December 22, 2014 at 2:48 p.m.
Animal lovers show support for It Matters to One at 'Home for the Holidays' event
Animal lovers show support for It Matters to One at 'Home for the Holidays' event
By Kayla Thomason-
Canine foster parents, people looking to adopt dogs and other supporters came to support the organization by donating money, food and toys.
"I think (the support is) excellent," said Stef Schneider, founder of It Matters to One. "People are just filing in left and right."
Mandy Ward, Schneider's rescue partner from California, made a special appearance at the event. She said she was amazed by the community's support.
"This is so beautiful, seeing all of the support and love coming out," she said.
Harry Leinus and his wife Cindee are friends of Schneider's. They came to show their support.
"I think a lot of work has gone into this (organization)," Cindy Leinus said. "I think it's a wonderful idea, (Stef has) had great donations, it's been a wonderful turnout. Everybody that you look at has a twinkle in their eye because they all love dogs and you can't find anybody here who is not having fun."
Everyone at the event was smiling, talking about dogs they adopted or fostered through It Matters to One. They shared how grateful they are that the organization exists because without it they wouldn't have found their furry family member and many dogs wouldn't be alive today.
Kim and Eric Adamovich and their children found their newest family member in August.
They discovered the organization through Petfinder and fell in love with Bo, a Shar-Pei vizsla mix.
The Adamovich family has a lot of activities planned for their new pet such as hunting and 4-H agility. They also fight over who gets to take care of Bo.
"I think this (event) is great," Kim Adamovich said. "We all decided this would be a great way to donate to a charity and it was just a Christmasy feel and to have some fun and to support Stef."
They donated dog food and toys, purchased raffle tickets and entered the silent auction.
"We're big fans, we're definitely big fans (of It Matters to One)," Adamovich said.
"It's wonderful, it's great," Harry Leinus said. "(Stef) needs all kinds of help and this is the way to do it (through donations and events), it's a big project."
Some sweet dogs available for adoption made an appearance. Bristol, who is a snuggler; Twinkie, a little happy California girl who wants to say 'hi' to everyone; and tall and muscular Jax - all pitbull mixes - were hoping to steal someones heart and find their forever home.
One of the first dogs Schneider saved -- a chihuahua named Tater Tot -- also made an appearance.
The It Matters to One (IMTO) facility in Sugar Camp has 25 dogs available for adoption and several others in foster care.
Ward has six dogs available, which is low number for her.
She estimates that IMTO has saved 300 to 350 dogs.
"We just got the facility three months ago so those first 250 dogs were with no facility so you just look out, we're just really ready to step it up," Ward said.
In the summer, when the outdoor kennels are open, she expects the facility will be able to hold 60 to 100 dogs.
They still need fencing and plan to hold more benefit events in the near future.
Being from California - a state with an ever growing pet population and not enough homes - Ward is all to aware of the number of dogs euthanized. She said 10,000 dogs a day are euthanized in America.
"Nobody has any idea the amount of dogs they are killing every single day and just throwing them out like trash," Ward said. "Dogs are angels from heaven and I think it's a serious honor to be able to have a part in keeping them alive. They're a total gift to humanity and it's about time people stop treating them like garbage to be discarded."
It's a big task, trying to save as many lives as they can, but Schneider and Ward will not be discouraged. They have a network of people trying to pull pets from shelters, get them healthy and send them to Wisconsin.
"I think it's amazing that you can go to California and bring back home 30 dogs that are going to be put to death and (Stef is) so wonderful that she can save them," Harry Leinus said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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