Pledging for Pets

August 16, 2012

Longtime League volunteer and contributor Roxanne Perugino was looking for a way to focus her charitable giving so she could make a major gift that really satisfied her desire to help many dogs and cats. So she decided to make a five-year pledge to our shelter.

“I had just completed a five-year pledge to another organization and was thinking about what was next,” Roxanne says. “I really wanted to show my support for the League by making a strong financial commitment in addition to volunteering.” She explains that making this extended pledge was important to her as a statement of support for what she calls “a model for other shelters.” 

Roxanne, who has been volunteering at WARL for five years, believes strongly in our goals of rescue, rehab, and rehome. She encourages friends and people she meets to adopt a shelter dog. She also wants to see the closure of all puppy mills.

“I support the League because I’ve seen first-hand the wonderful work it does,” she explains. “So many animals who might not have had a chance elsewhere are given a chance at WARL to find a loving, permanent home. And, to me, that was worth making a long-term commitment as a legacy that means a great deal to me.”

Mom to two cats (Jezebel, adopted from the Washington Humane Society 10 years ago, and Tigger, adopted from the League last year), Roxanne feels that her donation is a way of “speaking out for all animals who cannot speak for themselves, educating the public about the need to end puppy mills and fighting rings, and helping the public to understand that ‘bully’ breeds, such as pitbulls, are misunderstood and are often wonderful family pets.”

In short, she says, “I want to do what I can to end cruelty against all animals.” Her philanthropy with the League, she believes, accomplishes that goal. We agree.