Help Sara & Clint Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Sara & Clint Wilson: Hurricane Helene Relief Fund

I first met Sara and Clint Wilson in early 2007. They had just opened their retail dog (and cat) supply store on Clearwater Beach, Florida named Island Dog Outfitters, and were looking for a non-profit rescue group to partner with.

Upon meeting them, I instantly liked them, a lot. Their love of animals was deep and their eagerness to learn about the rescue world, and to help was such a boost. We had just opened Suncoast Animal League in December 2006, and meeting like-minded people that aligned with our non-profit mission was encouraging and exciting!

Together, we’ve picked stray puppies out of farming fields in Miami, rescued cats and dogs from local animal hoarding homes, and traveled to multiple southern states to evacuate animals after hurricane and flooding events.

So frequently after those rescue missions, when Suncoast Animal League needed funding to cover medical expenses for the sick and injured animals, Sara and Clint would call to say, “let’s hold a fundraiser!”

And so they have held fundraisers at their shop, donated supplies, introduced us to their Clearwater Beach business-owning friends who also love animals and also wanted to help (Clearwater Wine & Bistro, Frenchy’s, ClearSky, Sekusi - all affected by Hurricane Helene so please visit them when they are open again), and held their annual “Pars 4 Paws” golf tournament, which has raised nearly $100,000 for our cats and dogs in 15 years. The help they have given Suncoast Animal League has enabled us to save hundreds, if not thousands of animals’ lives.

Consistently, and without hesitation, for more than 17 years, Sara and Clint Wilson have generously shared their time, resources and friendship when I needed it, when Suncoast Animal League needed it, and when their friends needed it. They have a strong sense of service to our community, and beyond.

By now you may know Sara and Clint were deeply affected by Hurricane Helene. Their home was flooded with 4-5 ft of storm surge water. Mixed with an assortment of toxins like sewage, gasoline, paint thinner and anything else in neighbors’ homes, cars and garages, that water turned into a thick sludge that coats the flooring of their home and walls, and covers the streets, homes and yards of their Clearwater Beach neighborhood of modest, “old Florida” mid-century houses.

Like so many others affected by Hurricane Helene, anything in their home that touched the floor is now on the curb of the street. The house is uninhabitable, and their Island Dog Outfitters shop of 17 years is in similar condition. They lost their home, their business and jobs in just two hours during Hurricane Helene.

Sara and Clint are two of the most kind-hearted, generous people I have ever had the pleasure of calling friends. And they have given so much to our community. If you are one of their friends or have felt their generosity through good deeds to animals, let’s pitch in to help them!

Give $5, $25, or whatever you can. Every bit helps when you’ve lost so much. The funds will be used for temporary new housing, to replace products lost at their shop Island Dog Outfitters and to supplement income while they are out of work. Please help!

With much love and best wishes to you and any of your loved ones who were also affected by Hurricane Helene,

- Annette