Maggie's Mutts (DC Dog Rescue)
Donation protected
My life has gone to the dogs!
Since the age of 18 I have worked professionally in legal offices, lobbying firms, associations, nonprofits, and in the private sector. I put myself through college, studied economics, and landed what seemed to be the perfect job at a prestigious international economics think tank in DC. I had set out to be an economist in order to change the world in my own small way: to help those less fortunate, to make this world a better place, and to help poor countries get out of debt. All I have ever wanted to do since I was a little girl was to make things better and make people happier. I'm not sure where this drive comes from, but it's my constant companion.
However, despite this drive, years ago I quit my job in international economics because I wasn't feeling fulfilled and I was miserable at work. There wasn't one thing I looked forward to at my office, I worked long thankless hours, and I couldn't even enjoy the weekends because I was consumed with anxious thoughts about returning to work on Monday. After a couple of years of living this sad existence I knew I had to get out. Life is worth living, and because we all only have one life to live, I knew I was going to make my life wonderful (or die trying). Otherwise, what's the point?
At the time I quit my job I knew I wanted to start a nonprofit someday, but I needed to pay the bills first and survive... but survive on my terms. I decided to fall back on my experience caring for animals. Growing up I had a dog (she lived to be 15), and there were several occasions when neighbors, friends, or friends of friends hired me to care for their pets while they were out of town. I used this experience and my natural love for animals to become a pet-sitter from day one and I let fate lead the way.
Years later I still love my job working with animals. They bring me so much unconditional love, and lots of funny stories to share. My work with animals has allowed me enough income to support myself while still having the time and energy to pursue other interests and hobbies. I have been able to expand my pet-sitting business and provide personal assistant services too. I've been able to restore more of that precious work-life balance in other people's lives as well as my own. Furthermore I've enjoyed getting to know some wonderful people as well as their lovely pets. Those people and their animals stay with me, always. I carry them in my heart and in my thoughts. I feel truly blessed everyday.
It has now been several years since I began my own pet-sitting business and expanded it into MagMa, Distinguished Concierge. However, that drive to do more and to help make this world a better place is keeping me awake at night again. I can feel that it is time for growth and that it's time to push myself for the greater good. For years I've known that I am meant to start a nonprofit (at least one) but I haven't known what the mission of my future organization would be or how exactly I would make it happen. I've been meditating and contemplating a lot lately, and I think I'm finally ready to make my dream a reality.
I'd like to start a rescue organization for unwanted dogs in the DC area. There are plenty of dogs in the metropolitan area that are in need of loving homes but aren't young enough or "cute" enough for most households. There are old dogs with medical ailments, dogs who aren't wanted because they're not the right breed, or dogs that are put down simply because there's no room to house them and their adoption time has run out. I would like to give these creatures a loving home, medical care, and the opportunity to find their forever home with another family if I can facilitate the process.
A couple of years ago, without any sort of experience, I helped a friend foster two puppies she had rescued and then found a wonderful family to adopt one of them. The process was surprisingly easy because I'm surrounded by so many good people in my life. I was truly only 2 degrees of separation away from a loving home for this one lucky puppy. It has been so gratifying to keep up with the adoptive family (and the pup) through social media and to see the joy and love they all share. After that experience, I know I would love to do it more often. I could certainly be the middle-man that makes successful dog adoptions happen.
Through this future rescue organization I'd also like to bring together a solid group of contributors to make this dream a reality and to make it the best that it can possibly be: volunteers, trainers, future employees, veterinarians, and a Board of Directors. Professional services will also be needed to get this organization going and to keep it running: legal representation, accounting services, branding and marketing, etc. I imagine a house full of love, treats, and toys to make the final years of unwanted dogs special ones. If they can find adoption through the organization, great. If not, great... they'll still have a happy existence with me and will find healing and comfort.
I'd like to start out small, but imagine an eventual large sanctuary that can also provide temporary/foster housing for dogs that belong to active duty military members that are away on tour and have no other alternative for pet care. I'd also like to explore the possibility of dog sharing. DC is full of busy professionals that don't have the time, space, or funds to commit to owning a dog 100% of the time, but I would love to share rescue dogs with trusted "borrowers" who could love, care, and bond with the animals during smaller increments of quality time.
Overall, 2016 will be a year of learning for me. I plan to volunteer with other similar organizations around the country to see what works (and how we can possibly collaborate). I plan to achieve my certification in nonprofit management and to do the legwork involved in getting this nonprofit off of the ground. The funds raised through this campaign will contribute to the costs associated with IRS tax-exempt status, filing fees, necessary permits and licenses, and acquiring professional services, funders, and Board Members. These funds will cover some of the start-up costs so that this nonprofit can come to fruition and together we can make DC even better.
I'm still brainstorming about what to officially name this future organization, and perhaps I'll have the future Board decide on the name. However, in the meantime, the place-holder name of "Maggie's Mutts" sounds pretty good to me. The name was suggested by the son of one of my pet-sitting clients years ago when I was contemplating expanding my business then. He was so sweet and he even drew me a picture of what my doggy-mobile should look like, with a logo/design and everything. That wonderful gesture on his part has stuck with me, and I'd love to use "Maggie's Mutts" as the title for this campaign. The name exists as other businesses in the US, but it works for this campaign and I hope those other businesses won't mind.
The more I think about this future safe haven, the more I think about the famous poem by Emma Lazarus, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" All living things deserve integrity, respect, and loving care. Please help me bring this dream to life, to create a community-conscious nonprofit organization, and be a part of something wonderful in the DC area!
Since the age of 18 I have worked professionally in legal offices, lobbying firms, associations, nonprofits, and in the private sector. I put myself through college, studied economics, and landed what seemed to be the perfect job at a prestigious international economics think tank in DC. I had set out to be an economist in order to change the world in my own small way: to help those less fortunate, to make this world a better place, and to help poor countries get out of debt. All I have ever wanted to do since I was a little girl was to make things better and make people happier. I'm not sure where this drive comes from, but it's my constant companion.
However, despite this drive, years ago I quit my job in international economics because I wasn't feeling fulfilled and I was miserable at work. There wasn't one thing I looked forward to at my office, I worked long thankless hours, and I couldn't even enjoy the weekends because I was consumed with anxious thoughts about returning to work on Monday. After a couple of years of living this sad existence I knew I had to get out. Life is worth living, and because we all only have one life to live, I knew I was going to make my life wonderful (or die trying). Otherwise, what's the point?
At the time I quit my job I knew I wanted to start a nonprofit someday, but I needed to pay the bills first and survive... but survive on my terms. I decided to fall back on my experience caring for animals. Growing up I had a dog (she lived to be 15), and there were several occasions when neighbors, friends, or friends of friends hired me to care for their pets while they were out of town. I used this experience and my natural love for animals to become a pet-sitter from day one and I let fate lead the way.
Years later I still love my job working with animals. They bring me so much unconditional love, and lots of funny stories to share. My work with animals has allowed me enough income to support myself while still having the time and energy to pursue other interests and hobbies. I have been able to expand my pet-sitting business and provide personal assistant services too. I've been able to restore more of that precious work-life balance in other people's lives as well as my own. Furthermore I've enjoyed getting to know some wonderful people as well as their lovely pets. Those people and their animals stay with me, always. I carry them in my heart and in my thoughts. I feel truly blessed everyday.
It has now been several years since I began my own pet-sitting business and expanded it into MagMa, Distinguished Concierge. However, that drive to do more and to help make this world a better place is keeping me awake at night again. I can feel that it is time for growth and that it's time to push myself for the greater good. For years I've known that I am meant to start a nonprofit (at least one) but I haven't known what the mission of my future organization would be or how exactly I would make it happen. I've been meditating and contemplating a lot lately, and I think I'm finally ready to make my dream a reality.
I'd like to start a rescue organization for unwanted dogs in the DC area. There are plenty of dogs in the metropolitan area that are in need of loving homes but aren't young enough or "cute" enough for most households. There are old dogs with medical ailments, dogs who aren't wanted because they're not the right breed, or dogs that are put down simply because there's no room to house them and their adoption time has run out. I would like to give these creatures a loving home, medical care, and the opportunity to find their forever home with another family if I can facilitate the process.
A couple of years ago, without any sort of experience, I helped a friend foster two puppies she had rescued and then found a wonderful family to adopt one of them. The process was surprisingly easy because I'm surrounded by so many good people in my life. I was truly only 2 degrees of separation away from a loving home for this one lucky puppy. It has been so gratifying to keep up with the adoptive family (and the pup) through social media and to see the joy and love they all share. After that experience, I know I would love to do it more often. I could certainly be the middle-man that makes successful dog adoptions happen.
Through this future rescue organization I'd also like to bring together a solid group of contributors to make this dream a reality and to make it the best that it can possibly be: volunteers, trainers, future employees, veterinarians, and a Board of Directors. Professional services will also be needed to get this organization going and to keep it running: legal representation, accounting services, branding and marketing, etc. I imagine a house full of love, treats, and toys to make the final years of unwanted dogs special ones. If they can find adoption through the organization, great. If not, great... they'll still have a happy existence with me and will find healing and comfort.
I'd like to start out small, but imagine an eventual large sanctuary that can also provide temporary/foster housing for dogs that belong to active duty military members that are away on tour and have no other alternative for pet care. I'd also like to explore the possibility of dog sharing. DC is full of busy professionals that don't have the time, space, or funds to commit to owning a dog 100% of the time, but I would love to share rescue dogs with trusted "borrowers" who could love, care, and bond with the animals during smaller increments of quality time.
Overall, 2016 will be a year of learning for me. I plan to volunteer with other similar organizations around the country to see what works (and how we can possibly collaborate). I plan to achieve my certification in nonprofit management and to do the legwork involved in getting this nonprofit off of the ground. The funds raised through this campaign will contribute to the costs associated with IRS tax-exempt status, filing fees, necessary permits and licenses, and acquiring professional services, funders, and Board Members. These funds will cover some of the start-up costs so that this nonprofit can come to fruition and together we can make DC even better.
I'm still brainstorming about what to officially name this future organization, and perhaps I'll have the future Board decide on the name. However, in the meantime, the place-holder name of "Maggie's Mutts" sounds pretty good to me. The name was suggested by the son of one of my pet-sitting clients years ago when I was contemplating expanding my business then. He was so sweet and he even drew me a picture of what my doggy-mobile should look like, with a logo/design and everything. That wonderful gesture on his part has stuck with me, and I'd love to use "Maggie's Mutts" as the title for this campaign. The name exists as other businesses in the US, but it works for this campaign and I hope those other businesses won't mind.
The more I think about this future safe haven, the more I think about the famous poem by Emma Lazarus, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" All living things deserve integrity, respect, and loving care. Please help me bring this dream to life, to create a community-conscious nonprofit organization, and be a part of something wonderful in the DC area!
Organizer
Maggie Mairena
Organizer
Woodlawn, VA