In the late 1990s, two shelter volunteers were staging home-grown adoption outreaches by taking adoptable dogs to local businesses. Occasionally, people gave them small cash donations. In 2004, one of them received a $1,000 check from a person who asked only that it be used “for the animals at the shelter.” A simple savings account was opened with the money. Around that time, a dog named Rusty was brought in. Rusty was a Rottweiler mix who, it turned out, needed costly ligament surgery in both knees. The $1,000 savings account was named The Rusty Fund in honor of that dear, young dog who couldn't afford his own treatment. Since then, countless dogs and cats have been able to get a little extra help when they needed it, thanks to compassionate volunteers and many generous donors.