Rescue Rocks raises over $100K for Team Okanogan Animal Rescue

LEAVENWORTH — The annual Rescue Rocks fundraiser on Sept. 19 brought in over $100,000 for Team Okanogan Animal Rescue (TOAR), helping provide lifesaving services and support for animals and families throughout Eastern Washington.

The money raised will help Team Okanogan Animal Rescue continue to provide emergency veterinary care, spay and neuter services, vaccinations, microchipping, pet food assistance, trap-neuter-return (TNR) programming, and other critical animal-welfare programs.

The nonprofit is dedicated to improving the lives of companion animals in Okanogan County, a region with limited resources and no publicly funded animal shelters. The organization has provided these services since 2022, serving over 5,000 animals, distributing over 400,000 pounds of pet food and supplies, and donating over $100,000 in grants to partner rescues and shelters to date.

“Rescue Rocks was an extraordinary reminder of what can happen when a community comes together for animals. The generosity in the room was overwhelming, but just as meaningful was the energy—the excitement, the compassion, and the genuine belief in the value of our work,” said Jill Servais, president of Team Okanogan Animal Rescue.

The Rescue Rocks 2026 event was hosted at the Leavenworth Festhalle, bringing together animal supporters, community members, businesses, and others from across the region. The night featured catered food, signature drinks, silent auctions and live music from Seattle’s The Afterparty.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who showed up, donated, sponsored, bid, danced, and celebrated with us. TOAR is only able to do this work because of people who believe in it, and we left the evening feeling deeply supported, inspired, and humbled by this community,” added Servais.

The event’s title sponsor, Paw Arty, is a unique nonprofit that brings people and shelter animals together through creativity. Volunteers create original portraits that capture the unique personalities and stories of shelter pets, helping give them greater visibility and, ultimately, a better chance of finding loving homes. 

Executive Director Alix Frazier said Paw Arty’s sponsorship was a direct investment in the work TOAR does to “ keep Eastern Washington families and their beloved pets together during incredibly tough times.”

“Partnering with Team Okanogan Animal Rescue (TOAR) has always been a natural fit because we share a fierce commitment to solving pet overpopulation and protecting vulnerable animals,” said Frazier.

Additional event sponsors included Cascade Auto Center, Firehouse Pet Shop, MacDonald-Miller, and Kaserne Cellars.