Every week, Pet Save spends between $4,000 and $5,000 on vet bills alone. No matter how many fundraisers they hold, the local animal rescue organization simply can't sell enough raffle tickets or chicken dinners to keep up.
But animal lives still need saving — so they've found a new outlet.
The Pet Save Thrift Shop is now open at the old Bianco's on Notre Dame Avenue, next to the Shell gas station, “in the middle of thrift lane,” joked Pet Save director Jill Pessot.
Pessot said if you were to ask her where she planned to go in life, she'd have never guessed running a shop for gently used merchandise would be part of it.
“I've never even been to a yard sale,” she said with a laugh.
Now, the animal lover and her team of dedicated volunteers are enthusiastically sorting through a plethora of donated gems, from cool antiques and collectibles to modern clothing and even trendy decor.
“It's unique items we get,” she said, learning against a spiral rack of leather jackets and funky blazers. Between conversations with customers about things like Pet Save merchandise and the critters they just adopted, she continued to marvel in the wonders of the thrift business.
“It's a great way of recycling. It's a real bargain. You'd be surprised at the younger people we get. It changes here every day. It's like opening a new present every day,” she said as she took in the action taking place in the busy little shop.
Since opening in May, the shop has been a success in raising funds for the charity.
It couldn't have come at a better time.
“June is our busiest intake month of the year,” Pessot said. Cats are having kittens, people are abandoning pets for the summer and strays are coming out of the woodwork. Right now, there are about 75 kittens in Pet Save's care, with 30 to 40 more coming in the next week.
“They're on every block of town,” Pessot said.
While the thrift shop is helping the organization care for forgotten animal lives, Pessot doesn't believe the situation should have ever gotten to this point.
“We've had to do all of this to combat an ongoing problem,” Pessot said. “We shouldn't have to go through all this.
“If we just education people on spaying (and neutering) and how important it is. (Animals) are dying out there.”
But until the problem is solved, Pessot and the rest of the Pet Save team will continue to care for animals society has forgotten.
To help out, the community is welcome to bring donations to the Pet Save Thrift Shop between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Pet Save is always on the lookout for foster families for pets, and of course, forever homes. Adoption fees for kittens are $195, adult cats $170 and puppies are $295 and dogs are $265. All fees include spay/neuter and vaccinations.
To learn more, visit Pet Save Sudbury on Facebook. They are currently in the process of updating their website.
