This is all so surreal.
The moving container arrived today.
Nearly $5,592 — and seeing it sitting here feels surreal.
Every morning I dread… absolutely dread… waking up, because it means I’m one day closer to leaving Steve, Franklin, his family, the Huskies… our home, our life.
The U-Haul trailer for our immediates and essentials is $1,114.48.
Estimated gas: $650.
Airbnbs/hotels for 8 days: around $2,400 (unbelievable — most don’t rent for one night, and the ones that do charge a lot).
I thought about piecing the trip together with Sniffspots and motels — one Sniffspot before leaving each location, another before checking in at the next one after driving all day — but it will be far easier and far safer to just find Airbnbs with fenced yards.
Moving blankets, boxes, packing materials… all additional costs on top of that.
None of this includes their food or anything else the dogs will need on the road.
I’m navigating a lot right now.
I’m navigating extreme grief, loss, and an unbelievable amount of stress.
All of this… just to save the lives of three precious dogs who didn’t ask for any of it — who were simply born into a broken, uncommitted world where far more dependents are brought into existence than there are reliable, responsible, truly dependable caretakers to love, nurture, and protect them.
I haven’t been able to find anyone who can leave their lives for a week and a half to help. It’s a huge ask, I know.
The pressure and overwhelm from all of this is immense.
Once we land, we’ll all be rebuilding.
We’ll all be regrounding and restabilizing — and once I’m in a better place, I can finally give these dogs the focused behavioral support they need so they can find their special people.
We’ll need a treadmill to support their behavioral needs and energy regulation — not only because of my physical limitations, but because it will play a big role in their behavioral support and fulfillment in ways I physically won’t be able to replicate.
This rescue effort won’t be over until each of them is safely and responsibly placed.
At least this way, there won’t be pressure to rush the process.
I so wish things were different.
I wish I could’ve found these dogs their people — their best lives — without it coming to this.
I know I don’t have to do any of this.
But the thought of any of them going through the stress and trauma of an animal shelter, and likely having their lives end there, is unbearable.
And it’s unbearable knowing this happens to other dogs every single day.
When we took Ava and her babies in last December, we never imagined it would lead to this. I truly believed finding good, loving, responsible homes would be easy — especially with everything we poured into them: biologically appropriate food, Dr. Dodds’ vaccine protocol, waiting to alter until fully developed, early socialization, the obstacle course, crate and potty training… everything.
I was wrong.
What I am deeply grateful for is this community — the folks who made getting to this point possible. Many of you have followed my books, my work under PackFit, Dog Mom University, and this entire rescue journey for years.
We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.
Our GoFundMe is 47% of the way there — and we desperately need help.
This is all coming out of pocket.
100% of any profits from book sales, Dog Mom University masterclasses and courses, etc., is going directly toward this rescue effort and this move.
The newest book, "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link", can be found under Books and Audio at:
www.kimberlyartley.com
Please, please share.
Please donate if you’re able — even $5 helps more than you know.
And if you’re someone I know who is willing and able to join us on a cross-country trip, we could truly use the support and help.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for standing with us.
Thank you for helping me see this rescue effort all the way through.
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GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/83407a134
Amazon Wish List: We still have some food, gullet sticks, and tracheas on there for chews in their crates during the trip. We leave Dec. 2nd.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3FO6IN56H45BD?ref_=wl_share
(picture of Cowboy and Winnie stretching their legs and getting re-associated)
