Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Cushman.
Hi Pauline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hope for Life Rescue began in February 2002, after seven years of prayer. During those seven years, I knew God was calling me to do something involving animals, but I didn’t yet know exactly what that would look like. I also felt strongly that if I moved forward before I had His approval, it probably wouldn’t work.
During that time, we rescued animals independently, had them spayed or neutered, and worked to find them loving homes. Once we felt God had given us the approval to officially begin Hope for Life Rescue, the organization started to grow. From the beginning, our mission has been about helping both animals and people. Over the years, we’ve had many opportunities to minister to people while also caring for animals in dire situations. We have always believed that all life matters.
As Hope for Life continued to grow, God continued to provide. Over the years, we expanded into more space, and today we operate two facilities located in the same parking lot.
In February 2027, Hope for Life will celebrate 25 years. Today, we rescue approximately 1,200 to 1,400 animals each year and maintain a 96–98% save rate, something we are very proud of. It has been incredible to see how far Hope for Life has come and how many lives, both animal and human, have been touched along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I can’t say that it has always been a smooth road, but it has definitely been a very rewarding one. One of the biggest challenges along the way has been making sure we could bring in enough funding to cover the medical expenses that can add up very quickly.
Many of the dogs and cats we take in have been abused, neglected, or have significant medical needs. We also take in animals that, in some cases, no one else is able or willing to take, so our veterinary bills can be substantial.
Through it all, we have been very fortunate. We are still here, still operating, and we have an incredible support system both within our community and beyond. We are truly blessed by the people who continue to support Hope for Life and make it possible for us to keep helping animals in need.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hope for Life Rescue, Inc. began in 2002. Before starting the organization, I had spent approximately 17 to 18 years working in professional business management, which gave me a strong foundation for running and growing the rescue.
One of the things Hope for Life is best known for is that we are a pro-life, cage-free organization. We believe that all life matters, not just young animals or healthy animals, but every life. All life is precious in God’s sight, and because of that, we believe every animal deserves every possible chance at life.
One thing that sets us apart from many other rescue organizations in Virginia is that we are fortunate enough to have a physical facility. In fact, we now have two facilities, which allows us to help more animals while also working alongside a strong network of foster homes. Our animals are not kept in traditional cages, and being cage-free is something we are especially proud of.
We also have a spay and neuter program for every animal that comes through our rescue, and overall, we are very proud of the operation we have built and the lives we have been able to save.
We would also love for readers to know that there are many ways to become part of Hope for Life. We are always in need of dedicated volunteers, foster homes, and financial support. Foster homes are especially important because they directly allow us to save more lives.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next five to ten years, we see Hope for Life continuing on a path of growth. One of our biggest goals is to eventually purchase both of the facilities that we currently rent. We would also like to increase the number of animals we are able to help each year, growing from approximately 1,200 animals annually to around 1,500 to 1,800.
At the same time, we know the animal rescue industry is facing rising costs, particularly when it comes to veterinary care and spay and neuter services. As those necessary expenses continue to increase, adoption fees may also need to increase in order for rescues to continue providing proper medical care.
We also believe community support will continue to be incredibly important, especially through fostering, volunteering, donations, and programs that help animals spend more time outside of a shelter environment.
One program we are especially proud of is our Puppy Sleepover program, which we have been offering for the past few years. Approved participants can take a puppy home for a sleepover, giving the puppy valuable time in a home environment where they can socialize with people, children, and other animals. It also gives our staff the opportunity to thoroughly clean and sanitize the puppy areas while the facility is empty. The puppies return before we open the following day to clean, refreshed spaces.
Programs like this are a great example of how we hope to continue growing, improving the experience for the animals in our care, and finding creative ways to involve the community in lifesaving work.
Pricing:
- Adult Dog Adoption Fee: $400 – includes spay/neuter, core vaccinations, microchip with lifetime registration, and initial flea/tick/deworming prevention
- Puppy Adoption Fee: $450 – includes spay/neuter, core vaccinations, microchip with lifetime registration, and initial flea/tick/deworming prevention
- Adult Cat Adoption Fee: $175 – includes spay/neuter, core vaccinations, microchip with lifetime registration, and initial flea/tick/deworming prevention
- Kitten Adoption Fee: $200 for 1 & $300 for 2 – includes spay/neuter, core vaccinations, microchip with lifetime registration, and initial flea/tick/deworming prevention
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopeforliferescue.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeforliferescue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopeForLifeRescue/
- Other: https://www.hopeforliferescue.com/stories-of-hope
