An Open Letter..

​In July of 2020 I sat with two other women in a coffee shop. I had just quit my job to pursue what many thought was a crazy idea… starting a non-profit to save pets and support their owners. 

I had experienced first-hand what our largest county shelter deals with.. dogs, cats, kittens and puppies coming in at alarming rates with no place to put them.  Pop-up kennels in hallways, burnt out staff doing soul-crushing work, upset citizens in the lobby demanding more than could be given and euthanasia lists around every corner. Not because that’s what anyone wanted, but because that's all there was to do. 

There has to be something else I can do. I remember thinking. And so I left…. and I put my whole heart and soul into building something to help. Along the way, many joined me. Some, like my executive team, made just as many sacrifices, if not more, to make the dream work.  

As I sit here writing this in an adoption center of my own… feeling just as burnt out if I’m being honest... I find peace knowing the impact that decision I made back in 2020 created. I feel gratitude to the many who believed in the organization enough to be a part of it.  Do I lay in bed some nights wondering how I’m going to keep our doors open and pay my staff? Yes..more nights than I care to admit. 

On those nights I tell myself, even if it all goes to ****, at least I know we tried. At least I know over 1000 cats in Galveston County are fixed and not adding to the problem because of Lifeline. At least I know because of our organization, we were able to pull over 150 pets out of the county shelter this year and guarantee a live release for them. At least I know we’ve been able to take over 200 stray pets directly from citizens this year. And at least I know 238 more pets are sleeping in their very own homes this year because of us. It all matters. 

I am proud of this organization we’ve created. I’m proud of my team. 

Times have been hard. Between AC outages, months of high adoptions, months of low adoptions, parvo outbreaks and the big learning curve that comes with running a non-profit and a brick and mortar facility, we are struggling a little right now. I think my least favorite part of this job is asking for money, but there is no way around it. 

I know times are tough for everyone, so if you are not in a position to give, we completely understand. If you are able to donate, please know your donation will go a long way to support the very necessary work we are doing. 

For everyone who has donated up until now, thank you so much. If I haven’t told you that directly, I hope you know how grateful I am for you. 

To learn more about our work or for any inquiries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly at [email protected]. I would be happy to give you a tour of our adoption facility and a personal overview of our current programs. 

Thank you for considering our request and for your continued commitment to making a difference.

Grateful Always,
Caroline McKenna 
Executive Director 
Lifeline of Galveston County 

Make A contribution

Checks can be made out to Lifeline of Galveston County and dropped at our adoption center (100 E Nasa Parkway, Ste 55, Webster, TX) or mailed to PO Box 974, Texas City, TX, 77592.