Help Me Continue Eleanor Sonsini’s Mission

This fundraiser is intended to fund a new non-profit animal shelter, No Paws Left Behind, Inc. I am the general manager of the new shelter. The funds will be used to begin operations as a nonprofit organization.

Update: Articles of Incorporation have officially been filed with the Commonwealth for NO PAWS LEFT BEHIND, INC.!!!! We are moving along with the Board setup and the 501c(3) filing. Once that is filed, we will be able to begin fundraising and taking official tax deductible donations (pending the approval of the filing). Many more logistical things will start to happen behind the scenes, shelter protocols, employee handbook, hiring a bookkeeper, website design, shelter software, and so on....oh, and where we will actually reside. We are still location shopping. So many things on the list. Thank you to all who submitted applications for the Board. If you were not contacted for Board membership, we will be reaching out to you to help with the areas that you referenced on your application. We hope that you will still be willing to help! Check out the logo on Facebook! A new Facebook page has been created so follow, like and share. I will begin posting updates to the FB page and limit email updates as we move along. We are moving in the right direction, one step at a time! Thank you again for your support and patience as things get moving. With thanks, Noelle

Update: If you would like updates on my progress toward opening the new shelter without having to go to the Gofundme page, or to express your interest in joining the Board, please sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/232275810677057 Your email address will only be used by the shelter and not shared with others. Thank you! ❤️

Update: After meeting with the Eleanor Sonsini Shelter Board, they have graciously offered for me to carry on the mission of Eleanor Sonsini.“At the Sonsini Shelter ....We believe that every companion animal deserves a chance to lead a happy and healthy life. We recognize the unique, close association that humans have with dogs and cats, and we pledge to protect the abandoned and distressed dogs and cats in our care. We do not condone euthanasia as a means of animal population control, however in extreme cases of an incurably sick animal, one who is suffering and whose quality of life is poor, or one who is vicious with little chance of rehabilitation, it may be the only recourse. We promote the idea that adopting a homeless cat or dog is a great act of kindness; it is the gift of life itself. We hold the ideal that there exists a home for every animal and that one day there will be no homeless pets.” 

Therefore, I will be starting the process of establishing a new non-profit animal shelter. This will allow the Sonsini mission to continue under new leadership. I hope that you will support me in this endeavor. I want to reassure you that any funds donated will be used to get the new non-profit established. The Board has indicated they are not able to accept the funds raised due to the closure formally being reported to the state. I will continue to update you as I move through this process! Now to find a new name, get established, and get a new location. Sincerely, Noelle Howland

Words cannot express how I feel about the Eleanor Sonsini Shelter announcing we are shutting down. Less than 24 hours before the Facebook post was made, I was told by the board members that money was getting tight and we’re probably closing. The board members handle all of the financial decisions for the shelter, but aren’t in the shelter actually working.

As the shelter manager, I was told along with the staff and we were all devastated. It was a complete blindside. I knew there was talk about finding a new location, but none of us really knew this was what they’ve been thinking for awhile. I told them immediately after the announcement that I am going to try to raise money and not just give up like they seem to be doing. I do understand that they are the Board and are in charge, but in seeing the lack of fundraising efforts makes me question it all.

The conditions of the shelter are disappointing for sure, and not fair to the animals or the staff. I have done my best since being manager to clean up the shelter and organize the supplies and donations, and to make it a more pleasant, cleaner environment. The building is tiny, and the dogs are so close to one another that whenever they are brought in/out they are reactive and try to go at each other. Staff have been injured and clothes torn from this. It takes a special type of staff to work with the animals in these conditions. More space or better kennels would help greatly.

The cats and kittens are in the office space very close to the dogs, but at least separated. The building is old, and to heat it, is a ton of money. There are no windows to open so no air flow. Staff runs as many fans as we can without the circuit blowing. A wonderful donor gave us an air conditioner for the office which has helped in this crazy summer heat and humidity.

The kennels outside have very easy access for the animals to dig under and get out (which they have many times before). It takes constant supervision to make sure they are safe in and out of the shelter walls.

I’m asking for help! As the manager, along with staff and those animals, we need help placing these animals in homes and trying to raise enough money for a new building and more time to keep this place running. My hope is to raise enough money to prove the shelter can stay open and get these animals the proper facility they need and deserve. Being the only no-kill shelter within 100 miles, that’s just one more shelter closed! All shelters, for profit or not for profit, are filling up or are full. With others full, that means they will be turning down surrenders or euthanizing. I am concerned what will happen to the animals currently here if we can’t find them homes or another no-kill shelter. I know I can’t save them all, but my hope is that people will realize that the staff was never made full aware of any of this, and we weren’t given the chance until now to try to help.

The animals need all of us to be their advocate and make sure they stay in our care in a better and safer place versus being moved all around. If we can’t raise enough to get a new space, we may be able to buy some time for the Board to come up with an alternative plan, or for us to get these dogs adopted out to families. I am being told that to keep the shelter going we need six months of expenses, plus money in the bank account. This fundraiser is just a piece of that and I hope to exceed the goal to show the Board that the animals and the shelter matters to Berkshire County.

I won’t give up for them! Please help and share this fundraiser everywhere. I, and the entire staff, thank you so much for considering donating. I promise that every dollar received will go directly to the shelter to try to keep us running!