Our pet rescue mission.

Our Story

Small Foundation, Big Heart

Companion animals need our love and care, and they depend on our support.

Just like you, we love pets.

From day one, our efforts have been entirely volunteer-driven, yet our initiative has saved the lives of many companion animals.

For nearly two decades, I have dedicated myself to rescuing cats (and dogs) in need.

How did it all begin? Well, it started slowly and unexpectedly. When my two daughters rescued a week-old kitten from a sewer in front of our house, little did I know that this single rescue project would mark the beginning of a life-saving journey!

Journey's Beginning: changing pet lives.

Journey's Beginning embodies my passion for animals and my commitment to their well-being.

Pets require love, quality food, water, and shelter, as well as a dedicated team of daily caregivers. However, the costs of meeting vital rescue needs can often reach hundreds or even thousands of dollars per animal. Recognizing the limits of our financial resources, I decided to create Journey's Beginning, channeling my love for animals to ensure we have ample resources for our daily work.

Together, we feed hope.

Our mission is to develop effective, compassionate, and humane solutions for the challenges faced by neglected companion pets.

We receive no government support and rely entirely on donations of time, service, and money from our supporters. We understand that, like us, you deeply care for animals, and with your assistance, we will not only continue but also strengthen our vital mission of helping animals in need.

Thank you for believing in the mission!

- Yvette Sommer-Pechanec, Founder

Over

15

Years of Experience

Over

250,000

Bowls of Food Donated

Over

10,000

Hours of Support Provided

Get to Know Us

Animals are Our Inspiration

“Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” - Simon Sinek

Join Us

Explore Ways to Participate

Whether you shop online, make a donation, assist with a fundraising event, or spread the word, you help to improve the welfare and well-being of companion pets.

Visit our Store

When you shop our Online Gift Store, you directly contribute to our cause - it is a simple and automatic way to support our mission.

Make a Donation

Please support our mission – your contribution makes all of our work possible. You can Donate Now Online or mail your donation (checks payable to Journey's Beginning) to P.O. BOX 133, Stewartsville, NJ 08886.

Feed the Hungry

Shop our Amazon Wish List to donate much-needed supplies. Your support means a great deal to the animals that depend on us. Additionally, we gladly accept gift cards from Petco, Chewy, Walmart, or Tractor Supply – every little bit helps us save lives.