We Get By with a Little Help from Our Friends
It’s a simple idea, but one we’ve seen proven true time and time again. No animal heals alone. No family navigates hardship alone. No shelter saves lives alone. Every success story begins with someone showing up. A foster opening their home. A volunteer giving their time. A staff member refusing to give up. A donor making a gift. A community choosing to care.
Life-saving isn’t the work of any one person. It’s what becomes possible when people come together around a shared belief that every life matters.
Liza, a tiny kitten in foster care, lost her only littermate due to fading kitten syndrome.
Though surrounded by love from her foster family, she was alone. She had no mother to comfort her and no sibling to play alongside. Like many young animals, she needed more than basic care. She needed companionship.
Around the same time, Scooter arrived at the Shelter. Scooter was surrendered with a spinal deformity affecting his back legs
We didn’t know what his future would hold. We weren’t sure if he would be able to support himself or manage basic daily functions independently. What we did know was that he deserved every opportunity to thrive.
Because of longtime foster volunteers Lou and Maria, we were able to try something a little unconventional. Having cared for more than 150 foster animals over the years, they understand that healing takes many forms. Together, we decided to place Scooter and Liza in the same foster home, hoping they might help each other overcome their uncertain start.
Day by day, they gave each other confidence, comfort, and joy. Because of a foster family’s willingness to open their home, two vulnerable animals found exactly what they needed: a friend.
This fundraiser is about more than Scooter and Liza. It’s about ensuring that help is always there when it’s needed most. Your support sustains foster care, lifesaving medical treatment, adoption services, behavior support, pet retention programs, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps animals safe, families together, and our community strong. Together, we’re creating a network of care that reaches far beyond our Shelter walls.
Watch Liza and Scooter’s story unfold!
We’re sharing a short video series that continues their story, and shows what’s possible when you get a little help from your friends.
Part 1
Part 2
Throughout the summer, our goal is to raise $170k to support the lifesaving work ahead. Thanks to a generous donor, $35k donated will be matched dollar for dollar!
Scooter and Liza reminded us of something we already knew to be true: none of us are meant to do this alone. To stay in the loop on their stories, visit our website throughout June. Thank you for being a friend to the animals, people, and families who depend on Santa Fe Animal Shelter. With your support, we can continue building a community where everyone gets by with a little help from their friends!
