Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary

Lisa Miskella grew up in Stratford, CT. She has always been an animal lover. As a child, Lisa would often bring home stray or injured animals and care for them and beg her parents to keep them. Growing up she had horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and ducks. Lisa is certified in Goat Husbandry, Animal Communication and Animal Rescue and Transport.

In 2012, Lisa was diagnosed with cancer. This was a life altering situation for her. She realized she wanted her life to be meaningful and matter. She wanted to make a difference and knew immediately that she wanted to work with animals. Soon after, she founded Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary. In October of 2018, the sanctuary rescued its first animals, six goats saved from slaughter.

Lisa also works to show how important the human-animal bond is and how the relationship between people and animals positively influence the health and well-being of both. Her prior experience as a paraprofessional in an elementary school, helps when working with children and teaching compassion for all living creatures with an emphasis on farm animals and environmental stewardship.

Today Lisa is healthy and continues her mission to save farmed animals from abuse, neglect, and abandonment and to provide them a life of sanctuary, free from fear, pain, and suffering. When not in the barns with the animals, Lisa enjoys sharing her time with her four children, Jessica, Kaitlyn, Billy and Abby along with her four grandchildren, Jayden, Madison, Brianna and Kimberlie. We can’t forget her two Newfoundlands Lucy and Sampson and two cats Sassy and Polly.

The Pet Helpers

Pet Helpers was founded in 1978 by Carol Linville, now President of Pet Helpers, after she learned that 8,000 pets were being euthanized each year at local shelters. It began as a weekly “adopt a pet” column. More than 45 years later, that column has grown into Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Veterinary Clinic, one of the foremost animal rescue organizations in South Carolina. Pet Helpers has slowly evolved into a widely recognized and innovative shelter that offers caring solutions to the serious problems created by pet overpopulation.

For 45 years, we have focused on the needs of homeless animals. Through a commitment to quality sheltering and required spay/neuter, we have worked tirelessly to save those animals that are without human guardianship. We service the entire Lowcountry, where we are the only independent adoption shelter and veterinary center of our kind, that is fully-staffed and maintains regular business hours. We answer 20,000 calls a year to provide assistance and information to the public concerning animal issues.

Pet Helpers is preparing to take our next steps- completing our building footprint to increase animal-holding capacity and expand our lifesaving programs. We invite our community supporters to join us as we embark upon the next chapter in our journey.

“We are able to accomplish so much, thanks to the support of the community. We appreciate all of your support as we continue to grow.”

Galgos del Sol

In 2007, Tina Solera, her husband and two young children moved to Spain to escape the infamous British weather. Little did Tina realize, upon moving to Spain, that she would make the decision that would change her life forever. In addition, she changed the lives of thousands of dogs desperately in need of help.

Always an animal lover, Tina could not tolerate the treatment of the Spanish galgos, a traditional hunting dog breed, and decided to devote herself to their rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming. The galgos with their indomitable spirits, needle-noses and spider-legs, completely captured her heart. One galgo rescued, gave way to another and another until it became clear that the Solera household was vastly undersized for the number of dogs that needed help. There were nights that Tina slept in her car with a newly rescued galgo simply because there wasn’t any more room.

With no prior experience in running a non-profit organization, Tina taught herself Spanish language and established Galgos del Sol (GDS), a legal, licensed Spanish charity. With the generous offer of the use of their property, the home of Gaynor and Les Davies become the first site of GDS. Les built the kennels and Gaynor provided care for the dogs. Without their initial help, Tina acknowledges that GDS would not be where it is today. Murcia, the area in which the Soleras reside, is a prolific hunting ground making the demands on GDS relentless. Because of Tina and Team GDS, thousands have been rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed.

Humane Society for Southwest Washington

Founded in 1897, the Humane Society for Southwest Washington is the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Southwest Washington. Each year, HSSW provides thousands of pets with shelter, medical care, behavior support, and a second chance for a happy home. Our commitment to the people and pets of our community extends beyond the shelter, offering Wellness Clinics for the pets of houseless families, pet food assistance, spay & neuter clinics, and other programs that help keep families together.

We also own and operate ReTails Thrift Store – named best of Clark County seven years running! Giving new life to gently-used items, every purchase and donation at ReTails supports our lifesaving work with the animals.