07/30/2026
It has taken us a couple of days to find the words.
Our rescue building and coffee headquarters were directly in the path of Monday's tornado, and while our hearts are incredibly heavy for everyone affected throughout the Appleton and Menasha communities, we also have so much gratitude.
Every animal in our care is safe.
The three dogs who were with Sarah and me when the tornado came through have all been safely relocated to emergency foster homes and boarding while we work through the aftermath. Maya was thankfully at the vet for testing that day. Levi is safe at his stable, which thankfully was untouched. I don't know that I'll ever forget those moments. Sarah and I were inside the building with three dogs as the tornado hit, and looking back, I'm just so proud of everyone - for staying calm, for being brave, and for getting everyone to safety.
To everyone who immediately started calling, texting, checking in, bringing generators, power banks, chainsaws, helping clear debris, offering equipment, lending a hand, or simply asking, "What do you need?"...thank you.
There aren't enough words to express what your kindness has meant to us. You have our whole hearts.
Right now we're focused on cleaning up, rebuilding, and replacing items that were damaged beyond saving. We've been without power and water since Monday, so we're taking things one step at a time.
Many of you have asked how you can help. While there is absolutely no expectation or pressure to donate, we did make our donation link available for those who have asked. Any support will help us replace damaged supplies, restore our rescue space, and most importantly, keep our mission moving forward.
https://donorbox.org/wilsonhaus-rescue-2026-july
As soon as we're back on our feet, our focus will shift right back where it belongs-helping the people and animals in our community who were also impacted by this storm. We can't wait to be in a position to give back the same way so many of you have shown up for us.
Please continue keeping everyone affected by this tornado in your thoughts. There are so many families, businesses, and animals facing difficult days ahead.
From the bottom of our hearts-thank you.
