Gracie's Project funds shelter and opens thrift store to help pet owners

Animal rescue groups will have to “dig deep” to find new ways to fund overcrowded shelters and foster homes. Inflation and product shortages, not to mention labor shortages, spaying and neutering, and unabandoned pets, have taken fundraising to a whole new level.

One such rescue group, Gracie's Project, not only helps fund the facility, but also takes care of overgrown or unused dog crates, as well as gently used items like bowls and harnesses. We have come up with a creative way to provide a place for pet owners to donate their items. We will sell them at a discounted price for dog owners in need.

A few years ago, Gracie's volunteer Vanissa Brown came up with the idea of ​​opening a thrift store to raise money for the shelter and provide good merchandise for pet owners. “So many people throw away good things,” Brown says. She started collecting dog supplies while doing garage sales and estate sales, and she dreamed of having a place where they could be useful to others. In her research, she found that other cities are also using thrift stores as a means of support.

Brown started working at Gracie's Projects and took her idea to director Loretta Tebiest, who was considering a more centrally located office. She happened upon some vacant storefronts at the West Haven Village Shopping Center on 34th Street in Georgia and her dream became a reality.

Tebiest said the store was previously a dog salon with an office, additional rooms and plumbing equipment in the back that could be used for future projects. Everything went smoothly and a contract was signed to move into the facility. The new store will open on November 11, 2023 and has been successful in hosting special events such as vaccination clinics and recent Valentine's Day photos.

In front of the store, T-shirts and cute dog goods are lined up at discounted prices for dog lovers. “Many of the products are new, while others have been cleaned and sanitized,” Brown said. Inside is another room filled with pet signs, carriers, and other useful items. There are also things of interest to the pairs of guests, such as jewelry and antiques. People can donate items so that their products go to different good homes. Many of the items were discovered when Brown worked at real estate and garage sales, and she cleared out many of the dog and cat items and now has an outlet for them.

Tebeest says low-cost vaccinations (parvo and distemper) and free microchip implants are offered on the second Saturday of each month from 12pm to 3pm. Rabies vaccinations are not available as they must be administered by a veterinarian. Approximately 45 dogs were brought in for the final shot clinic.

“We cannot remain silent,” Tebiest said of the funding. “We hold about four large fundraisers each year, but we also hold other events throughout the year. We try different things and if they don't work, we try something else. Donations always help, but the need always grows as numbers grow. Tebiest said the office receives at least 10 requests a day from people who want to “put down” their dogs or find stray dogs. Her cell phone receives more calls.

The organization's main fundraising events include golf tournaments, bike runs, and now pickleball tournaments, but it's always looking for new ideas and getting support from community-minded businesses. .

Gracie's Project has a large shelter between Canyon and Umberger that houses approximately 250 dogs. Dog food costs alone can cost him as much as $8,000 a month, not to mention expensive vet bills and maintenance costs like utilities. “We used to collect dog food donations, but that is starting to dry up,” Tebiest said.