Today, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue welcomed our 23,000th rescue since our founding in 2009.

Twenty-three thousand dogs and cats. That’s a number we’re incredibly proud of, but if we’re being honest, it’s also a little hard to celebrate. While 23,000 lives saved is an amazing milestone, it’s impossible not to think about why organizations like ours are still needed. After all these years, the shelters are still full. The calls for help keep coming. The need hasn’t gone away. Our 23,000th rescue is Maizy Novella, a 9-year-old long-haired Dachshund who arrived at a shelter struggling to urinate. Shelter staff suspected bladder stones, and they were right. We rushed her to surgery, and the amount of stones removed from her tiny body was shocking. While she was under anesthesia, Maizy also received a dental cleaning and several extractions. We can only imagine how much better she must be feeling tonight. Maizy may be number 23,000, but she represents every animal who came before her and every animal who will need us in the future. She represents every foster who opened their home, every volunteer who gave their time, every adopter who said yes, every veterinarian who helped, and every donor who made it possible for us to keep saying yes. If you’d like to help us celebrate this milestone, please consider making a donation through the donate button here or on our website. Give in honor of Maizy Novella. Give in honor of one of the many dogs or cats who has touched your heart over the years. Or give for the next one who will need us, because we know they’re coming.