Mighty Pawz Special Operations and Humane Society is dedicated to helping our animal friends when they need it the most.

Now Mighty Pawz needs a little help from their friends.

A construction project in the area of Mighty Pawz – a private doggy daycare and boarding facility at 937 Stefko Blvd. – made it difficult to reach the site, according to Robert Rozak, co-owner of Mighty Pawz and chief of operations for Special Operations.

Rozak estimates business is down more than 95 percent since August due to construction that took cars up to one hour to drive one block, detouring Mighty Pawz altogether and essentially gutting the business. The project lasted nearly 10 weeks, until the second week of October.

The day care directly funds the humane society, which takes in abused dogs, acts as certified animal police, responds to dozens of calls per day and meets injured animals on-site 24/7. As of Nov. 3, Mighty Pawz was no longer able to respond to strays or any animal emergencies. This also includes Humane Society Police and cruelty complaints.

The financial situation is dire, but hope is on the horizon.

On Dec. 15, Mighty Pawz announced that Astound Business Solutions will fully match up to $10,000 raised on the organization’s GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-mighty-pawz-humane-society.

“Now we have a chance!” Rozak said. “Before the grassroots GoFundMe effort and this matching program, it seriously looked like we were going to lose both the humane society and our dog boarding business on top of it.”

Funding will support immediate completion of a new, more accessible location for Mighty Pawz under construction at 911 Gove Road Rear, Nazareth. Rozak hopes the new location, which will be home to both the humane society and kennel, will open mid-January to February.

Rozak said the private facility will do high end doggy daycare and boarding, and the hope is to have a grand opening in February.

“This location will allow us the land of 11.61 acres to help rehabilitate animals and livestock/farm animals,” Rozak said. “We are looking forward to continuing to serve Northampton County and now Monroe County, support consisting of humane society police and direct intakes from the area.”

“The agency itself should be considered an asset to the communities we serve,” Rozak said. “Being in Nazareth, closer to Monroe County gives us the advantage to serve communities that other facilities don’t. Although we already do have a presence with that community, it gives a sense of we’ve got your back.”

Rozak said Bushkill will benefit from the pet ambulances. In addition, humane society officers have not been in Monroe County, which has been served by ASPCA officers from Philadelphia. When humane society officers are sworn in, Monroe County will have its own investigations team for animal cruelty from Mighty Pawz.

Astound and Mighty Pawz urge Lehigh Valley residents to consider a donation to help reach the $10,000 threshold, which would mean $20,000 for Mighty Pawz.

Mighty Pawz has traveled throughout the Lehigh Valley and the United States to address and assist with animal rescues after natural disasters, while also sending vital supplies directly to those affected areas. Mighty Pawz offers nonprofit emergency services via both medical and physical animal rescues, such as on-site treatments at scenes of disasters or fires.

It also supports local county animal rescue teams with logistics and the equipment needed to effectuate animal rescues. This can involve rescues in high terrain that not even the fire department can reach, water rescues, or just initial emergency triage care for animals. The business even has its own “fire truck” to help rescues cats from trees.

Rozak believes Mighty Pawz is the first business of its kind in Pennsylvania and to his knowledge, the entire United States. The organization is a critical response partner with the ASPCA national team and may deploy up to 14 days at any given time to places as far away as California.

Mighty Pawz’ special operations division is comprised of volunteers who train in animal behavior and medical emergencies, as well as fire department training for rescue. The company currently works with the American Red Cross, County of Lehigh and Northampton County animal rescue teams.

Astound Business Solutions learned of Mighty Pawz through Astound’s “Community Impact Awards,” which recognizes small business and nonprofits across the United States for exceptional community contributions. Mighty Pawz received an award this year.

“Mighty Pawz is the epitome of how much one organization can make a difference in their community and beyond. We are honored to grant this matching program to help them weather the storm and continue to serve the Lehigh Valley so very well,” Michael McPhillips, regional vice-president, Astound Business Solutions, said.