Newton, Iowa. Makenna is a young woman living in Newton, Iowa who really wants to make a difference in the lives of stray animals found in her town.
Specifically, Makenna wants to be able to save the stray animals of Newton, because they currently are shipped off to a kill shelter if nobody comes to claim them after 7 days.
“Ever since I was a little girl I always had my mind set on working with and helping animals in need,” Makenna explained on a GoFundMe page.
Back in 2011, she began volunteering at an animal shelter located in Newton, and she was there for 7 years.
After she graduated high school, she joined the rescue full-time, but after 2 years of working there officially, the shelter sadly got shut down.
According to Makenna, any time a stray animal is now found in Newton, they stay at a local veterinary hospital for 7 days on a hold.
If nobody comes to claim them within the week, they are then sent out of town to a rescue located 40 minutes away that, unfortunately, does put down animals.
“I would love to be able to take in owner surrenders for my county and my goal is to eventually try to take up a contract with my city to do animal control and give those poor stray animals a safe haven until I can find them the perfect home they deserve,” Makenna said.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Makenna
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Her goal is to start as an animal rescue based on fostering until she can raise the money needed to obtain her own building to house her rescue.
Makenna’s first step is acquiring a license that she needs to launch her rescue, which she estimates will be about $75.
Then, Makenna will need to apply to be a 501c3, and that costs $600.
GoFundMe; pictured above Makenna smiles while holding a puppy
“I would also love to be able to get certified in dog training because while I have nearly a decade of experience I don’t have any certification and that would cost another $400,” Makenna continued.
“I’m asking for $5,000 to help not only cover those costs but to help cover other costs such as liability insurance, animal supplies, medical needs for future animals, etc.”
If you would like to help Makenna with her dream of opening an animal rescue and saving animals in need, you can do that here.