Editorial Note: This is part of a series that profiles the recipients of Lady Freethinker’s Urgent Need Fund 2025 grant program. The program was created to support nonprofit organizations involved in animal rescue and care, as well as those that promote better animal treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about the program, click here.
For many families, the decision about whether they can keep an animal companion isn’t about lack of love — it’s about surviving hardship. When money runs short, housing becomes unstable, or when unexpected vet bills hit, people who deeply love their animals can face an impossible choice.
That’s where New Leash On Life, a Lebanon, Tennessee-based organization, comes in. Through its Crisis Paw Pantry, the nonprofit helps animals stay safely in their homes.
Rescued Cat (Lady Freethinker)
The project is “an expanded intake-prevention initiative that provides emergency pet food, veterinary access, basic supplies, and crisis support to families facing hardship,” New Leash On Life Development Coordinator Tanya Willis told LFT. “The program helps keep animals out of overcrowded shelters by meeting urgent needs before pet surrender becomes the only option.”
Thanks to a $10,000 Urgent Need Fund grant from Lady Freethinker, New Leash on Life can now expand its Crisis Paw Pantry to support even more families in need.
Rescued Dogs (Lady Freethinker)
The timing of the support could not have been more critical. After the recent government shutdown temporarily halted SNAP benefits, requests for help have surged. “We’ve already seen a rise in families asking for support, especially those who were barely staying afloat to begin with,” Willis said.
With Lady Freethinker’s grant — which was matched by Tito’s Handmade Vodka — the organization expects to help more than 1,000 animals between now and the end of the year, mostly dogs and cats. Many households have multiple animal companions, so the pantry regularly assists more than 500 animals each month.
Rescued Cats (Lady Freethinker)
Behind those numbers are families facing real crises. One family lost everything in a house fire and suddenly had nothing — not even supplies for their two large dogs. As they began rebuilding their lives, the pantry provided them with kennels, blankets, cleaning supplies, bowls, food, and even a few essential household items.
“It wasn’t just about giving supplies, it was about giving them breathing room, support, and the comfort of having their dogs by their side through recovery,” Willis recounted.
Rescued Dog (L); Rescued Cat Cayenne, who lost both eyes to upper respiratory infection (R) (Lady Freethinker)
Another case involved a senior cat named Pepper, whose guardian lives on disability income and couldn’t afford her X-rays. The pantry covered the costs, allowing the vet to determine Pepper’s condition and helping her stay in her home.
“Instead of surrendering Pepper, her owner got answers,” Willis explained.
Rescued Cat Noah who has a thyroid condition (L); Rescued Dog T-Bone, who “works” at the front desk (R) (Lady Freethinker)
The organization plans to use this extra support to expand the pantry’s reach, provide more pet food and supplies, cover urgent veterinary care for families who can’t afford it, and assist with housing-related needs, such as pet deposits or supplies during transitions. Behavioral guidance is also part of the initiative to help prevent avoidable surrender.
“This grant didn’t just give us funding, it gave us hope,” Willis shared. “It helped us say ‘yes’ to families in their most vulnerable moments, and it reminded people that when you support the human-animal bond, you create ripples of kindness that reach far beyond the food bowl.”
Rescued Dog Delilah, whose elderly owner passed away (Lady Freethinker)
Lady Freethinker is grateful to its supporters for helping keep animal companions safe, loved, and right where they belong — at home.
