“I got to take Milo on his first hike today with Jessica Cole after surviving over 100 days in the shelter and facing red list euthanasia. What a blessing for Frost Fund to be a part of this special boy’s journey. I can’t imagine him not being here to enjoy the fresh air and the smells on the trail today. All because we humans were not able to give him a chance at the life he and all animals deserve. There is no doubt he needs guidance and time to decompress.

Wouldn’t you after spending 100+ days in a cage?

I can’t even imagine all he is feeling, thinking, and unsure of. Milo was scared to get in a car when we left the shelter and today when we picked him up. He gets frightened at noises we wouldn’t think twice about and is so eager to give and receive love. At the same time, he carries with him traumas and fears I and we will never know about or fully understand. None of this is his fault. I just want anyone reading this to know that animals in shelters – cats and dogs – are literally fighting for their lives against insane odds. Especially in California.

While you see the few Frost Fund advocates for, there are hundreds of others every day on red lists in shelters all across the state. Please – this isn’t always the shelter’s fault. This also isn’t a battle they can fight on their own.

It’s going to take all of us stepping up to give these animals the grace and the chance they deserve. To spay and neuter. To stop paying backyard breeders thousands when there are thousands being euthanized each year. It’s so easy to look away and make excuses.

But I promise you – we can all play a role in this.

Adopt, foster, volunteer to walk dogs/play with cats at shelters who sometimes don’t get out of their kennels even just once a day, donate to groups like Frost Fund who operate entirely off of your support.

What we can do is directly related to what financial resources are shared with us. Tell people about the shelter crisis – many just don’t know. And pray for these animals and that the country we live in would continue to improve its animal welfare laws, resources, and expectations. This problem is going to take all of us doing what we can” – Frost Fund CEO, Brittnei Schaeffler

Venmo: @frost_fund

Zelle/paypal: teamfrostfund@gmail.com

Website: https://frostfund.org/donations/