Tuffy, tongue out
Securing Our Home, Strengthening Our Promise
Tuffy arrived at The Pet Cottage in 2018, a feisty little chihuahua with a lion’s heart and a bond to his veteran dad that ran deep. When his human could no longer care for him, the decision to let Tuffy go was heartbreaking. His only request was simple: “Please let him stay at the Sanctuary so I’ll always know where he is.”
That’s the kind of promise we take to heart here.
Tuffy settled in and quickly found his partner in mischief, Elvis, a 50-pound German Shepherd dog mix—his oversized best friend. They became the Sanctuary’s own Mutt and Jeff duo, patrolling the yard in their mismatched glory, one big shadow and one tiny spark. Today, at 13, blind and mostly deaf, Tuffy still trots out for daily walks, enjoys his time in the dog parks, and looks for reassurance from the pack he trusts. He is safe. He is loved. And he is still every bit Tuffy.
Stories like his sit at the center of who we are.
For those meeting us for the first time: The Pet Cottage is a sanctuary for pets whose people can no longer care for them due to death, disability, or deployment. We make a forever promise to each pet who enters our care—to provide lifelong safety, stability, veterinary support, and an appropriate placement in one of our Guardian homes or, for some pets like Tuffy, a permanent home at the Sanctuary.
Our Guardians open their hearts and homes to the pets in our care, sharing a magical bond.
Every day, our mission is to honor the love between people and their pets, especially in moments when life changes and someone must ask for help. Caring for the human story is just as important as caring for the pet.
And now, we’re stepping into a new chapter that strengthens that promise. Because of you—your kindness, your belief in this mission, your love for pets like Tuffy—we reached our first major milestone: $300,000 raised for the down payment on the Sanctuary property. That’s Phase One … and you helped make it real.
But we’re just getting started.
To fully purchase the property and create the secure, functional forever home our pets deserve—including essential improvements like fencing, expanded dog yards, safety upgrades, and long-term infrastructure—our goal is $1 million.
This is our moment.
This is our chance to secure The Pet Cottage for generations of pets who will need us.
If you feel moved to give toward the next phase—or to invite someone else into this circle of protection—now is the time. Together, we can complete what we’ve begun: securing our Sanctuary and the promise it represents.
We look forward to hearing from you.
To learn more, get involved, or make a gift toward the next phase of our Sanctuary purchase, visit http://www.thepetcottage.org or call (561)-818-5025.
