Tucson rummage sale Saturday to benefit animal rescue groups

The event, which is free and open to the public, offers a venue for 10 local animal rescue organizations to stage rummage sales that benefit their organizations.

Participants include AZ Bassett Hound Rescue; Cherished Tails Senior Sanctuary; Claws and Paws Rescue; D-S Rescue, which serves horses; Hope of Deliverance; LOVAR (Lifeline Oro Valley Animal Rescue); Pawsitively Cats; Rescue Me Tucson; SOS Cat Rescue; and Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue.

“We don’t provide anything for the organizations to sell: They collect all of their own stuff and bring everything here that day. We just provide our parking lot for them to have rummage sales and they keep all the proceeds,” said Jan Walker, chair of the Animal Ministry Team for St. Mark’s UMC.

“The rescues do a great job of collecting things; it is really amazing. There will be clothing, furniture, pet supplies, books, toys, and some have bake sales. You can find almost anything,” said Walker.

The sale also offers an opportunity for the rescue organizations to promote awareness in the community, according to Nancy Young-Wright, president of the board for Rescue Me Tucson (rescuemetucson.org). The nonprofit rescues an average of 475 animals annually and operates Rescue Me Marana Pet Adoption Center at Suite 902 in Tucson Premium Outlets.

“We have puppies, adult dogs, cats and kittens and at this event we can let folks know about the different animals available through our rescue. Plus we get to raise money and network with other rescues, which is always a good thing; and we provide the opportunity for people to recycle and keep things out of the landfill, and we all like that,” said Young-Wright.

Rescue Me Tucson plans to use proceeds from the event to pay the veterinary bill for Hannah, a beagle-basset hound mix who required eye surgery last week. The $3,300 surgery was successful and 18-month-old Hannah is doing great and looking for a forever home.

Young-Wright is grateful to St. Mark’s for the support they provide to rescues, which she said are facing crises nationwide due to the cost of housing and inflation.

“The community depends on rescues to help with the animal challenges we have. Rescues help pull animals out of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and PACC. ... Basically Tucson animal rescue groups work together to help animals and people in the community,” said Young-Wright.