Guest post by Susan Burk – SVPS Co-Founder and President
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Dorie Ross and I decided to combine our efforts and start our nonprofit, Sno Valley Pet Services.
Sno Valley Pet Services is dedicated to supporting pets and their owners in need throughout our community by providing food assistance and rescuing vulnerable animals. Dorie had been running the pet food bank for 10 years, and I’ve been involved in rescue for 35+ years, so it only made sense that we team up. I don’t think anyone was happier about us starting a rescue than the Regional Animal Services of King County. After years of bringing animals in, I was finally taking some of them back.
There have been some struggles, but we are truly proud of our accomplishments. Over the past year, we have helped rescue and rehome stray dogs and kittens and provided over 12 tons of pet food to families in need.
This year, the need for pet food bank support has increased, and the distribution we receive is less, so we’re purchasing more food than ever before. We are grateful to our community partners for their generosity.
Pet Place Market and Ace, both in North Bend, as well as Love Bug Pet Boutique in Snoqualmie, have all been incredibly generous in offering space for donation drop-offs. We are now putting out cash donation boxes at Love Bug and Pet Place Market, and money donated at those locations will be spent there. We want to support the small businesses that support us.
In addition to our food assistance efforts, we have also focused on rescuing animals facing urgent circumstances. We’ve dedicated much of our effort to the harder cases—those that don’t do well in a shelter environment or have medical needs.
Some of our most memorable cases include the Tokul 5—a group of German Shepherds found dumped in horrific condition. Batman, a Malinois/German Shepherd mix, and Robin, a German Shepherd mix, were dumped in Snoqualmie Point Park. Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of Rottweilers, were dumped on I-90 at Tinkham Rd. These were all dogs who couldn’t go into a new home right away.
First, they received essential veterinary care from the amazing staff at Salish Veterinary. Next, our incredible foster volunteers provided time, patience, and kindness to help the dogs adjust and heal.
For some, additional training was needed, which Woods Creek Kennels in Monroe expertly provided, helping them become confident, well-behaved, and ready to join a loving family. Thanks to this dedicated support, many of our dogs have overcome their fears, learned new skills, and are now thriving in warm, caring homes.
All five of the Tokul dogs are now in fantastic homes. Batman, Robin, Bonnie, and Clyde are all ready for new homes and available for adoption. We also have Arthur, a new addition to our rescue, who was dumped on a highway. He’s been one of our easiest rescues to date, only needing vetting before being put up for adoption.
None of this would be possible without donations. We understand finances are tighter for many people, but know that no donation amount is too small. These combined efforts enable us to maintain and advance our ongoing operations.
Thank you,
Susan
Editor’s note: As we head into Giving Tuesday, I hope you’ll consider supporting Sno Valley Pet Services and the many small, volunteer-driven organizations that keep our community strong. Local nonprofits like this one step in quietly every day to meet real needs, help families, and care for the animals and neighbors who rely on them. Any amount truly makes a difference, and your support helps keep these vital services rooted right here in the Snoqualmie Valley.
