It's fitting that the next fundraiser for the Leo's Helping Paws nonprofit group will be held on Valentine's Day.

That's emblematic of the love Kathy Styer and Beth Buchter have for dogs.

Styer and Buchter co-founded Leo's Helping Paws in July 2014. The pair were volunteers for another rescue organization before electing to branch out on their own.

"At that time, we were seeing a lot of need," said Styer, who is the president. "There were more rescues that were being formed, and the need for vet care was the No. 1 issue with all the dogs that they would rescue, and it's costly. In order to get them adopted, first they had to be vetted, because that's protocol for a rescue."

Leo's Helping Paws' mission is to provide financial assistance for veterinary care to nonprofit all-volunteer dog rescue groups in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The organization, made up of 40 volunteers, has also assisted outfits in Ohio, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Connecticut, and Delaware.

Anyone wishing to donate, volunteer, or apply for a grant can go to http://www.leoshelpingpaws.org.

Leo's Helping Paws, based in Lancaster city, has awarded an average of more than 80 grants per year totaling approximately $780,000 in its existence.

"I am a big dog lover," said Buchter, who is the treasurer. "I've always had compassion for animals. It's just in me. It's my nurturing instinct."

The nonprofit is named after Leo, a tri-colored corgi that was adopted in 2009.

"We're just very passionate about rescue because there's so many dogs out there that need homes," said Styer.

Styer said most of the dogs the organization helps are abandoned or come from a breeding facility. "Because of some switches in the laws, the breeders will reach out to rescues to take the dogs when they're done breeding them," she said.

In October, there was a rescue in Delaware that rescued 61 dogs from a breeder facility. "We gave them $10,000 to treat every dog, to get their initial exams and all the bloodwork and things like that," said Styer. "That was our largest grant ever."

Styer and Buchter also aid dogs as a side project unrelated to Leo's Helping Paws. "(Recently) Beth and I, we picked up two 7-month-old corgis that didn't sell from a breeder in Honey Brook," said Styer.

Leo's Helping Paws usually holds one fundraiser a month. One of its biggest is the annual bake sale. This year's event will be Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ephrata Agway, 731 W. Main St. Hot dogs, snacks, and beverages will also be for sale. There will be chances to win prizes, as well.

Anyone who would like to donate baked goods to be sold can email contact@leoshelpingpaws.org or visit the Facebook page "Leo's Helping Paws."