BULL VALLEY – After years of running Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary out of her Bull Valley-area home, owner Nancy Harney said the nonprofit needs money to avoid cutting back on the number of animals it serves.

Harney said she has personally financed the organization, even before it became a nonprofit, since she started caring for animals about 30 years ago.

“It’s just getting to be more than I can personally finance anymore,” Harney said.

Around December, Lance Laureys said his organization Forever Husky, based in Crystal Lake, started working with Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary.

“We’re at this point now where we need to help fundraise for them, and desperately because we don’t want to displace these animals,” Laureys said.

He said Forever Husky can help Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary with its Internet and community presence and fundraising efforts, and Forever Husky can use the sanctuary’s space to do more adoptions.

Harney and her eight employees – three certified veterinary technicians and five animal caregivers – take care of about 40 dogs, and other animals including cats, goats, llamas and sheep at the 60-acre property. She also has 68 horses, most of which stay at her 300-acre property in Paris, Kentucky.

“Most of the animals that we take in have been either mentally or physically abused and they have health problems,” Harney said. “And it’s a lot of work and a lot of time to get them back to healthy.”

She said they recently spent about $10,000 just on fixing one dog’s eyesight.

Harney said her organization is unique because of the medical care and training they give the animals, and the animals don’t live in cages.

“They live in a home environment, so it’s happier and healthier for them,” Harney said.

Harney said they are planning a fundraiser, and she hopes the money raised will allow Happy Tails Animal Sanctuary to continue serving animals.

“I just love animals and they’ve helped me through my life in various problems, and I’m just going to give back,” Harney said.

Ten dogs are up for adoption now. People interested in adopting can contact happytailsanimalsanctuary@gmail.com and donations can be made at http://youcaring.com/htasinc.