Nikki Rosenbaugh finds local dogs in need of rescue – and in turn, she finds herself.
“Before rescue, I really didn’t know what my purpose is,” she said.
She founded Obe’s Angels Rescue four years ago, an endeavor she has run out of her home in Dolores — until now.
The second year of the operation, Rosenbaugh began holding yard sales to back the rescue mission, in addition to funding from Facebook. Now, she has a brick-and-mortar thrift store at 317 E. Main St. in Cortez filled with items she’s collected over the years.
“It’s a little scary, but it needed to be done to sustain the growth and help the animals,” she said.
The store opened its doors Saturday, with an official grand opening to come.
Obe’s Angels provides all the dog food, crates and other items rescued dogs need, Rosenbaugh said. She has built a network of local fosters that house the dogs short-term before they find forever homes. She rescues them locally, as well as from San Antonio, Texas, where she rescues pets scheduled to be euthanized.
The rescue’s name honors a black lab of Rosenbaugh’s who has since passed – Obe. She has pit bulls of her own, and is particularly passionate about saving dogs of that breed.
“I have a goal and a passion and I’m going to make it happen no matter what,” she said.
Her job went remote due to the pandemic, and that enabled her to take her non-profit to the next level.
She’s hoping to grow her network of fosters, as well as work with Southwest Open School to give items to students in exchange for volunteer time.
She also launched a furniture refurbishing effort — the Painting for Pups Project — through which she will spotlight pieces painted and restored by herself and volunteers for sale in the store.
“I’m trying any avenue I can to get as much as I can for these animals,” she said.
The store is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
