Summer 2026 Newsletter
This weekend is Dog Days of Summer 2026!
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/
Duke & Duchess: Puppy Royalty
If you visited a Safe Pet Project tent this spring, you likely fell under the spell of Duke and Duchess. This dynamic puppy duo spent their foster time in the same home and quickly became the center of attention at our outreach events. No festival goer could resist their charm.
At their foster home, they were just as charming. Their foster mom's dog Nyx had a standing arrangement with the household freezer — an ice tax, collected every time it opened. Duke and Duchess watched, learned, and within days were padding over to sit patiently alongside Nyx at the sound of the freezer door. Their foster mom passed the tradition along to both new families. She suspects Duke and Duchess still perk up in their new kitchens when they hear that sound. We'd like to think so too.
Now this royal pair is off to big adventures! Duke was whisked straight from his final vaccine booster at Nottely Oaks Animal Hospital to a Florida beach vacation, where he discovered he loves baths but finds the ocean a bit much. Five days in, his new family dared us to "try and take him back." We wouldn't dream of it. Duchess, meanwhile, is settling into a wonderful new trial home, carefully inspecting the accommodations to ensure they meet her high standards.
Keep an eye on our social media for the next official update on Duchess!
Jackie Jenkins, Volunteer Extraordinaire
If you've ever found a great piece of clothing at the Safe Pet Project thrift store, there's a good chance Jackie had a hand in it.
She works behind the scenes in our clothing department — sorting, pricing, and making sure the racks are always worth a browse. With years of thrift store experience, she brings a sharp eye and genuine enthusiasm for finding the potential in every piece.
But Jackie doesn't stay behind the scenes for long. She's become a familiar face at our outreach events, sharing Safe Pet Project's mission with anyone who will listen and plenty who weren't expecting to. At the recent Blairsville Seafood Festival, she was personally responsible for selling at least half of the Under the Seas raffle basket tickets. We're not entirely sure how she does it.
Always ready to jump in, always full of ideas, always genuinely glad to be there — thank you, Jackie! If you would like to join Jackie in volunteering at the Safe Pet Project thrift store or at any of our events, fill out the volunteer application here: www.safepetproject.org/volunteer
Congratulations Becca!
Safe Pet Project congratulates all the Class of 2026, and our very own graduating senior, Becca! Give her a congratulations next time you see her in the thrift store!
Last Car on the Train to Safety: Meet Caboose
For 19 months, Safe Pet Project volunteers showed up, trapping, feeding, and caring for the feral colony at what we call the Gibbs House: 17 cats in total. One by one, each was spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and placed safely. When renovations forced the issue, Safe Pet Project made sure not a single cat was left behind. The last one trapped was Cab — short for Caboose.
She's two years old, spayed, fully vaccinated, and has tested negative for contagious disease. Despite years living outside, she comes when called, seeks affection, and is completely litter trained. Volunteers knew immediately she wasn't a barn cat. Caboose needs a home.
Right now she's waiting, patient and trusting, for someone to choose her.
Stories like Cab's are only possible because of supporters like you. Nineteen months of food, supplies, veterinary care, and volunteer coordination: that's what your donations fund. If you're able to give, please do. Every dollar goes directly to the animals.
Donate at safepetproject.org. To meet Cab, complete our adoption form at safepetproject.org/adoption-agreement or call 706-400-7076 ext. 2.
Have You Met Howie?
There are dogs that tug at your heartstrings, and then there's Howie. Howie, at about four to five months old, apparently skipped the hard parts of puppyhood and went straight to being delightful.
This 28-pound boy sleeps through the night, has had exactly one indoor accident to his name, and spends his days wagging his tail at anyone who will look at him. He'll finish his vaccine series through Nottely Oaks Animal Hospital and get neutered in the next few months — so his forever family will be getting a happy, healthy, well-started boy who will likely top out around 50 pounds.
If your home has room for laughter, playtime, and serious puppy energy, Howie would like a word.
Interested? Reach out to Safe Pet Project to learn more about adoption at info@safepetproject.org or (706) 400-7076 or www.safepetproject.org/adoption
Letter from the Board of Directors
Dear Friends,
When we last updated you in the spring, we spoke about a season of new beginnings. As we head into summer, that energy has blossomed into a season of growth, community, and collaboration.
Since our last update, we have hosted three outreach microchip clinics, found animals forever homes at multiple outreach events, and built new partnerships with local businesses and festivals. Now, we are gearing up for our largest Dog Days of Summer yet! This weekend’s festival is a true testament to collaboration. It will bring together adoptable animals from multiple regional rescues, other vital animal welfare non-profits, and local food, music, and artisan vendors.
The momentum carries right into next month; thanks to an exciting new partnership with the Lucky Dog Restaurant Group, we are thrilled to invite you to our Meals for Mutts dining event on July 22nd (details below).
None of this critical work happens without you.
Donate here to power our summer work. Apply to Volunteer here to give your time.
Thank you for welcoming our mission into your hearts. We look forward to seeing you this weekend at Dog Days!
With gratitude,
Diane Touroo, Rhonda Wells, & Mike Boyer
Safe Pet Project Board of Directors
Dine Out, Do Good: Meals for Mutts Arrives July 22nd
Mark your calendars and bring your appetite! On Wednesday, July 22nd, Safe Pet Project is partnering with the Lucky Dog Restaurant Group and other local eateries for our inaugural Meals for Mutts event.
The concept is simple: you enjoy a great meal, and participating restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds directly to our lifesaving programs, which fund urgent veterinary care, foster supplies, and vital TNR initiatives.
There are no special tickets to buy and no extra costs. Just show up, eat well, and do good.
We are incredibly grateful to our local restaurant partners for stepping up for our community's pets. To view the full and growing list of participating locations, visit www.safepetproject.org. See you at the table!