About Us

 In 2010, Eileen Gideon’s family gave her an adorable Bloodhound puppy for her birthday. She named him Jethro. At Jethro’s first veterinary appointment, Eileen learned that he had several hereditary health issues. Like many puppies sold through pet stores, Jethro had come from a breeder supplying puppies to the pet store—an Amish puppy mill. This discovery prompted Eileen to begin researching puppy mills, breeders, and the overwhelming number of homeless pets in shelters and rescues desperately in need of loving homes.

The more Eileen learned, the more she realized she needed to become actively involved in creating change. In response, she founded Uniting 2 Save Animals (U2SA), a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing the number of unwanted and homeless pets in our area. From 2011 through 2022, U2SA provided more than 3,000 free and low-cost spay and neuter procedures to families in need, while also helping local rescues with dozens of veterinary expenses.

From 2017 through 2025, U2SA funded the Happy Hounds Prison Dog Program in Hagerstown, Maryland. The program provided positive-reinforcement training and behavior modification for dogs at risk of euthanasia, while also teaching incarcerated individuals valuable dog-handling and training skills that could help them pursue employment after incarceration. Sadly, in 2025, the prison dog program was forced to close its doors.

In early 2022, Jethro passed away, but his legacy and influence continue to guide U2SA’s mission. His story remains at the heart of the organization’s commitment to spay/neuter initiatives, medical assistance, and helping animals find healthier, happier futures.