For The Love
Of Hilda!

This letter was supposed to start with “Breaking News – Hilda has been adopted!”  However, the only things "breaking" are our hearts.

Don’t worry, Hilda is fine! Hilda is happy, healthy, and loving her life and friends here at the Animal Rescue League of NH (ARLNH). We have been caring for Hilda for 698 days. And that’s okay. We love her! We love her hugs, her goofy playstyle, and her unbreakable spirit. However, we were so excited because this weekend Hilda was going to be adopted.

Someone had come to meet her multiple times, talked to staff about the ins and outs of getting Hilda to adapt to their home, and scheduled an adoption appointment. Hilda had her bags packed. But when the day and time came… the adopter didn’t arrive. No phone call, no email… and when we reached out to them, no response. We wish that we could say that this situation is unusual, but it happens more often than you would think.

We understand that people change their minds. We would never want someone to take on a pet that was more than what they felt they could handle. Realizing that before you take a pet home is probably best. We just wished they had called. So our hearts are broken, and maybe that is just because we got our hopes up. We want the world for Hilda.

Almost two years ago she lost the only place she knew as home, even though it was a filthy and neglectful one. She lost her eyesight suddenly and unexpectedly, leading to the removal of her eyes. Despite these losses, Hilda remains a kind gentle giant.

Hilda is not upset that she didn’t get adopted. As far as Hilda knows, the shelter is home and we are her family. It costs the ARLNH roughly $15 per dog per day. We’ve invested over $10,000 into caring for Hilda, and will invest however much more it takes to find her the right home. It’s the work that we are proud to do. Every animal that gets adopted opens up an opportunity for us to take in another animal in need. Every every animal deserves to be treated as an individual and if they are happy and healthy in the shelter, then it simply doesn’t matter how long it takes.

So today we ask that you consider making a $15 donation for the love of Hilda and in honor of one of her 698 days of care.... and counting. One day for Hilda. One day for any dog that needs to be sheltered, that needs a second chance, that needs love and compassion, that needs a family, that needs a home.

We can’t do this without you. 

Please, will you be one of Hilda's 698 supporters today?