There were two events that were the catalyst of this fund. In 1997, a stray female Siberian Husky was hit by a car and
seriously injured. As Pat Tetrault scrambled to come up with the money to pay for her treatment, she came up with the idea
of a permanent fund to assist with cases like this. But how to raise money for this fund?
Another event that demonstrated the need for a permanent fund was the buy-out of a puppy mill operator by Sibernet-L members. In the winter of 1997/1998, a puppy mill operator in Abilene, Kansas went out of business and Karen Nelson organized (a major understatement) an effort to purchase the Siberian Huskies. A total of 23 adults and 13 puppies (not including the 10 whelped after their moms were purchased) were rescued. Members of the Sibernet-L group donated funds, and helped with transportation and fostering. For more details, click here.
The concept of Internet fundraising had worked very well in the case of Kiva, a Siberian Husky in Calgary who was attacked by a Pit Bull in September of 1996. Katrina Walden, a Sibernet-l member, started a fund to help pay for her vet bills and also created a web site called Kiva's Doghouse to keep everyone informed of her progress. (This website is no longer active.)
Pat Tetrault and Janet Whitesell proposed the idea of a Siberian Husky knitting project to raise the necessary funds. People would send the undercoat of their Siberian Huskies to Janet who would spin it into yarn. This yarn would be knit into articles to be sold via an Internet auction to raise funds for Siberian Husky rescue. This idea has evolved into the Save Our Siberians - Siberspace Rescue Fund. Browse our site and see how our fundraising has expanded and how the fund has helped Siberian Huskies in need.
We are incorporated in the state of Oregon in the United States and have 501(c)(3) charitable status in the United States.