Paula Rivadeneira has spent 16 years running Old Souls Animal Rescue and Retirement Home out of her own home, caring for elderly and special-needs animals without ever taking a paycheck, but now the shelter's future is in jeopardy as she's fallen behind on the mortgage for the house it calls home.

Old Souls got its start in 2010 in Las Vegas, with Rivadeneira relocating the shelter several times over the years as she moved around the country.

She eventually settled down in Tucson, after falling in love with the desert and community.

The shelter is currently home to 105 animals, ranging from dogs and cats to turkeys and peacocks.

It serves hospice, geriatric and special-needs animals from overcrowded shelters, primarily housing elderly animals, with residents split between permanent shelter animals and those available for adoption.

Old Souls frequently rescues animals from Pima Animal Care Center, with one of its main goals being to support the municipal shelter as much as it can.

Old Souls is primarily funded by small donors, though it also procured a grant from Tractor Supply Company to install a fence around the property.

And while donations and the occasional grant have provided enough funding over the years to support all of the animals in its care, Rivadeneira said that more money would allow them to take in more animals and free up critical shelter space at PACC.

"We only take in as many animals as we can afford, so we would take in many more animals if we had many more supporters, donors, volunteers," Rivadeneira said. "That's really the limiting factor is funding and volunteers."

Rivadeneira said she gets messages and phone calls every day, sometimes more than a dozen, from people needing to rehome their pets for various reasons, and that it never gets easier to tell them she's unable to take them.

"We have to say no most of the time and it's heartbreaking for us, and many times the people are really angry with us because they think we have some kind of funding that requires us to take their animals," Rivadeneira said.

Old Souls is entirely staffed by volunteers, and Rivadeneira expanded her reach a few years ago by opening a pet funeral home, Cholla Afterlife, which offers pet water cremation, or aquamation, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation.

She doesn't take a salary for either role.

That's taken a toll on the shelter's finances. Rivadeneira has recently fallen behind on her mortgage payments, putting the house at risk of foreclosure, a threat that could significantly affect the shelter since it operates out of her home.

There are several ways the public can help the shelter beyond donating or adopting. Old Souls holds volunteer hours every Saturday, offering an easy way to pitch in.

The rescue offers foster opportunities for people who want a pet but don't feel financially ready to take one on full time. In exchange for keeping the animal well cared for in a loving home, Old Souls covers its medical expenses.

The rescue also offers Camp Old Souls, a cage-free pet-sitting service for geriatric, special-needs and hospice dogs, with proceeds supporting the shelter.

The shelter has also found creative ways to bring in extra funds. Old Souls sells a coloring book featuring illustrations and stories of its senior and special-needs residents, with 100% of proceeds going toward the animals' care.

Rivadeneira is also encouraging community members to spread news about Old Souls and its predicament on social media.

"You never know if you're somehow going to be one or two or three people away from someone who might be a really big donor for us who might really love what we do," she said. "That can be a thing to even help our rescue become bigger and stronger than it is."

Rivadeneira hopes to find someone to work side-by-side with her in the next few years, as well as fundraising enough for a salary so the shelter can continue to grow.

She hopes to eventually have paid employees and upward of 100 volunteers.

Rivadeneira said Old Souls will find a way through its financial struggles and keep the shelter running. She said their work not only impacts the animals in their care, but also touches the hearts of every person involved.

Zaida Josephene-White  is a Sahuaro High School student and Tucson Spotlight intern.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.