his staycation, we quickly realized that we needed him in our life.

On Monday August 26th we told Meghan that we would like to make it official and adopt Hubert.
Hubert's adoption fee was $103, which included his neuter. We asked the foster coordinator if we could get him neutered in Greenville (instead of Charlotte) and she said that was fine. Even though it was more expensive at our local vet, we didn't want to bring on any added stress to Hubert.

It was hard to drop off Hubert with Meghan on the day before we left for Italy but he was excited to see her familiar face. We missed him a lot during our trip but we knew that when we returned from Karel's extreme triathlon in Italy, we would officially welcome Hubert to our family on September 12th.

I couldn't wait to pick up Hubert on September 12th. Meghan met me at the Gaffney outlets. I was so excited when I saw Hubert and I was happy that he remembered me. The outlets hold a special place in my heart for it is the same location where we used to meet our friend Christy when she would watch Campy while we traveled. It's ~50 minutes from where we live and ~50 minutes from Charlotte.

We liked the name Hubert but we felt he needed a name that meant something to us. After brainstorming for several days, we came up with the name Sunny. Our life has been dark without Campy and Sunny was giving us the sunshine that we needed to feel happy again.

Sunny’s (formerly Hubert) Journey at CMACC

Sunny is said to be ~1.5 years old and sometime in July, he ended up at a high kill shelter in North Carolina due to being abandoned in an apartment with his brother Benz. Apparently, the owners of Sunny and Benz were the ones who called the shelter to report that someone had abandoned their dogs - and this wasn’t the first time the police dealt with these people calling in (their) abandoned animals. We don't know how long they were left in the apartment but it was a few days. Benz had a severe broken leg that was never cared for, and he wore it down to the bone walking on it. Benz eventually got the leg amputated and recovered like a rock star and was adopted soon after by a great family.

Sunny was at the shelter for less than a week when he was picked up by Meghan. When she first met him, he came out to the lobby wiggling and giving kisses.

Once he got into foster, he hid in his crate a lot because that was his safe space. He loved affection so he soon learned to trust Meghan and that it was okay to come on the couch with her.

He also quickly learned her cat doesn’t appreciate dogs invading his space. Meghan shared the story of the first time Sunny got swatted at by her cat, and ran into his crate and wouldn’t open his eyes. She had to pick him up and tell him to open his eyes, that it’s okay. He was wagging his little tail but was too scared to open his eyes. We had the same thing happen at our house with Mia. We seriously thought he damaged his eye, only to learn that he was just scared to open his eyes and was being extra dramatic. That hasn't stopped him from playing with our cats - especially Asher (our tuxedo).

Sunny had a few different temp foster stays with some of the other fosters in the group while Meghan was out of town for a few weekends. He enjoyed playing around with the dogs and he looked so proud that he was invited into their club. Meghan thinks those dogs helped him gain some confidence and come out of his shell.

Sunny slowly started showing more and more of his personality over several weeks. Eventually he no longer retreated to his crate and just wanted to be by his person all the time.

Meghan said that Sunny was a special foster – he was always smiling and wiggling and such a happy little guy to just be around you. She is sad to think what his first year of life was probably like, but she's happy that he got out of that situation at a young age.

I stay in touch with Meghan and send her videos and pictures via text on a weekly basis. I love showing how far he has come and how much we are enjoying his company.

Knowing Sunny's story helped us better understand his personality.

Although Sunny was sweet to us, after a few days of adopting Sunny, we noticed he had more anxious behaviors. He wouldn't eat his food but instead he would hide it. After he played, he would come inside and act hysterical - wound up with energy. At random times he would excessively dig into blankets or the couch/bed. He would walk outside with his face near the ground and would obsessively eat sticks. One of the biggest concerns was seeing how reactive he was in the prescence of other dogs. He couldn't even look at a dog up the street without barking hysterically. He was extremely barky (we couldn't get him to stop), he didn’t know how to act around strangers, he would nip when he got excited and after a long walk outside, he was wound up with energy.

Although Campy had similar issues, Campy was only 10 lbs and it was easy for me to scoop him up and remove him from any situation. Although Sunny is not a big dog, he is 16 lbs which makes it difficult to quickly pick him up.

We knew Sunny was a very happy and smart dog but we felt he had a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about life due to his past. And with five cats in our house, his barks and wild energy made our house feel divided and stressful.

We never had experience with obedience training as Campy was our first and only dog. We knew we needed to help Sunny feel more confident and comfortable. I did some research and realized that much of Sunny's behaviors were due to anxiety and the need for more mental stimulation. After researching several different behavior training schools, we selected @dogtrainingeliteupstatesc because of their reviews and testimonials.

We enrolled Sunny in the gold elite package. It was a pricey investment but we knew we needed to do something to help Sunny so that he could enjoy our active lifestyle with us. The package consisted of two home visits, 5 days of group training in the facility (M-F, 9am-4pm) and six months of free group classes. This package also included an e-collar (not a shock collar) which is how the trainers work with the dogs.

We were skeptical about the training (and the collar) as we have no prior experience in dog training and we asked a lot of questions about the collar to make sure it was safe.

After the first in-home visit (~90 minutes) with trainer Casey, Sunny was a changed dog. We couldn’t believe how quickly he learned “come” and “off.” Sunny thrived at school and responded so well to his 3-4 different trainers, Each day he learned a new skill like place, down, heel and sit. After each day of class, before we picked up Sunny, we watched a tutorial video of how to give commands and watched videos of Sunny in action. And although we don't mind some barking, Sunny can control his barking.

On the way to school.

Since the training, we don't say "no", raise our voice or use the collar for punishment. We don't have to use treats for rewarding good behavior. Everything Sunny learned has been through positive reinforcement. The collar is simply a mode of communication. Sunny still deals with some anxiety being alone but the training helps wear out his mind before we leave.

Sunny feels secure in his collar and he loves working on his new skills. He loves to learn and loves to please. 

Whereas before we were extra careful where we walked Sunny, we can now let Sunny off leash and he has more opportunities (and freedom) in life thanks to his training (and collar). He gets excited to put on his collar and work on his skills and we love taking him new places. The training also helps him use his mind which helps him relax.

After just five days of his school, we saw his confidence improve, he’s no longer anxious, the cats are calm around him, we can peacefully coexist around other dogs (and he loves to play with dogs!) and he has so much more freedom in life. Whereas before we couldn't take him places because of his barking and anxiety, we can now take him anywhere and he is a joy to be around. He is still a happy and fun dog with his unique personality and traits but he feels comfort knowing that we are helping him safely navigate this new world. We are so happy that Sunny has so many more opportunities in life thanks to his good behaviors and listening skills - all thanks to Dog Training Elite.

Enjoying downtown Greenville with Sunny

Sunny loves the fireplace. 

Off the leash at Furman

Sunny and Ella

Off the leash in Traveler's Rest

Sunny and Sylvi 

Sunny and Asher

We recently did a DNA test on Sunny (via the Wisdom panel) and the results showed that Sunny is....

Thank you for reading Sunny's story. I hope his story inspires you to rescue/adopt or to support animal rescues and shelters.

Off the leash skill work in Traveler's Rest

Waiting for the OK to eat dinner

Sunny loves the sun!

We love Sunny's spots. He has very little hair on his belly. Suprisingly he doesn't shed. 

2024 Animal Rescue Donations - supporting Hurricane affected areas

 

Thank you for helping us support the animal rescues affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton by purchasing a Mountain or Ocean themed shirt during our October fundraiser. 

According to Bestfriends.org, "more than 1,000 dogs and cats have been transported to safety: 360 following Hurricane Helene and 668 following Hurricane Milton. Additionally, the mobile vet clinic in North Carolina has assisted 816 animals from 522 families and is expected to wrap up services by November 9, depending on need."

But this is not a 'one and done' type of deal.

Although Hurricane Helene and Milton caused significant damage to many animal shelters and rescues in Western North Carolina and Florida, this was an added issue to an already big problem.

Shelters are overcrowded with animals. 

If you were wondering the difference between an animal rescue and an animal shelter, both provide temporary housing and safe place for animals. Animal shelters are often funded by the government (town, city or state level) while animal rescues are funded by donations, their own money and private individuals. In a shelter, you'll find animals in kennels, while rescues are often run out of private homes or buildings. 

A big difference between shelters and rescues is that shelters often have a capacity (and limitations) for how many animals they can care for at once and the resources available. Because public and government run shelters are mandated by law to accept all pet surrenders and stray animals brought in by the public.

As a result, many states (ex. Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama) in the United States need to euthanize dogs and cats due to overcrowding at shelters. Overcrowding is due to breeding (there are 2000+ federally licensed dog breeders and over 10,000 puppy mills - inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities), owners surrendering/giving up their pets, strays, economic factors and not spaying or neutering. The reality is that there are more and more kittens and puppies coming into an overcrowded space, where millions of young, adult and senior animals are in need of homes - there are already 6.3 million animals in shelters nationwide. Sadly, every year almost a million shelter animals are euthanized (from puppies and kittens to seniors, to muts and pure-breds). 

Shelters work with rescue groups to help with overcrowding. When you see a plea from a shelter asking for urgent fosters, stay-cations or adoptions, this means that the shelter is overcrowded and must remove animals from kennels to free up space for new intakes (remember - they are required to take in surrenders and strays). Rescues work with shelters to help save animals from euthanasia and to improve the chances that the animals can find a forever (or foster) home. 


An example of this is our recent rescue Sunny.

Sunny (who is a little over a year old) was abandoned in an apartment in North Carolina. He was brought into Animal Care and Control Charlotte-Mecklenburg. I found Sunny on Petplace.com. When Karel and I were thinking about a new furry family member after Campy passed away, I was specifically looking for adoptable rescue dogs from North Carolina. While our state of South Carolina is not a kill state (which is wonderful), North Carolina is a kill state.  Thankfully, Sunny (previous Hubert) was pulled from an overcrowded shelter thanks to Meghan, who fosters dogs from Animal Care and Control and volunteers at the Charlotte Humane Society. Because Sunny was from a shelter, the application process was very quick and simple. Thanks to Meghan, she was able to give us a better understanding of Sunny's personality, likes and dislikes. His adoption fee was only $103 - which included neuturing. We opted to get Sunny neutured at our local vet because we wanted to reduce the overall stress by keeping Sunny close to home before and after his surgery. I applied for over a dozen different rescue dogs from various rescues but we fell in love with 'Hubert' after he spent a few days with us as part of the shelter stay-cation program - it was meant to be. I'll be sharing Sunny's story on a future blog post. 

I'm incredibly grateful for Meghan because she gave Sunny a chance for him to find a good home versus staying in the shelter in a kennel. Many dogs are not adopted (and are at higher risk for euthanasia) due to behavior issues, medical issues or old age but sadly, these dogs were never given a chance to experience what safety, routine, trust and love feel like. 

This is why shelters need your help and why rescues really need donations. 

Because of the incredible support of so many people purchasing a fundraiser shirt (or multiple shirts) and providing a donation, we were able to raise $2964.80!!! 
Thank you so much for your support and generosity. 

This money will be going to the following rescues which were affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton. True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission, Inc - $900

A 501(c)(3) senior dog rescue organization located in South Florida.
We are proud to have a team of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to provide love and care to senior dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. Our mission is to rescue these dogs and provide them with a better life filled with love, compassion and comfort. We are donation-based, and every dollar counts towards the care and well-being of our furry friends. We believe that every dog deserves a chance at a happy, healthy life, no matter their age or background.

Furry Friends Clinic & Ranch - $900

Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch is the Humane Society of Greater Jupiter/Tequesta, a 501c3 not-for-profit, no-kill rescue organization headquartered in Jupiter Florida. We work every day to support the human-animal bond by addressing needs at both ends of the leash. As the needs of our community and region evolve, we are refocusing to improve our care for pets while also addressing the root causes of pet overpopulation. Our vision is to transform our facilities into nation-leading campuses for lifesaving programs, address disparities in the supply of and access to adoptable pets, provide access to Veterinary Services to all, and build a culture of care and achievement.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue - $900

Founded in 2007, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue enhances the lives of companion animals and the people who love them. We work across county lines with the goal of saving the greatest number of lives possible through strategic, creative, and impactful programming. Through adoption and pet retention programs, a low-cost mobile spay and neuter clinic, lifesaving shelter transfer partnerships and extensive volunteer and foster networks, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue impacts the lives of thousands of animals each year in the Western North Carolina region.
After the catastrophic loss of our shelter and all physical assets, we are working around the clock to rebuild – find out more about Phase One and how you can be a part of our life-saving work here. We are a community-based organization and rely on the generosity of our donors to continue our impactful work for animals as we receive no government funding. We know that together we can create a kinder world.

Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance - $264.80

Located in Arden, NC. Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance is committed to saving every animal in our care who can be saved. Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance provides care and rescue to newborn and medically-challenged kittens through loving foster homes, strategic partnerships, and community education. We only euthanize an animal if a veterinarian has assessed that there is no chance of recovering an acceptable quality of life or it would be clearly inhumane or unsafe to not do so immediately. You'll see from our data that we often fall below the 90% benchmark that typically demonstrates a "no-kill" save rate even though our policies align with the no-kill philosophy. That's because neonatal kittens have fragile immune systems and often arrive as orphans with compromised health. Most of the kittens we welcome into our care are too young to be weaned yet and many of the animals we help each year are severely sick or injured when they arrive. Despite specialized around-the-clock care and our very best efforts, some animals don't make it. In those cases, our job is to provide as much love, comfort, and compassion as we can during their brief lives. Each year, we help hundreds of the most vulnerable kittens throughout our region.
(This donation will help vaccinate 25 kittens)

Also, be sure to check out Best Friends Animal Society.

Best Friends Animal Society runs the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States. The sanctuary is located in Utah and is home to a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, horses, and pigs. Visitors can take free tours of the sanctuary or volunteer to spend time with the animals. Best Friends Animal Society works with a network of animal welfare and shelter partners to achieve its mission. Best Friends' emergency response teams are actively supporting the needs of impacted animal shelters and rescue groups in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

Thank you again for your support!   

Animal Rescue Fundraiser - Hurricane Helene and Milton

Furry Friends Jupiter - Jupiter, FL.             Brother Wolf Rescue - Asheville, NC.
Hurricane Milton                                         Hurricane Helene

When a disaster strikes, it doesn’t just impact people, homes, buildings and roads. It affects our most vulnerable members of our communities - animals.

The devastation of Hurricane Helene and Milton impacted many animal rescues across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Thankfully, animals at most shelters were evacuated early and placed in emergency shelters and fosters ahead of the hurricanes making landfall.

With shelters, sanctuaries and farms struggling due to loss of power and water, hundreds of animals have been evacuated from destroyed areas and relocated to various animal shelters across the east coast - or placed in foster homes.

Shelters like Brother Wolf and Furry Friends Jupiter were completely devastated by the hurricane whereas many other shelters have to undergo extensive cleanup and construction. Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance (in Asheville, North Carolina), was hit extremely hard and left without power, water, and essential kittens supplies.

Although it sounds fun (and rewarding) to be around animals all day, working/volunteering at an animal rescue is hard - mentally, emotionally and physically. Staff and volunteers see the abused, neglected, and abandoned. Rescues are always in need of supplies to keep their animals safe, healthy and happy. And behind the scenes, rescues spend a lot of money providing care (and safe living conditions) for the homeless animal population. When an animal is abandoned, surrendered, or found, the rescue takes full responsibility for caring for that animal - which means paying for vaccines, neuter/spay, dental, emergency surgeries, transportation (ex. to another shelter), grooming, etc. to get/keep that animal in good health. Roughly 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year but only 3.2 million are adopted. (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Monetary donations are the lifeblood of rescues.

The ultimate goal for every rescue is to find a loving forever home for these deserving animals but without the generous and ongoing support of the public, rescues can not function. Shelters require monetary support for veterinary care, maintenance of facilities, food, vaccines, emergency surgeries, transport and so much more.

Now, more than ever before, pet adoptions and fosters are urgently needed to help free up space and resources for animals displaced from Hurricane-ravaged areas. Many shelters are at max capacity, which means turning away homeless pets with nowhere to go or having to euthanize adoptable animals to create space.

To help the animal rescues impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, you can show your love for the mountains or ocean, coffee and animals by purchasing a one-of-a- kind long sleeve shirt. And with every purchase, our small business will donate 100% of the net proceeds to rescues, sanctuaries and shelters impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton.

You can also make a monetary donation (with or without a shirt) and 100% of your donation will go to rescues, sanctuaries and shelters impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton.

• Shirts are designed by the incredible artistic mind, Heidi Hogan at Creative Mile.
• Shirts are produced by Graphic Cow, a custom apparel screen printing company in our town of Greenville, SC.
• Orders will be accepted until October 18th, 2024 at 12pm. Estimated shipping is the week of November 4th, 2024.
• Monetary donations will be accepted until November 4th, 2024.

In late November, a social media/blog post (and in our weekly newsletter) will share how much money was raised, how many shirts were ordered and which rescues received the donations (and how much). Currently there are many rescues that are struggling after the Hurricane. Our goal is to provide donations to those who need it the most.

Thank you for your support and for helping animal rescues!
-Marni

Mountains Shirt

Ocean Shirt

Donation

2023 Trimarni Animal Rescue Donations

Thank you for supporting the Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition business in 2023. Because of your support, we were able to donate $1400 to eight deserving non-profit animal rescue organizations. 

@housewithaheart @greenvillehumane @maydaypitbull @territorio_de_zaguates @vintage_pet_rescue @bestfriendsanimalsociety @pipsrescue

Did you know that.....

🐾~6.3 million animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year? Of those are ~3.1 million dogs and 3.2 million cats. (ASPCA). 

🐾Only ~3.2 million animals in shelters are adopted each year. (ASPCA) 

🐾~2.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year because shelters are too full. (The Zebra) 

🐾There are ~10,000 active puppy mills in the US (Humane Society) 

🐾There are ~500,000 dogs kept solely for breeding purposes in puppy mills. (Humane Society) 

🐾34% of dogs are obtained from breeders vs. 23% from animal shelters/humane society. (ASPCA) 🐾~2.6 million puppies are sold each year after originating from a puppy mill. (Humane Society) 

🐾~25-30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds (Best Friends Animal Society) 

Animal shelters and rescues have limited space. They rely on pet lovers to adopt (and not shop) so that these loving companions can avoid the euthanasia list. Plus, when you adopt rather than go to a shop or breeder, you are caring for an animal that already needs support instead of bringing another puppy or kitten into this overpopulated world. Most animal shelters and rescues provide excellent medical care before adoption. Adopted animals are typically vaccinated and spayed/neutered. Please spay and neuter to help fight pet overpopulation. 

Mayday Pitbull rescue

House with a heart rescue

Greenville Humane Society

Territorio De Zaguates

Vintage Pet Rescue

Best Friends Animal Society

Perfectly Imperfect Pups

2022 Donations - thank you for your support!

'Tis the season of giving thanks, showing appreciation and helping those in need.

Thank you for supporting Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in 2022. Through your purchases - nutrition consultation, bike fit, camp, clothing, water bottles and coffee - we can continue supporting animal rescues. You are making a difference in our lives and in the lives of our furry friends and we are extremely grateful.

Here's a list of the non profit animal rescues that we are donating to in 2022.

The Catnip cottage

Vintage Pet Rescue

Heaths Haven

Furball Farm Pet Sanctuary

Greenville Humane Society