Fall 2026 Newsletter
Tales of Hope 2026: Together We Make a Brighter Tomorrow
This Saturday is the one we've all been waiting for. Dog Days of Summer is here, and it is going to be a blast! Join us this Saturday, June 20th, from 10am to 2pm at Mountain Village Shopping Center in Blairsville for a day packed with live music, local food, low and no-cost vaccines, free nail trims, amazing pet-focused vendors, and the nonprofit neighbors doing the most for animals in our mountains. And don't miss the Blairsville Pet Parade to kick things off! Meet at 9am at Blairsville City Hall to show off your pooch in the parade!
Whether you're hoping to meet your next furry family member, get your pup's shots up to date, or just soak up a beautiful summer day with your four-legged best friend, there is truly something for everyone. Come out, bring the pup, and let's celebrate the season together. See you Saturday! For more information as well as vendor profiles check out these links www.safepetproject.org/events or www.facebook.com/events/811458978497151/
Event Details
Location: Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 5:30 to 10:00 PM
Tickets: $75 per person
Highlights
Live Acoustic Music performed by Steve Vaclavik
A Curated Appalachian-Inspired Dinner
(Vegetarian & Gluten-Free Available)
Cash Bar | Drink Raffles
Silent Auction | Live Auction
The Thrift Store has Gone to the. . .Cats?
If you have visited our kitchen corner recently, you may have seen some new additions to the store. Thanks to our amazing volunteer Tim Pauley, the store now features two brand-new catios! Tim donated and assembled both units, going above and beyond by adding fancy flooring for our feline guests. Thanks to Tim's hard work, we can now showcase even more of our adoptable cats right in the thrift store! Be sure to stop by and say hello to our current residents, Poppy and Grace. These two sweet girls requested a room upgrade, so we joined the catios together which allows them to lounge, nap, and hang out together!
Want to meet even more adoptable felines? Join us for a Kitten Party THIS weekend, Sept 25th and 26th as many of the over 30 adoptable cats we have will be in attendance at the Safe Pet Project Thrift Store. From Onyx to Pumpkin and Mittens to Caboose, come meet your new feline best friend. Know someone with a cat sized hole in the family? Bring them along—let’s find these sweet felines their loving families!
Adoption Autumn 2026
We are already full speed ahead on our seasonal adoption and outreach efforts! So many thanks to the Union County Historical Society for having us at their Heritage Festival and to Vogel State Park for inviting us to the Vogel Mountain Music Festival. We had a blast connecting with the community and showing off our adoptable dogs at both events!
Join us at these community events and you might just meet a new forever friend. Keep an eye on our social media for updates; we have more events in the pipeline for November and December with our community partners Granddaddy Mimm’s, Victorias Antiques & More, Blairsville Brewing Company, and Vincent's Coppertop Restaurant & Pub.
Family Glow Night is Going to the Dogs!
Safe Pet Project’s adoptable dogs are not going to let the hoomans have all the fun at Family Glow Night! While you are enjoying businesses open late, keep an eye out for glow in the dark adoptable dogs from Safe Pet Project roaming the crowd!
Saturday Oct 3rd, 7-9pm | Downtown Blairsville
Paws Fest 2026
Organized by the Humane Society of Blue Ridge, Paws Fest is one of North Georgia’s premier pet-friendly fall traditions, returning to Blue Ridge on October 17, 2026. Safe Pet Project will be there with adoptable dogs and information about our programs!
Saturday Oct 17th, Noon-4 | Downtown Blue Ridge
Dogs ‘N Decor
Safe Pet Project is excited to partner with Sugar Magnolia for the adoption event Dogs ‘N Decor! Stop by and meet adorable adoptables while also scoring some beautiful design additions for your home.
Saturday Oct 31st, Noon-4 | 258 Cleveland St, Blairsville
Blairsville Halloween Pet Parade & Costume Contest
Dress your pup up in your spooky, your kooky, and your downright funny Halloween costume and show it off for all of town! The Parade will kick off at 11am at the parking lot behind City Hall. We will make our way past the square to the Mountain Village Shopping Center for the costume contest judged by our Mtn Village neighbors
Saturday Oct 31st, Parade kick off at 11am | Downtown Blairsville
Volunteer Spotlight: Rick & Elaine Ryan
Ever bought an appliance from our thrift store that works like new? Rick probably tested it! From air fryers to curling irons, if it has a power cord, Rick makes sure it is in safe, working order before it ever hits the sales floor.
Ever purchased an item that was sparkling? That was likely Elaine’s doing! Elaine is one of our dedicated intake volunteers who carefully sorts, cleans, and prices donations to ensure we put our best foot forward for our shoppers.
Rick and Elaine have been volunteering at the Safe Pet Project since almost the very beginning of our organization. They are dependably in every week making sure that our thrift store is stocked with the very best donations to make the most money for the animals. But they don’t stop there; they are vital members of our volunteer family, warmly greeting new volunteers, showing them the ropes, and making everyone feel right at home.
Thank you so much, Rick and Elaine! Our store—and our animals—are so fortunate to have you.
We're always looking for friendly faces to join our volunteer team! Whether you love testing gadgets, sorting treasures, community events, or helping customers, there’s a place for you here.
Gizmo: A Special Friend for a Special Home
If you’ve followed Safe Pet Project for a while, you might remember a little 4-month-old pup named Gizmo. Last year, Gizmo’s future was uncertain. Born with spinal dysraphism (a congenital spinal condition) and mild hip dysplasia, his hind legs didn't always cooperate. Some days he walked with a twist; other days he dragged his back feet. But thanks to our incredible foster caregivers, the team at Nottely Oaks Animal Hospital, and generous supporters like you, Gizmo got the physical therapy and love he needed to thrive.
Fast forward to today: Gizmo is now 1½ years old, full-grown, and living his absolute best life!
Gizmo (or "Gizzy") has transformed into a total heartthrob with an unforgettable "bunny hop" strut, expressive ears, and a confident swagger. Whether he’s soaking up mountain sunshine, enjoying walks at Lake Vogel, or showing off, Gizmo doesn't let his disability slow him down. He is neutered, microchipped, up-to-date on all vaccinations, and great with other dogs of all sizes. Above all, he is a loyal, hilarious, and deeply affectionate companion who will make you laugh every single day.
While Gizmo has a huge heart and pure joy for life, he is waiting for a special kind of hero:
Gentle Mobility Care Because of his unique gait, Gizmo sometimes develops minor skin sores on his hind legs that need monitoring and care.
An Adult-Only Home Gizmo thrives in a calm, structured environment. He isn't a fit for young children and needs an experienced owner who understands his physical boundaries when he feels sore.
A Heart for the "Unlucky Ones" As his foster dad beautifully put it: "If you are the type of person who looks after the unlucky ones, please get to know Gizmo."
Gizmo isn't a dog for everyone but he will be the absolute world to the right person. He’s survived the tough times and mastered the good times; now, all he needs is a place to call home. Keep an eye out for a Gizmo meet and greet as part of Sweet Pea’s Eatery’s Community Champion time featuring him! For more about the Safe Pet Project Community Champions program, keep reading!
Thank you Community Champions!
Have you spotted some of our adoptable foster animals popping up in local shop windows or on local social media pages? That is our new Community Champions effort where local businesses feature a Safe Pet Project adoptable pet to help get them to a forever home.
The support and collaboration from the business community this year has been truly inspiring and we’re just getting started! Keep an eye on both the physical and virtual storefronts of Sweet Pea’s Downtown Eatery, Hemlock Trading Company, and Seasons Inn, as they have all signed up to be Community Champions! Thank you to all our Champions, past, present and future! Would your business like to be a Safe Pet Project Community Champion? E-mail us at shannon@safepetproject.org or call our Outreach Coordinator Shannon at 706.258.7829.
Letter from the Board of Directors
Dear Friends,
Wow, what a summer it has been. We kicked it off with an outrageously successful Dog Days of Summer where we and Nottely Oaks Animal Hospital provided 248 free and low-cost vaccines to animals in need. To make the day even more special, for the first time ever, every single animal rescue nonprofit in Union County was together at the same event!
The following month our expectations were exceeded again by the outpouring of support for our inaugural Meals for Mutts fundraiser. Twelve restaurants and local diners came together to raise funds for Safe Pet Project and the result was incredible: over $3000 raised for local animal support.
The work this summer went well beyond festivals and fundraisers. So far this year, we have supported 40 community members and their animals. We have also trapped and spay/neutered over 120 community cats this year to date.
As we move into fall, we aren't slowing down for a moment. From the thrift store Kitten Party this weekend to Adoption Autumn events across the county, we are taking our momentum full-tilt into the rest of the year.
What makes all this possible? You!
Your support as donors, volunteers, adopters, thrift store shoppers, and partner businesses is what makes this possible. Thank you!
Donate here | Apply to volunteer here | Adoptable animals here
Buy a ticket for the Tails of Hope gala here
With gratitude,
Diane Touroo, Rhonda Wells, & Mike Boyer
Safe Pet Project Board of Directors
As always stay connected with Safe Pet Project on Facebook and Instagram
Thank you!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Tales of Hope gala!