On December 28, 2023, Geauga County Maple Leaf newspaper reporter Sherry Gavanditti, met with Rescue Village staff and Embrace Pet Insurance Employees at Rescue Village.
Meet Rudy, Dasher, Dancer, Mistletoe, Dream and Mac — just a few of the once homeless or abandoned resident cats and dogs at Rescue Village in Geauga County.
Their chances of finding a forever home are better thanks to a $20,000 donation from Embrace Pet Insurance, headquartered in Beachwood.
Until gone, the entire donation will fund all adoption fees for cats and dogs at the nonprofit, no-kill shelter and help with a portion of essential medical care before adoption, said Rescue Village CEO and Executive Director Kenneth Clarke during a recent tour of the facility.
“This is a very complex business. There’s a lot going on here, including the shelter, and pet behavioral and clinical health. It’s cool how complex it is and we do it without a whole lot of people,” Clarke said, expressing gratitude to Embrace, volunteers, staff, donors and to those who adopt.
Rescue Village is always in need of donations, Clarke said, adding he hopes their “Embrace the Love” holiday adoption campaign will bring needed financial help.
Blankets, sheets, pet food, animal toys and bowls are also welcomed donations, he said, adding volunteers are an immense help, as well.
Clarke showed areas designated to medically treat, groom, exercise, train and house their various occupants, along with storage areas, a washing station and even rooms for new rescues to wind down and acclimate before being adopted.
Rescue Village has over 70 cages for cats and over 50 for dogs. The staff closely monitors all the animals in their care and whiteboards throughout the back hallways give staff a quick look at personalities, food preferences, field trips, exercise regiments, adoption dates and more.
Rescue Village receives a variety of animals, from gerbils and fish to horses, and even tortoises, snakes and pot-bellied pigs. Clarke said the more exotic rescues are sent to facilities that specialize in their care.
The organization saves around 2,000 animals per year and provides complete veterinary care, including spay and neuter services before adoption, he said.
The property has a barn with a pasture where its current residents, including ducks, chickens and a few pigs hang out under the guard of two friendly barn cats.
Embrace Pet Insurance chose Rescue Village to donate to because of the significance of their work, as well as their comprehensive approach to animal welfare and dedication to sheltering, providing medical care and finding homes for homeless animals, said Embrace spokesperson Amber Batteiger.
“For over 17 years, Embrace has been deeply committed to giving back, a principle that is central to our company’s core values,” she said. “Every year, we allocate funds for charitable initiatives consistently throughout the year.”
Batteiger said this commitment is exemplified by their annual EmbraceCLE Community Challenge, which has generated $883,000 for participating Cleveland nonprofits since its inception in 2020.
“Our annual contributions are a reflection of our dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of pets and pet owners, particularly in areas where the need is greatest,” she explained, adding their total giving over the past few years has already exceeded $1.6 million dollars.
In addition to the money given to Rescue Village, Embrace also donated $10,000 to PetFix Northeast Ohio in Cuyahoga County to lower overpopulation through spay and neuter services in Northeast Ohio, which Embrace said is crucial in preventing pet homelessness and unnecessary euthanasia.
To find out more about Rescue Village, adoption fees, and how you can help, visit rescuevillage.org.