CHICAGO — A Bucktown animal rescue organization has seen an outflowing of support for its dream of opening an adoption center.
The nonprofit One Tail at a Time raised almost $84,000 as of Thursday morning on the fundraising site YouCaring, surpassing its original goal of $70,000.
The group previously only operated out of foster homes, but will have its own building to keep some of its adoptable dogs after it opens Aug. 1 at 2144 N. Wood St.
Pre-opening celebrations will take place July 30-31 from 7-10 p.m. at the shelter. Anyone who donates $100 on YouCaring can attend the event with drinks, food and more.
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 1, the shelter will be open to the public for adoptions.
The 650 donations came from around the globe.
"Seeing that people around the world believe in our mission was awe-inspiring," said founder Heather Owen in a statement.
The shelter will be able to house an additional 10 or 11 dogs, as the organization is able to foster about 35 at a time. The facility will also have a back yard, and space for meetings, training and fundraisers.
"Between the love from our volunteers, the socialization in our backyard and the top-notch vet care we provide, we think every [One Tail at a Time] dog really hits the jackpot," Owen wrote.
The shelter has rescued more than 1,000 dogs since its inception in 2008, according to a statement.
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