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“It’s amazing to us that so many people care about us and other dog families and give money to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund to keep sad things from happening. Marlin has made such an impact on our lives, and now so have you. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do without him. Thank you for keeping us from having to find out.”
– Marvin's Mom
Roy LeMaster & Bill Yowler
My husband Bill and I live an environmentally-friendly life. We recycle, have two compost bins and have two rain barrels to use considerably less water so going solar was just the next step for us. Solar is Freedom, the solar company we got our solar panels from, is not only the number one solar company in Ohio, but also a corporate sponsor of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund.
What’s better on a rainy afternoon than perusing your social media and stumbling on a few adorable pet photos? If only some of them were YOUR posts featuring YOUR fur family. Whether you’re using a DSLR camera or a smartphone, taking pics of one pet or several, these suggestions will up your pet photography game! Which ones have you never thought of?
“All the people who give to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund were there to save our boy again. I burst into tears then and I still get teary now thinking about what you did. Petey’s out of the hospital now and he’s back home snuggling. He’s even beginning to look for his ball. THANK YOU for saving my baby! We know down the road his eyes will still need fixing but right now we’re just focused on the fact that our family is still whole!”
– Petey's Mom
13 year old Whitney had longed for a puppy to join her family for a long time. So this past Spring, she did something about it. She spent her Spring Break researching scientific evidence to back her claim that having a pet is beneficial to kids’ development and really to the health of everyone in the family.
“Pebbles is our baby. She’s such a huge part of us. I can’t imagine life without her! I don’t know what our daughter would do if she lost her only friend! Thanks to your supporters we won’t have to go through the heartbreak of not being able to afford properly diagnosing and treating her. Pebbles is strong. Given this opportunity, she’ll do everything she can to stay with us. Thank you for rescuing us from being haunted by “what-ifs”. Thank you for giving Pebbles, and our family, a chance.”
– Pebbles's Mom
Hero Highlight, Tony Ranieri
What do you do in the midst of a pandemic when you hear that a kitty is going to be put to sleep because the family who adores her can’t afford her emergency surgery?
If you’re Tony Ranieri you ask “how much is needed?” and make the donation that saves her life! Tony thought about how often that happens and imagined what it would be like if it was his furry family member. And he said, “my corporation wants to help! Every month we want to help keep a family together by saving their pet’s life.”
Kevin Lively
In 2018, Kevin Lively’s family came home to find their beloved Beauceron, Cheick, disoriented and unresponsive. They were shocked to discover he had a rare calcium deficiency disorder that would have killed him, if not for the generosity of ERDF donors who made it possible for him to remain in the ICU until he was stabilized.
You’ve spent most of the last several months inside, staying warm, and oftentimes not around many other people. Now that Spring is just around the corner maybe you’re starting to think about all the fun activities you want to do with your fur buddies the second the weather breaks. Should you go camping? Shopping? Swimming? Work out? Go to the beach? Take a hike? Have a picnic? Go on a road trip?
If you’ve ever lived with a dog or cat or any pet, you know that blissful feeling of getting home after a stressful day at the office and being greeted by your floof purring loudly or wagging their tail so enthusiastically that their entire body is just along for the ride. Is there really anything better than coming home to your fur kid who’s been waiting for your return all day, and wants to show you nothing but love? I don’t think so!
“Kevin and I struggled while thinking we could not afford to keep Cheick comfortable and full of life; but thanks to some great veterinarians and the donors of Ellie's Rainy Day Fund, we are able to continue making memories and enjoying the love Cheick brings to our home. I can’t tell you how comforting it was to know his medical care was covered. Thank you, thank you, thank you Ellie's Rainy Day Fund!”
– The Lively Family
“I can’t tell you how thankful I am for your help. My paying part and your kind donors paying part has reminded me that I’m not alone. It means so much to know there are people who value fur babies the way I do and who want to help keep those important relationships intact. My kitties are my other children. THANK YOU for keeping my family whole.”
– Ralph's Mom & Sister
“If you donate to ERDF, we want you to know you truly changed our lives. I thought I would have to watch Pepper die on our kitchen floor. Instead, I was reminded that even in hard times, there are people out there with hearts of gold. We are forever grateful. God Bless you all!”
– Pepper & T’Challa's Mom
“When the physical therapist said Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to help, I started bawling like a baby. It’s been such a tough year. It’s good to know there are still caring people in the world. People who give a little because they want to be involved. It takes everyone to help this world be a better place.”
– Milo's Dad
“I lost my Mom last Mother’s Day. She adored Scarlet! Now when Scarlet cuddles me or stays by my side, it feels like it’s a part of my Mom still with me. We’re just so grateful that you’re giving Scarlet back some quality of life. Thank you for saving my daughter’s and our other dog’s best friend. Thank you to everyone that donates for keeping our family whole.”
– Scarlet's Mom
If you’ve ever lived with a dog or cat or any pet, you know that blissful feeling of getting home after a stressful day at the office and being greeted by your floof purring loudly or wagging their tail so enthusiastically that their entire body is just along for the ride. Is there really anything better than coming home to your fur kid who’s been waiting for your return all day, and wants to show you nothing but love? I don’t think so!
It’s early on a Thursday morning and you’re drinking your coffee, reading the news, about to wake the kids, and suddenly you hear the phone ring. It’s the call you’ve been dreading, it’s the vet. They’re calling to tell you that they’ve gotten your pet’s test results back and have diagnosed Fluffy with cancer. Your heart sinks.
“Thankfully, our vet partners with Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. They saved my girl, my first baby! My husband, son & the rest of our pack couldn’t be more thankful for the work that ERDF & those that donate to it, do for families just like us. The relief you provided for us has felt like a dream! Everyone of you who gives to this fund is a huge blessing to us!”
– Zara's Mom
“We were able to keep our sweet boy—in the midst of my being furloughed and my son’s hours being cut due to COVID-- because people give money to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund to help keep families like ours together. I can’t begin to express what that has meant to me. I just lost my Dad in March, and my Father-In-Law late last year. Family means everything to me. Thank you so much for preventing tragedy and giving us more years of love.”
– Link's Mom
“We were all so terrified we were going to lose him. We’re so thrilled to have him home. We can’t thank you enough. I can’t believe other people care about us enough to help us get Buddy’s treatment. Thanks to you and your supporters, our family is whole, and our hearts are full!”
– Buddy's Dad, Sister & Grandsister
“When Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund made his surgery possible, I was beyond grateful. I would’ve lost him. I couldn’t have done it by myself. And now with being furloughed not only am I thankful from a financial standpoint but also because rather than facing this with a grieving heart, I’m getting through it with snuggles from my baby boy.”
– Hemi's Mom
“I’ve often told my family that when I bury Sophie, they’re going to have to bury me with her. I just can’t imagine living without her. Because of ERDF I don’t have to. Sophie was able to get the immediate care she needed and I know we will be able to share many more years of joy and cuddling. Thank you to every one of you that donates to help make that possible.”
– Sophie's Mom
“I did not know what to do, but I continued to pray and to save any little bit of extra money I could. Then our vet contacted Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, the answer to my prayers. Currently we are in the middle of testing to see what can be done for our girl. No matter how this all turns out, I could not be more grateful for the BLESSING of just simply having the hope that’s being provided by all of you who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund.”
– Bella's Mom
“Brody has his whole life ahead of him! The specialist said he could fix him up so that he could move as well as before. But it looked like finances were going to stand in the way of that happening. I cried with joy when I found out that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to help to make my boy whole again. He means everything to us and we just want to tell you we’ll be forever grateful that you saved him from a life of immobility and pain.”
– Brody's Mom
“Eddie is my company, my comfort, and my friend. He is the only family I have left. The best days are “super snuggle Saturdays” when I hold him against my chest while relaxing on the couch and we nap or watch TV. Without Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, Eddie’s quality of life would’ve been compromised and I might have had to face the isolation of my permanent disability without him.”
– Eddie's Mom
“When the ER vet told us that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund would help, a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders. Our sweet angel wasn’t going to wonder what happened yet again. We get to be there for her just the way we desperately wanted to. My husband is back to sitting on the couch so he doesn’t disturb Zoey who’s all curled up in his recliner. I’m back to having my lap completely covered and my face thoroughly “washed”. My sons are back to having 45 pounds of wagging flesh to romp with. Thanks to you our family is still whole.”
– Lindsey, Zoey's Mom
“My girl is back thanks to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. She is back to being the social butterfly that goes to greet everyone. (You know, she would lick a burglar to death if one broke in J). She is back to howling with the tornado sirens and asking me to scratch her floppy ears. If you’re a supporter of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, thank you for returning Lola’s quality of life and for keeping us able to be the playful, cuddly dog family that every day brings us all joy.”
– Lola's Dad
What if you were living the life of your dreams? You used to be lonely but NOW your favorite people are always around and they’re paying lots of attention to you! OR, what if your nice quiet home has been invaded and you feel like you never get your quiet time alone? Either way, in our fur kids’ lives things are about to drastically change.
“We were at an end in being able to get care for my baby and then you came out of nowhere, giving us back our kitty’s life. When they brought him to me after four days of being apart, he gingerly crawled up on my shoulder and tucked his head under my chin. When he does that now at home, with his baby clothes on to protect his incision, and that silly cone around his neck, I still cry realizing how grateful I am to have all my family together as we weather all the changes in our lives. ”
– Teioh's Mom
“We were terrified when Baron was struggling to breathe. We rushed to get him help but we also knew we are facing huge medical bills for my husband and we were worried we couldn’t afford to save our baby. I was scared that if he lost Baron, my husband would lose his will to keep fighting his cancer. You can’t imagine what it was like to find out Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was going to pay Baron’s bills. It felt like an angel came down from heaven. We can never thank you enough for keeping our family whole.”
– Baron's Mom
Sometimes the way our pets give and receive love can be different than with humans. You might think that the best way to your pup’s or kitty’s heart is through their stomach (and you’re not necessarily wrong), but a little too much love in that way is going to have them packing on the pounds quickly!
“Parker was suffering. I want to give my animals everything I can, but I have a limited income. It was unbelievable to me when Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund said they would help. I was speechless. I just cried from joy. I had never even heard of this fund and here they are helping me out in time of need. I can’t thank the supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund enough for what they did for my sweet precious Parker. Thank you for giving me back my comfort, my baby. I appreciate it more than words can say.”
– Parker's Mom
“I will be forever grateful for the nurses and doctors that helped my kitty survive, but they wouldn’t have been able to do it without the generosity of all the people who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. They gave us part of our family back, and made our family’s tragedy much less tragic. I will never forget what they did for us. Many miracles had to happen for Ninja to survive. Thank you everyone!”
– Misty, Sean, Rylan & Jagger
Pat Smith
We’d like to introduce you to Pat Smith, a resident of Cleveland who grew up here in Dayton. She’s a big time cat lover who knows firsthand the power of the bond we build with our furry family members.
Pat recently changed her giving status and became a supporter through our Faithful Friends program. Faithful Friends offers you the opportunity to set up monthly giving as an easy, budget-friendly way to keep families together by saving their pets.
“I cannot express how much Eliie’s Rainy Day Fund’s support meant to me and still can't, but knowing she would have a chance made my world seem more bearable. It was touch and go for a few days but with the wonderful care she received thanks to you she and I are together again. And yes, she is once again extremely exuberant! Thank You Ellie’s!!!”
– Smiley's Mom
“We love our sweet, tiny Dash. We didn’t hesitate to spend the funds to get him emergency treatment. But we were in a spot when he obstructed again and we had run out of funds. It would’ve been devastating to be forced to stop treatment now. Thank you for helping to save our boy. You have kept our family together.”
– Dash's Family
“My Cosmo is everything to me. I’d do anything for him but on my limited income, I couldn’t make money appear. Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund was the answer to my prayers. I am humbled to have been helped to keep our family together. I can’t believe that strangers give money to help people like me in our time of need. If I’d lost Cosmo it would have felt like losing my son all over again. You are such a blessing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
– Cosmo's Mom
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It’s been a busy month for folks who enjoyed celebrating their birthdays by raising money to keep families together by saving their pets’ lives! THANK YOU to Sarah, Jean & Kris for doing Facebook Fundraisers on your birthdays. Your hearts are amazing!
BorealisPress.net
We’d like to give a shout out to the animal lovers who run borealispress.net.
If you’ve never seen their lines of cards, you’re missing out! To me, they strike just the right balance of simple, meaningful, and profound.
I reached out to them to let them know how much they mean to our recipients whose furry family members cross the rainbow bridge. They responded by providing us with a stock of pet sympathy cards!
“There was no way we could have brought Charlie home if it wasn’t for the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. Charlie provides so much comfort and joy in our family that we would have never been able to replace. We are so grateful we get to continue to witness and be a part of all his lovable quirks and antics. Thank you, Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, for saving our family. You will forever be one of the biggest blessings that our family has ever received.”
– Charlie's Mom
“I can’t thank you enough for helping me and my baby girl. My recovery is challenging but lying with Fancy Mae leaning against me makes it so much easier. My husband and I have helped others in their times of need. It’s very unexpected to be on the other side and for our family to need or receive all this help. I will be forever grateful. Thank you from Fancy Mae and from our whole family.”
– Fancy Mae's Mom
“I am so incredibly grateful for Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. I felt so helpless…knowing she needed treatment, but I couldn’t pay. It was such a horrible feeling. It felt like there was nothing I could do to stop this from possibly killing her. I just don’t know how to thank you enough. Animals are our hearts. Thank you for saving mine.”
– Trey's Dad
Camilla Ferguson
We offer our gratitude to two amazing individuals. The first we don’t even know. But we want to say a huge thank you to the anonymous donor who gave ERDF $15,000 through the Charity Navigator website. Your generosity has resulted in keeping eight families together by saving their pets’ lives!
The Staff at Bigger Road Veterinary Center
Please join us in sharing some love for the staff at Bigger Road Veterinary Center, most of whom have chosen to designate Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund to receive the benefits of their purchases on Amazon Smile.
Beth Anticoli from Bigger Road says “I use Amazon Smile for Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, because it is an easy, convenient way for a percentage of my purchase amount to go back to a charity that is close to my heart. Every penny makes a difference in the lives of pets that need it the most.”
“Without the supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, Woody would have lost his leg…and then when the other one went, his life. You are all such a huge blessing. How can I express what this means to our family? We are forever grateful for your keeping our family together and we intend to do whatever we can to help you help the next family as well.”
– Woody's Mom
Alan & Tammy Collins
This month we’d like to say a HUGE thank you to Alan & Tammy Collins for their faithful financial support. They were one of our first monthly donors, making it possible for us to KNOW we can count on having the funds available to help save the lives of companion animals like Lily.
Kerry Corthell
A BIG shout out to ERDF volunteer Kerry Corthell who says:
“I don’t have a lot of money to give to non-profits, so I like to make my dollars count. I love supporting Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund because I know how important my dog is to me and cannot imagine having to say no to critical vet procedures because I could not afford the fees. So, buying Dragons tickets in support of the fund and giving them to foster parents and their kids gives me a bigger bang for my bucks. I have great respect for anyone who fosters – what a hard job! Just knowing I am doing two good things in one action makes me feel like I am doing my little part to make this world a tiny bit better. Hey, anyone else care to join me in buying a block of tickets?”
“Thanks to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, Lily has had the opportunity to recover like a champ. She’s back to being the hit of the neighborhood and the center of our family. We wouldn’t have her without you. We can’t ever express the depth of our gratitude. We experienced the worst of humanity and the best of humanity all in one day.”
– Lily's Mom
Article courtesy of Vetstreet.com.
We’ve all been there… your pet seems fine, and then all of a sudden, a new lumpy, bumpy mass pops up on his body, seemingly overnight. Should you be worried?
“My daughter and I couldn’t imagine our family without Kitty! She’s such an anchor of calm and source of unconditional love. So when the vet told us that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund would pay for her surgery, we couldn’t believe that our baby would be saved—that our family would still be together! Everyone involved with Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund is a blessing! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
– Purrsephone's Mom
“There is no way we would still have our baby without the support of everyone at Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. Losing Lucy would have been such a weight on my daughter’s heart and such a terrible way to start our new married life. Thank you for making it possible to feel the joy of our girl as part of our family again.”
– Lucy's Family
Travis & Michael Wheeler
This month we give a shout out to Travis & Michael Wheeler who celebrated their wedding by donating to ERDF in lieu of giving favors at their reception.
The placards adorning each table celebrating their big day read, “Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund celebrates the love Michael & Travis have for each other ! for their departed fur baby, Mona the Superdog. Their donation in lieu of table favors makes them and all of you in attendance heroes by keeping families together as you save their pets’ lives.”
Hayley Botkin
We want to thank Hayley Botkin for doing a Facebook fundraiser for Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund in memory of her beloved miniature dachshund, Phoebe. She was a hound dog through and through, chasing every yard intruder out with fury. But her sweet, soulful eyes and snuggly demeanor won over everyone she encountered. She brought her family endless laughter and joy, and was especially close to her litter mate brother, Zeke, who is still wondering where his lifelong playmate and security blanket went.
Phoebe recently died after a 7-month battle with Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), a devastating autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. It is an extremely complicated, merciless and costly disease to treat, often requiring hospitalization, extensive lab work, blood transfusions and costly medications.
“Even though it was a tremendous hardship and the outcome was not what we so hoped for, I am very grateful that we were able to make the choice to give her the best chance possible to beat this disease. Many families faced with critical diagnoses like IMHA have to make the alternate choice to immediately euthanize their beloved pet as initial treatment costs are high. Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund strives to prevent families from being forced into that decision. We feel compelled to help other families to stay together through saving their pets’ lives as an ongoing way to honor and remember Phoebe.”
For more information on IMHA, visit:
Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: Management Challenges
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Dogs (IMHA) Facebook Group
Photo caption (if needed): Moira and her beloved canine sister, Phoebe, after undergoing spleen removal surgery, which is sometimes a treatment option for IMHA.
Paul Moyer
What a wonderful way to celebrate turning 50! To KNOW that you have helped a family to get the emergency treatment needed to keep their beloved dog in their family. We want to offer our sincere thanks to Paul Moyer who asked that in lieu of gifts, his family and friends make donations to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund.
If you’re like most people, you’re not excited about going to the dentist. You probably figure your pet won’t be either. Maybe you think you don’t need to worry about their teeth unless they start drooling or cocking their head when eating. Sadly, by then your fur baby is almost certainly in pain… maybe worse.
Travis & Michael Wheeler
This month we give a shout out to Travis & Michael Wheeler who celebrated their wedding by donating to ERDF in lieu of giving favors at their reception.
The placards adorning each table celebrating their big day read, “Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund celebrates the love Michael & Travis have for each other ! for their departed fur baby, Mona the Superdog. Their donation in lieu of table favors makes them and all of you in attendance heroes by keeping families together as you save their pets’ lives.”
“You can’t imagine the relief and the gratitude we felt when we were told that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund would help. We’d never heard of you. But here you were about to save our boy. We’ve never had anything like this happen before. We all cried. Thank you for keeping our family together!”
– Bubba's Mom
“If it were not for your contributors and your fund, Colby would not have gotten a second chance at life. The work that you do is so valuable to not only the pets, but to the families that love and care for them. We truly believe that pets are part of the family, and the caring people who support Ellie’s Rainy Day fund have gifted us the opportunity to spend many more years with our dog sibling!”
– The Riazzi Family
There are SO many ways to help Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund to keep families together by saving their pets’ lives. Linda Stephens has been involved in almost ALL of them! She has spent hours tying ribbons for our Holiday Paw Painting Ornaments, faithfully liking and sharing our Facebook posts to keep getting the word out, reading and providing feedback on our newsletters, addressing mail to donors, attending and volunteering at events by greeting people as they arrive. And the list goes on. When asked why she’s chosen to gift ERDF with her time and many talents, this is what she said…
For people that have grown up with pets in their homes, you know how truly special our companions can be for us. The bond between us is something unique, and while some people may poke fun at our “obsession” with our pets, for many of us it enriches our lives beyond compare. Pets are cherished members of our families! They provide us with so many great benefits, both within the family and beyond.
“I cannot express how thankful we were! You gave Joy some comfort. You took a weight off my shoulders. You gave Sabby the chance to stay with his Mom. I would like to thank every contributor of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund for your time, care, dedication & the resources that make this possible. That is true Love!!”
– Sabastian's Other Mom
Kris Sees contacted ERDF three years ago when we were just getting started. She said she loved what we were doing for pets and wanted to help however she could. We officially had our first volunteer! Here are just some of the ways Kris has helped us since then.
A HUGE thank you and wishes for the happiest of birthdays this September to: Monica Sakamoto, Megan Furderer, Christine Lilly, and Margaret Sorg who created Facebook fundraisers to invite their friends to help them celebrate by supporting their love for companion animals.
We’d like to give a big shout out to the members of the Dayton Kennel Club, who recently made a $1,000 contribution to help area dogs regain their health. , said
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Miami Valley’s dogs, and for entrusting us to support that mission!