Go to Page 7 below to read the feature on Rescued Hearts Unique Boutique.
Rescued Hearts Unique Boutique is no ordinary thrift store.
It’s a non-profit, all-volunteer thrift store with great buys on donated clothing, household goods, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, and pet supplies. But that’s just the beginning.
After nearly two years, Rescued Hearts, 3314 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., is continuing its mission to raise funds for local animal rescue and welfare groups. Visit the Rescued Hearts Facebook page for information on upcoming events and fundraisers. Here’s a look at some of Rescued Hearts’ most successful projects in 2014:
ADOPTION FAIRS
One of Rescued Hearts’ favorite projects is hosting adoption fairs. The boutique partners with organizations like Lucky Dog Rescue, BeALuckyDog.com/Rescue, and Pals Forever Animal Rescue, PalsForever.org, to find forever homes for local dogs. Dozens of dogs have found homes through a meeting at Rescued Hearts. The boutique has also hosted adoptable kittens from Happy Cats Haven, HappyCatsHaven.org.
DOG FOOD DRIVES
Rescued Hearts hosts dog food drives for organizations like Blue Lion Rescue, BlueLionRescue.org, which rescues large breed dogs and serves up about 9,000 pounds of kibble each month. Bon Pet Supply, 2312 N. Wahsatch Ave., Republic of Paws, 2411 W. Colorado Ave., and Mike’s Natural Pet Market, 3618 Jeannine Dr., have donated food for this drive.
The boutique has great connections around the county and helped Majestic Canine Rescue, MajesticCanineRescue.squarespace.com, deliver a truckload of cat food to Look What the Cat Brought In, LookWhatTheCatBroughtIn.org, a local feline shelter.
The organization worked with Denver musician Joe Zamora – now in Nashville – to run a successful canned food drive for Breeder Release Adoption Service, a mill dog rescue group. Zamora collected food and cash donations during his performances and doubled the amount the boutique was able to collect. Mike’s Natural Pet Market then sold Rescued Hearts canned food at cost, stretching cash donations even further. The rescue group was able to feed dozens of dogs for an entire month.
LOW-COST VACCINATIONS
Rescued Hearts partners with Dr. Amy Neidig of Healthy Companions Preventative Pet Care, 5310 Montebello Ln., to offer low-cost vaccination clinics in the store, along with microchipping, licensing and blood tests. There is no exam fee, and Dr. Neidig supplies Rescued Hearts with vouchers for the same services at her clinic, also without an exam fee.
Dr. Neidig offers antibody titer testing to determine whether your pet requires a vaccine. Antibody titer testing is not widely known by pet owners, so Dr. Neidig offers classes at Rescued Hearts to help pet owners understand how it can help their pets.
Instructor Cheryl Maxfield leads a “Make and Take: Essential Oils for Pets” class at Rescued Hearts. Maxfield uses primarily DoTerra oil, and for a small fee, she can show you how to custom blend oils and sprays for your pets, from calming essences to products that soothe irritated skin. Attendees take home at least two products they have created themselves to help their pets.
GROUP OF THE MONTH
Each month, Rescued Hearts selects a group of the month, and the group receives a grant at the month’s end. For December, Rescued Hearts involved invited its customers to vote on their favorite local group – All Breed Rescue & Training was selected as the winner. Learn more about All Breed at HaveANiceDog.org.
Rescued Hearts also distributes multiple awards quarterly and supports groups in the Indy Gives! Campaign. Donations are also raised online at Rescued-Hearts.org. In 2014, it added Chihuahua and Small Dog Rescue, Chihuahua-SmallDogRescue.org, and Safe Place for Pets, SafePlacePets.org, to the roster of about 20 benefiting organizations.
SHOP, DONATE, VOLUNTEER
Most Rescued Hearts merchandise is donated, but some products are purchased new, like pet supplies and gift-type items. Browse the collection of leashes, collars and harnesses, including Denver’s professional football team merchandise. Do you like to hike with your dog? Rescued Hearts sells collapsible water dishes, along with a variety of treats and chew toys. None of its edibles are made in China.
The boutique also has products for your feline friends, including outdoor screen enclosures so cats can safely enjoy the yard. Rescued Hearts also sells herbs like basil and cilantro, grown by the store’s newest board member, Megan Byers. The store also plans to sell aloe plants over the winter.
Be sure to bring in your donations for a tax receipt, or consider volunteering if you want to get more involved. Rescued Hearts recruits volunteers who can commit to at least one three-four hour shift weekly. Retail and/or rescue experience is a plus, but not a must to help out at Rescued Hearts Unique Boutique.
Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.
Soon an elderly dog came into view…head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.
But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing for what he was waiting.
One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, “Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.” The dog asked the cat, “So what will happen to those animals?” Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, “Watch, and you will see.”
In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm, and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug.
One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, “What just happened?” The cat responded, “That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn’t place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”
The dog thought for a moment, then said, “I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, “So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven.”
This builds onto the classic Rainbow Bridge story.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
— Author unknown
