We continue to meet so many passionate animal advocates serving in a variety of organizations. To honor them for their efforts, Speed Queen gifted several of these special foster moms and dads a TR7/DR7 set to help simplify laundry day and enable them to focus on providing the best possible care for their furry foster friends. Today, we’ll introduce you to Nicole in Bedford, Pennsylvania.
There’s little doubt that Abby’s life before she was rescued by Nicole Wertz was brutal. She had recently given birth, had a broken jaw, and was dumped to fend for herself. It’s heartbreaking, and with that backstory, she had every reason not to trust humans…but that wasn’t in her nature.
“She had the best personality,” Nicole said, noting that the Boston Terrier/Pitbull mix loved meeting others and had a gentle nature – making friends with everyone, even befriending a rabbit.
Abby was Nicole’s first rescue and made such an impact that, shortly after her passing in 2018, Nicole decided to start a foster-based rescue in her honor – Abby’s Angels Animal Haven in Bedford, Penn.
“I had no idea what this would grow into,” Nicole said, noting that she figured they might help 20 or 30 animals that first year; they ended the year with 78. And while she may have questioned what she got herself into, Nicole and her team have continued to grow the organization and routinely take in 100 to 150 animals a year.
The growth of the organization sadly continues as it recently took in 17 dogs from a hoarding situation, which has also led to rising veterinary costs…already at $26,000 and growing. However, the communities they serve have been extremely supportive.
In fact, a local appliance retailer – Martin Appliance in Altoona, Penn – recently donated a Speed Queen TR7 top load washer and matching DR7 dryer to help with the never-ending laundry.
“[Nicole] works nonstop to make sure all their needs are met,” said Ryan Swope, sales consultant at Martin Appliance. “They do an absolutely exceptional job providing the animals with love and care.”
Devoting time to a rescue organization comes with plenty of heartbreaking moments, Nicole counts the owner surrenders as among the toughest, uprooting the dog’s daily life and everything they know. However, despite the heartache that can come with the work, the joy keeps her going.
“The best days are adoption days, “ she said, adding that watching the transformations along the way that get them to the forever homes bolsters all involved. Stories like Atlas the Pitbull, who was tied out in the yard and intentionally starved. He’s slowly battled back from 39 pounds and is now up to 72 pounds.
Hamilton the German Shepherd’s story is another that stands out to Nicole about the resilience of dogs and their capacity to love humans. Hamilton sustained chemical burns over 70 percent of his body. Recovery was as slow as it was painful. And yet he was diligent in showing those around him not just how much fight he had in him, but also how much love and joy for life.
“He never once had a day that wasn’t his best day,” she said.
Those are the stories that keep Nicole and the rest of the fosters going, strengthening their unified commitment that every animal deserves a chance. She also points to the importance of fostering in giving the dogs the best opportunity for success by giving them a headstart on life in a home, versus the steep difference an animal experiences going from a shelter to a home.
This structure has led them to have great success in placing animals with the best families. Rarely, does an adoption not stick, and that helps them keep making room to give more dogs a chance at forever homes.
To learn more about Abby’s Angels Animal Haven, visit here.
Speed Queen at Work
For Nicole and Abby’s Angels, the timing of the Speed Queen equipment donation from Martin Appliance was perfect.
“A lifesaver,” Nicole said. “The donation came at the exact right time.”
And the wash performance of the TR7 has been helping the organization reduce costs. Obviously, the towels and blankets used in animal rescue are a tall order for cleaning. The challenges of removing excrement, urine, and vomit stains cannot be understated.
“Normally, we’d have to throw them out,” Nicole said, adding that now, with Speed Queen’s TR7, linens are coming out clean, fresh, and stain-free. And the DR7 dryer with pet hair removal cycle has been…shall we say…well used by Nicole and other fosters.