Unity Thrift needs community help to get puppies to adoption event

Unity Thrift Animal Rescue has been hard at work for about 5 years, keeping countless dogs and cats from being killed in shelters and helping other people keep their pets.

Now they want to transport two flights of puppies and dogs to a special adoption event in Seattle in just a couple of weeks and they need the community's help.

Working with Wings of Rescue, a group of volunteer pilots that flies animals to prevent them from being euthanized, Unity Thrift wants to send about 50 small dogs and 12 cats to the adoptions event in Seattle Wa. in early September.

Its going to take a lot of money, and that's something Unity Thrift is running low on.

They hold regular fundraisers, including yard sales, but their vet bills and food bills for people providing temporary foster homes for pets add up rapidly.

Unity Thrift Founder Linda Hodges spends her own money to buy gas to drive the animals to no-kill shelters all over the region.

They get all the dogs and cats they deal with vaccinated and vetted – meaning their vaccinations are confirmed and they are checked for disease.

The costs add up rapidly, so Unity Thrift doesn't have any more for fuel for the Wings of Rescue.

“The bottom line is our existing vet bill is $1,500,” Hodges said.

That's why they are turning to the community for help.

“We want the community to know that we are here to support them,” Hodges said Monday in the backyard of her home, surrounded by 15 or more dogs and puppies. “Now we need the support of the community.”

If you want to help out, you can deliver donations to 217 E. San Emidio, or call 765-5165.

You can also go to the group's website, www.unitythrift.org, to donate using Paypal, but Paypal will charge a percentage.