Sunny and his Upstate Therapy Dog friends (Murphy and Hope) volunteering at the Greenville Memorial Hospital on Christmas week.
'Tis the season of giving thanks, showing appreciation and helping those in need.
Thank you for supporting Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in 2025. Through your support and purchases (ex. nutrition consultation, bike fit, private or group camp, Trimarni gear, etc.) we are able to support animal rescues. You are making a difference in our lives and in the lives of our furry friends and we are extremely grateful.
Why Animal Rescues and Shelters Matter—and How You Can Help Save Lives
Every year, millions of animals end up in shelters and rescue organizations due to abandonment, neglect, abuse, or circumstances beyond their owners’ control. Animal rescues and shelters serve as a critical safety net, offering protection, shelter, medical care, and a second chance at life. However, these organizations cannot succeed without the help of donations, fostering, and rescuing.
If you were wondering the difference between an animal rescue and an animal shelter, both provide temporary housing and safe place for animals. Animal shelters are often funded by the government (town, city or state level) while animal rescues are funded by donations, their own money and private individuals. In a shelter, you'll find animals in kennels, while rescues are often run out of private homes or buildings.
A big difference between shelters and rescues is that shelters often have a capacity (and limitations) for how many animals they can care for at once and the resources available. Because public and government run shelters are mandated by law to accept all pet surrenders and stray animals brought in by the public.
As a result, many states (ex. Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama) in the United States need to euthanize dogs and cats due to overcrowding at shelters. Overcrowding is often due to breeding (there are 2000+ federally licensed dog breeders and over 10,000 puppy mills - inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities), owners surrendering/giving up their pets, strays, economic factors and not spaying or neutering. The reality is that there are more and more kittens and puppies coming into an overcrowded space, where millions of young, adult and senior animals are in need of homes - there are already 6.3 million animals in shelters nationwide. Sadly, every year almost a million shelter animals are euthanized (from puppies and kittens to seniors, to muts and pure-breds).
Shelters work with rescue groups to help with overcrowding. When you see a plea from a shelter asking for urgent fosters, stay-cations or adoptions, this means that the shelter is overcrowded and must remove animals from kennels to free up space for new intakes (remember - they are required to take in surrenders and strays). Rescues work with shelters to help save animals from euthanasia and to improve the chances that the animals can find a forever (or foster) home. Sunny's shelter is one of many that struggles with overcrowding due to too many intakes and not enough fosters and adoptions.
The Role of Animal Rescues and Shelters
Animal shelters and rescues work tirelessly to care for homeless pets. They provide food, clean shelter, medical treatment, behavioral support, and love to animals who may have never known kindness before. Many animals arrive injured, sick, frightened, or traumatized. Dedicated staff members and volunteers step in to rehabilitate them, often with limited resources.
Why Donations Are So Important
Donations directly save lives. Funds go toward vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, emergency medical procedures, food, bedding, and facility maintenance. A single medical emergency can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and without donations, many animals would not receive the care they desperately need.
Monetary donations aren’t the only way to help. Supplies such as food, newspapers, blankets, toys, cleaning products, and medications are always in demand. For example, many senior dogs (or dogs with medical conditions) need doggy diapers. After Campy passed away, we donated his unused packages of diapers to rescues who work with senior dogs. Every dollar and donation helps.
The Power of Fostering
Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to help animals in need. Foster homes provide temporary care for animals until they are adopted, freeing up space in shelters and reducing stress on the animals. This is especially crucial for puppies, kittens, senior animals, and those recovering from illness or injury.
In a foster home or during a stay-cation, animals can learn basic social skills, build trust, and show their true personalities—making them more adoptable. Fostering also saves lives by preventing overcrowding, which is one of the leading causes of euthanasia in shelters. For those unable to adopt permanently, fostering offers a rewarding way to make a difference without a lifelong commitment.
Why Adopting and Rescuing Matters
Choosing to adopt instead of buying from breeders helps break the cycle of overpopulation and neglect. When you rescue an animal, you’re not just saving one life—you’re creating space for another animal in need. Many shelter animals are already trained, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, making adoption both compassionate and practical.
Rescue animals often form deep bonds with their adopters. Despite their difficult beginnings, they are capable of immense love, loyalty, and gratitude. Adopting sends a powerful message that animals are not disposable and that every life has value.
How You Can Make a Difference
You don’t need to be wealthy or have a large home to help. Whether it’s donating a small amount, fostering for a few weeks, volunteering your time, doing a stay-cation or choosing adoption, every action counts.
Final Remarks
Animal rescues and shelters stand on the front lines of compassion, fighting every day to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Donations keep their doors open, fostering saves lives by easing overcrowding, and rescuing gives animals the loving homes they deserve. By supporting these efforts, we help create a more humane world—one animal at a time.
Thank you for supporting Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in 2025. Through your support and purchases (ex. nutrition consultation, bike fit, private or group camp, Trimarni gear, etc.) we are able to support animal rescues. You are making a difference in our lives and in the lives of our furry friends and we are extremely grateful.
Our first donation in 2018
Since our first donation to the Greenville Humane Society in 2018, we have donated $6497 to a variety of animal rescues.
This year we are donating $500 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control. This shelter is near and dear to our heart because Sunny was taken to this high-kill shelter after he was found abandoned in an apartment. This shelter is constantly at a crisis-level due to severe overcrowding. As a result, the shelter is urgently seeking adopters, fosters, or participants in its short-term ‘Staycation’ program to alleviate overcrowding and prevent the possibility of euthanasia.
We love Sunny so much and couldn't imagine our life without him.
We also donated $250 to Greenville County Animal Care. They are the largest open-admission animal facility in South Carolina with a care capacity of approximately 400 dogs and cats. They also operate the largest state-of-the-art spay/neuter clinic in SC, capable of performing up to 10,000 high quality spay/neuter surgeries each year. 90% of the surgeries our veterinarians perform are done at no cost to the community thanks to targeted grants and because of donors like you. In 2024, this shelter took in 6327 cats and 4460 dogs.
Why Animal Rescues and Shelters Matter—and How You Can Help Save Lives
Every year, millions of animals end up in shelters and rescue organizations due to abandonment, neglect, abuse, or circumstances beyond their owners’ control. Animal rescues and shelters serve as a critical safety net, offering protection, shelter, medical care, and a second chance at life. However, these organizations cannot succeed without the help of donations, fostering, and rescuing.
What's The Difference Between a Rescue and Shelter?
A big difference between shelters and rescues is that shelters often have a capacity (and limitations) for how many animals they can care for at once and the resources available. Because public and government run shelters are mandated by law to accept all pet surrenders and stray animals brought in by the public.
As a result, many states (ex. Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida and Alabama) in the United States need to euthanize dogs and cats due to overcrowding at shelters. Overcrowding is often due to breeding (there are 2000+ federally licensed dog breeders and over 10,000 puppy mills - inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities), owners surrendering/giving up their pets, strays, economic factors and not spaying or neutering. The reality is that there are more and more kittens and puppies coming into an overcrowded space, where millions of young, adult and senior animals are in need of homes - there are already 6.3 million animals in shelters nationwide. Sadly, every year almost a million shelter animals are euthanized (from puppies and kittens to seniors, to muts and pure-breds).
Shelters work with rescue groups to help with overcrowding. When you see a plea from a shelter asking for urgent fosters, stay-cations or adoptions, this means that the shelter is overcrowded and must remove animals from kennels to free up space for new intakes (remember - they are required to take in surrenders and strays). Rescues work with shelters to help save animals from euthanasia and to improve the chances that the animals can find a forever (or foster) home. Sunny's shelter is one of many that struggles with overcrowding due to too many intakes and not enough fosters and adoptions.
The Role of Animal Rescues and Shelters
Animal shelters and rescues work tirelessly to care for homeless pets. They provide food, clean shelter, medical treatment, behavioral support, and love to animals who may have never known kindness before. Many animals arrive injured, sick, frightened, or traumatized. Dedicated staff members and volunteers step in to rehabilitate them, often with limited resources.
Sunny became very anxious and reactive to other dogs after we adopted him. We did a lot of obedience training with Sunny to help him grow his confidence and to develop trust in the world around him. He is now a sweet, loving, funny and happy dog who is thriving in life as a certified therapy dog.
When a dog is abused, abandoned, or neglected, it is never the dog’s fault that it becomes scared or fearful. Fearful behavior is a natural response to trauma, not a sign of aggression or a “bad” personality. Dogs who have experienced hardship often act defensively because they are trying to protect themselves after learning that the world can be unsafe. With patience, routine, consistency, and compassion, many of these dogs are able to heal, rebuild trust, and show the loving, joyful nature that was always there. Understanding this helps us respond with empathy rather than judgment and gives these animals the second chance they deserve.
Why Donations Are So Important
Donations directly save lives. Funds go toward vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, emergency medical procedures, food, bedding, and facility maintenance. A single medical emergency can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and without donations, many animals would not receive the care they desperately need.
Monetary donations aren’t the only way to help. Supplies such as food, newspapers, blankets, toys, cleaning products, and medications are always in demand. For example, many senior dogs (or dogs with medical conditions) need doggy diapers. After Campy passed away, we donated his unused packages of diapers to rescues who work with senior dogs. Every dollar and donation helps.
The Power of Fostering
Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to help animals in need. Foster homes provide temporary care for animals until they are adopted, freeing up space in shelters and reducing stress on the animals. This is especially crucial for puppies, kittens, senior animals, and those recovering from illness or injury.
In a foster home or during a stay-cation, animals can learn basic social skills, build trust, and show their true personalities—making them more adoptable. Fostering also saves lives by preventing overcrowding, which is one of the leading causes of euthanasia in shelters. For those unable to adopt permanently, fostering offers a rewarding way to make a difference without a lifelong commitment.
Greenville Animal Care offers a doggy day out program. Last February I spent the day with this cutie and we went to downtown Greenville and explored the town. A week later, I heard he got adopted!
Choosing to adopt instead of buying from breeders helps break the cycle of overpopulation and neglect. When you rescue an animal, you’re not just saving one life—you’re creating space for another animal in need. Many shelter animals are already trained, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, making adoption both compassionate and practical.
Rescue animals often form deep bonds with their adopters. Despite their difficult beginnings, they are capable of immense love, loyalty, and gratitude. Adopting sends a powerful message that animals are not disposable and that every life has value.
How You Can Make a Difference
You don’t need to be wealthy or have a large home to help. Whether it’s donating a small amount, fostering for a few weeks, volunteering your time, doing a stay-cation or choosing adoption, every action counts.
Final Remarks
Animal rescues and shelters stand on the front lines of compassion, fighting every day to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Donations keep their doors open, fostering saves lives by easing overcrowding, and rescuing gives animals the loving homes they deserve. By supporting these efforts, we help create a more humane world—one animal at a time.
Thank you for helping us support animal rescues and shelters.