When Jeffrey Thatcher was 5 years old, a black and white spaniel mix came bounding through the kitchen towards him. It was at that very moment, his love for dogs began. His mother, Michaelene Thatcher, told him that they had rescued the dog and would be giving her a good home. At that time, he didn’t realize what exactly that meant, but over the years he has come to appreciate the profound joy it brings to a family when rescuing an animal. The bond that is created lasts forever. From that point on and until his mother’s passing, she always had a dog that came from a local animal shelter by her side as a companion.

The Thatcher Family has started this fund at the Community Foundation to honor his mother’s lifelong love and compassion for adopting animals from shelters. She also instilled this passion with her family, and they have taken on the commitment to continue this tradition by supporting local animal shelters and dog rescue charities.