Our Mission Is Simple: Every Life Matters
Together, we’re mending hearts.
Pets change our lives.
We’re on a quest to change theirs.
Mending Hearts Pet Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing, fostering, and rehoming the abandoned, sick, and injured animals around southwest Florida.
With your help, we hope to make a difference in the lives of these wonderful animals.
Kelly Nazario
Mending Hearts Pet Rescue was founded in 2023 by Kelly Nazario, a lifelong animal advocate with more than 18 years of hands-on animal care and rescue experience.
What began as a personal mission has grown into a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving animals throughout Southwest Florida. Our adopters may come from anywhere in Florida, provided they are able to participate in our adoption and meet-and-greet process.
We believe every animal deserves a fighting chance, regardless of how sick, scared, young, or overlooked they may be. We focus much of our work on medically needy animals because we have the experience, community partnerships, and foster support needed to help them recover.
Through our relationships with trusted veterinary clinics, foster families, shelters, volunteers, and supporters, we provide each animal with compassionate and individualized care.
Meet Kelly Nazario
Kelly Nazario is the founder, director, and often the late-night kitten feeder behind Mending Hearts Pet Rescue.
With more than 18 years of animal care experience, Kelly brings a unique combination of professional knowledge, compassion, and personal dedication to every rescue case.
Her approach is highly individualized. She evaluates each animal’s needs, coordinates care with trusted veterinary clinics, works closely with foster families, and remains involved throughout the adoption process.
Kelly founded Mending Hearts after recognizing a need for additional support for orphaned, medically complex, injured, and overlooked animals. Every day, she works to fill that gap and give animals the opportunity to heal, feel safe, and find a family of their own.
Let us help find your perfect match!
From playful kittens and affectionate adult cats to dogs looking for a second chance, our adoptable animals are ready to become part of a loving family.
Browse our current adoptable pets, read their individual profiles, and submit an application when you find an animal who may be right for you. Our team carefully reviews each application and works to create the best possible match for both the animal and adopter.
Not sure which animal is right for you? You can also submit our general adoption application.
How you can help
There are countless ways you can help us in our quest for paws. You can make a donation (however big or small), join our fundraiser events, or volunteer your time and home as a foster parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Mending Hearts Pet Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our EIN is 92-3371469.
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Mending Hearts Pet Rescue is headquartered in North Port, Florida, but we rescue animals from shelters and communities throughout Southwest Florida. We are a foster-based organization and do not operate a public shelter facility. Our animals live with volunteer foster families until they are adopted.
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We have placed animals with families throughout Florida. Applications outside our immediate area are considered as long as the adopter can participate in the required adoption process and meet-and-greet.
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We prioritize orphaned, medically needy, injured, and at-risk animals. Intake decisions are based on the animal’s needs, available foster homes, available resources, and our ability to provide appropriate care.
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Donations support veterinary care, food, medications, foster supplies, rescue expenses, and other essential needs. Mending Hearts also maintains a public nonprofit profile through Candid and periodically updates its website with organizational impact information.
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Yes. We collaborate with shelters, veterinary clinics, rescue organizations, foster families, volunteers, and community partners throughout Southwest Florida. These relationships allow us to reach more animals and provide the specialized care they need.