Mark and Wanda Shefts have always shared a love for black Labrador retrievers--they have adopted many of these fun and affectionate dogs into their home over the years. In 2005, their passion transitioned into a cause when their five-year-old Lab, Breezy, was diagnosed with cancer and given six weeks to live.
“We were devastated,” says Mark. “We brought her to the Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania for treatment. While sitting in the waiting room, we noticed the other families in the waiting room with pets in need of medical care. We were struck with the fact that animals truly become an important part of one’s family. So, when an animal gets sick, that’s devastating enough—but what do you do when you don’t have the means to pay for treatment?”
Breezy lived two-and-a-half more years thanks to the outstanding medical care the Shefts and UPenn provided for her. However, she passed away within several weeks of the Shefts’ senior Lab, Onyx.
The loss of both dogs at the same time was heartbreaking and prompted Mark and Wanda to establish a 501c3 organization, and the Onyx and Breezy Foundation was born. The Shefts and their team have been assisting individuals and organizations who share the same love of animals ever since.
“We are not a rescue organization,” notes Mark. “My wife and I both had Wall Street careers. We run this non-profit like a business, and Wanda is the driving force behind it all.” The foundation focuses on helping to provide funding for medical care, equipment, and research in honor of Onyx and Breezy.
Pet owners must provide their tax return, a cost estimate for the surgery or medication, and prove they were denied CareCredit pet insurance to qualify for a grant. If the individual meets the criteria and is approved by the foundation, they will receive a grant to cover surgery or medical costs. No-kill shelters receive support after careful analysis of their administrative costs and their success in adopting out animals, and universities may apply for grants to fund projects or research. In fact, the organization has provided dog-sized oxygen tents and funded cancer studies for the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Our primary focus is to provide immediate medical care for animals so that families can be relieved of the stress of euthanizing a pet or watching them live in pain. Because all administrative costs are absorbed, the Onyx and Breezy Foundation can proudly claim that 100 percent of donations go directly to helping animals. “When I seek out donations from friends or colleagues, it is important to me to be able to tell them that their support goes directly to the animals in need,” says Mark.
The foundation has also provided vital support for military and police animals, funding dog-sized bullet-proof vests for the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, medicine and cooling vests for military dogs deployed to Afghanistan, and educational courses on treating injured canines in the field for police organizations.
When Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico in 2017, the foundation’s team was able to charter a plane to deliver veterinary medical supplies and transport homeless dogs back to the U.S. for successful adoption.
“I always had a dog and never realized how much love I had for them,” says Mark. “Our goal is to help as many animals as we can.”
Donors and fundraising events support the work of the Onyx and Breezy Foundation. Check out their website for information on their dinner auction and comedy night event at Portobellos in Oakland on Saturday, October 21.
Onyxandbreezy.org
"Our goal is to help as many animals as we can.”