National Rescue Dog Day 🐶❤️🩹
With over 3 million dogs in the United States in shelters and over 900,000 euthanized every year, we love to celebrate those that rescue dogs and raise awareness for the need - and accompanying joy - to rescue.
In honor of National Rescue Dog Day, we wanted to highlight some of our ambassadors and share their incredible stories of rescuing their dogs - or rather, how their dogs rescued them.
MEET MARIA & MUNCHKIN
Why did you decide to rescue a dog?
In the Summer of 2022, I lost my soul dog and it was the most difficult loss I have had to face. Having a best friend along your side for 14 years and then suddenly losing them was a big adjustment. I knew that getting another dog right away wasn’t something I was ready for. Instead, I became involved with a local rescue in my area. I was able to help take care of the dogs, as well as help with their marketing department to spread the message about their adoptables! Spending time with the dogs and cats in the shelter really opened my eyes on the hardship that so many of them have had to go through. I immediately knew that when the time was right, adoption was going to be the path I wanted to take.
How did you find your dog?
In February of 2023, I officially applied to become a foster for another rescue that is 100% foster based. I have been eyeing this rescue for over a year and thought it would be a great way to help some pups in the area. In May of 2023, exactly a year ago on National Rescue Day, I picked up my very first foster dog. About a week into fostering her I knew there was no way I was letting her go. We had an instant connection and to this day, I can still say that officially saying yes to “foster failing” was the best decision I have made.
What is your dog's story?
Little Miss Munchkin took her freedom ride on May 20th, 2023 along with 72 other dogs. All of them were being rescued from Amish Puppymills. For the past 6 years of her life, she lived in a cage with the soul purpose of breeding puppies. She was treated as a commodity and a means of business. Given how frightened she was and the way that she looked upon picking her up, you can tell her health was not a priority. She never knew a gentle hand, never saw grass, nor the outside world until the day I picked her up to be her foster. She was completely frightened and as stiff as a rock when I held her for the first time. This poor girl, along with the other dogs this rescue saves every month, was truly experiencing a life no living being should ever have to endure.
What was it like when you brought your dog home?
Munchkin was terrified of everything and everyone. Anything from the sound of a car passing by, dogs barking, people talking, or dropping an item, was enough to make her want to go running. With her never seeing the grass, she had no idea how to walk on it and would crawl the first few days. Even at the age of 6, she was not potty trained as she was used to going in her kennel. Potty training Munchkin was quite the journey! Going on walks was completely new to her and I had to ensure I always had full control of her as everything was scary for her. In fact our first walk consisted of her almost running an entire 3 miles! It was clearly overstimulating and she wouldn’t stop. I also had to be mindful of taking her out early before going to bed as being outside in the dark was terrifying for her. When it came to people, I had to make sure I was giving her space and asked others to respect that as she would immediately cower if you got too close to her. But who could blame her considering she never knew a gentle hand until the day we met. Even though she barely knew me, I instantly became her person. Within 3 days she would try to follow me everywhere I went. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to earn her trust given her background, but it’s truly one of the biggest blessings being able to give this girl the life she deserves. While I will never be able to take back the 6 years she lost living at that puppy mill, I’m determined to make up for lost time and give her the world. I may have rescued her, but she 100% rescued me too.
Why is rescuing important to you?
Rescuing is important to me because it’s so much more than picking a dog because of their breed or age. It’s about giving a dog their forever home when someone else may have failed them along the way. I don’t think a breed defines a dog, nor do I think their past should. Everyone deserves a second chance and rescue is all about giving that to those that can’t speak for themselves. Sure, some of these animals are coming with a dark past, such as Munchkin. But we are about to hit our 1 year “adoptaversary” and she is a completely different dog. We still have ways to go, but seeing her progress is such a blessing. Being a part of that journey is truly an honor. All they need is love and patience, in exchange they’ll give you their loyalty and unconditional love. I encourage everyone to please look behind the curtain on breeding! If Munchkins story tells you anything, I hope that it’s a reminder that the parents of those cute puppies you see for sale may not be living the most humane life. I promise rescue dogs have a lot of love to give, even the senior pups!
FOLLOW THE RESCUE & MARIA AND MUNCHKIN
Tiny N Tall Rescue INC. (St. Charles, IL)
IG: @tinyntallrescue
Website: tinyntallrescue.com
Munchkins IG: @momentswithmunchkin
Maria's IG: @maria_coellar
MEET JEN & LOUIE
Why did you decide to rescue a dog?
In college, a friend invited me to go to the local animal shelter to give love to some pets in need. After that, I was hooked! I had never really experienced a shelter. To see these poor animals in need of a home opened my eyes. I promised myself that when I graduated I would go to the shelter and adopt a dog!
How did you find your dog?
Back in 2021, I became very sick with COVID-19 and was stuck at home for over a month alone! I would get on the local shelter's Facebook every day to lift my spirits. One day I saw that they had posted about "Pistol Louie" and how he had been put in the shelter by a family who could not handle his energy. I had my eyes on him for SURE! The next week he had been adopted. I was so upset! By the end of me being sick, I saw that he had been returned AGAIN! I immediately called my family and friends to ask their opinions and advice. They all said that it was a BAD idea as I was barely getting back to walking around. So of course, the first thing I did when I started to feel okay was go to the shelter and meet him. When I got there, they told me they were closing early and I needed an appointment. When I told them I was there to see Louie they instantly changed their minds and let me meet him. They told me he was such an active dog and needed someone who would be able to keep up with him. That night I filled out the shelter's adoption papers, turned them in, and patiently waited until I got the call to get him!
What is your dog's story?
Louie had been in 3 other families before he landed with me. He was found as a stray and lived on a farm. They said he kept trying to play with their other animals and turned him into the shelter. The family before me locked him in a crate for almost 24 hours in an RV and returned him after 1 day because he had "too much energy." He had to be treated for worms and lots of ticks and fleas too! I am not sure what else he went through but I know that he had a lot of trauma we had to work through.
What was it like when you brought your dog home?
The day I brought Louie home was not the best. I took him straight to the vet (who luckily was my landlord AND two feet from the house I was renting at the time!). When I got him in my house, I realized the bed I bought for him was WAY too small, so he slept with me and well, he never left (I will let him sleep anywhere haha!). The night I picked him up, I had a huge show I was in and unfortunately had to crate him which I was TORN about. I had a roommate luckily help and play with him while I was gone. It took MONTHS for him to be fully crate trained, due to his past being locked up. I also learned very quickly that he did not like being touched around his neck or putting on a harness or clothes. I started associating those things with good things like walks and park time, so now he gets SO excited when I put something on him! The first week I had him I cried a LOT. It was so difficult with such a high-energy dog. Yes, everyone warned me, but I knew he would be worth it. And boy is that true!
Why is rescuing important to you?
After going through the adoption process and helping a dog be a dog and seeing love for the first time, I can say I will only adopt/rescue for the rest of my life. There are so many dogs out there who need love and have been failed by humans. I believe it is more important to think about them than paying so much money for a "pure bread" dog. What's more pure than a rescue pup's first comfortable sleep or toy?? NOTHING!
FOLLOW THE RESCUE & LOUIE
Rita B. Huff Humane Society (Huntsville, TX)
Website: rbhhumanesociety.org
Louie's IG: @louiefromhuntsville
MEET CHRIS, ERICA & WALLY
Why did you decide to rescue a dog?
For years, my husband and I wanted a dog (ok maybe me more than him), but were unable due to our rental/landlord policy. In 2020, we were able to purchase our first home and one of our requirements was a fenced in yard for our future little guy. Once we had the right living environment, were settled in after a year, we knew it was time to start our search. My husband and I do not have kids, therefore felt a strong desire to help a dog in need and give them a well-loved life. We started following several local rescues online and continued to watch for when the right companion came along. We weren’t in a rush, we didn’t have a timeline, and let the process play out.
How did you find your dog?
We visited our parents over the holidays, and my mom has a rescue chi mix. This trip hit different versus previous visits. Her dog followed Chris around and they really bonded. This was serendipitous for what was to happen next. We got back to LA and one of the rescues we follow on Instagram posted a photo of a little chi mix who was just brought to the states over the holidays. They said he was being placed with a foster and would be available soon. His photo spoke to me and it was the FIRST dog photo I showed my husband where he immediately responded “we should apply.” From that moment, it was on! I kept watching their website and IG feed for when they would post his availability. Social media was great because I saw several photos of him and descriptions of his loving behavior, what to expect with his personality and I interacted with questions before I applied. Once applications were available, we were one of the first to apply and we got the call/interview to see if we’d be a fit!
What is your dog's story?
Wally was found on the streets of Ensenada, Mexico. Someone found him on the streets and surrendered him to a vet. The vet was affiliated with Love At First Mutt because they were working with him (during covid) and other rescue dogs prior to bringing them back to the states. They happened to be making a trip and he asked if they would take Wally – thank goodness they said yes! Wally made his trip over the border to LA. He was such a skinny little guy – they assumed around 2 years old, weighing only 8 lbs. He was very malnourished, had a ton of hair loss, scaly skin, and had some street wounds on him. Although he was little, he was mighty and a loving little guy that was placed with an excellent foster. She was able to acclimate him to normal life and have him interact with other dogs/people for about 2 weeks. This was such an excellent and important stepping stone prior to us adopting him.
What was it like when you brought your dog home?
Not to be cliché, but it was love at first sight. We met him in Long Beach at his foster, and we knew immediately he was ours. He greeted us with love and had no problem getting in a crate and making the ride back to our house. We were so nervous and yet he didn’t make a peep! I’ll never forget introducing him to our house – we kept him on a leash when we walked in and he was so curious and so happy. The first week we never even turned our TV on because we kept playing with him and were in such awe. Although Wally was on the streets, his description from the rescue/foster was very accurate. He was crate trained, was potty trained for the most part and could walk on a leash. The first week he was still getting used to our home, so we had to go on a routine/multiple walks, or he would go potty in the house. Once he knew our doors, he was great, and still is to this day, letting us know he has to go outside. Our biggest challenge was his skin and diet – he was very itchy and had lots of hair loss in patches. Our vet suggested a fish diet for omegas which we transitioned to immediately. Transitioning to a new diet did cause some digestive issues, but that subsided fairly quickly. He isn’t a picky eater and after a month his skin/coat started to thrive and he’s now 11 lbs! As expected, he was a little timid at first, but after 2 weeks was fully in our routine and sleeping in our bed… which we always said we’d never do, ha!
Why is rescuing important to you?
For us, rescuing an animal will always be our only choice. When you meet a rescue dog or own a rescue dog – you discover how special they are. I truly believe they know they were rescued and are so grateful for their loving home and safe environment. The trust, loyalty, and love Wally has for us is immeasurable and I know it is because we rescued him. The United States has 6.5 million animals enter a shelter a year and only 3.2 million get adopted. These numbers are alarming, and every rescue makes a difference. Animals do not make this choice, but we as humans can make the choice to help those in need.
FOLLOW THE RESCUE & WALLY
Love At First Mutt (Los Angeles, CA)
IG: @loveatfirstmutt
Website: loveatfirstmutt.org
Wally's IG: @wallybunzbear
MEET MOLISA & HATTIE B
Why did you decide to rescue a dog?
When I decided to rescue a dog, I was in a place in my life where things had settled down, and I could focus on loving and caring for a dog. I decided to adopt and rescue a dog because there are a lot of dogs without homes. I decided to look into the local shelters for a dog that would fit my lifestyle and be appropriate for apartment-style living.
How did you find your dog?
I found my dog via the local county shelter. I applied to adopt and my application was approved. It took a few months for me to find the right dog for me. I would check the website several times a day for the perfect pup. I was so happy when I found my fur baby on the website. Initially, another person was ahead of me on the list, but they removed themselves from the waiting list, which placed me as the first person. I almost removed myself from her waiting list. I was looking at their Facebook page and saw they had the contact information for her previous owners. I thought they would claim her, but per the advice of a volunteer worker at the shelter, I kept my name listed. I'm glad I did. The prior owners never claimed her within the holding period.
What is your dog's story?
Hattie B escaped and ran away. She was found by somebody, and they turned her in to the local shelter. While I was keeping track of her on the shelter's Facebook page, the owners were located. However, they never claimed her within the five-day holding period. Before I owned her, Hattie B was very timid and nervous. She did not like riding in cars. She would also jump when other dogs barked at her. Within a few months, her entire persona changed. I always said with the proper amount of love and care, Hattie B became very confident. She returns love and brightens up people's spirits when they're around her.
What was it like when you brought your dog home?
I had so much joy when I brought Hattie B home. She is the first dog I've ever owned. I have had family dogs but I have never taken care of dogs by myself. Hattie was fixed before coming home with me. So, she was very quiet and took a second to warm up to me. I remember how she would inch her way to her new bed throughout the night, lol. She finally made it to her bed and slept on her back. I was so happy she was comfortable around me. I did not face any specific challenges with her. She was house-trained and well-behaved. I did have problems with her getting out of her collar. However, when I purchased a harness for her, that challenge became null.
Why is rescuing important to you?
Rescuing is important to me because there are so many stray animals out there deserving of a loving home. If I shopped for a dog, I would have missed out on the loveable and sweet personality of my Hattie B. I would ask that anybody ready to own a dog, please consider going to your local shelter or rescue organization to find your fur baby. As the saying goes, you think you're rescuing them, but they are rescuing you. It is a cheesy saying, but it is so true. Hattie B rescued me and I am so happy to be loved by her unconditionally.
FOLLOW THE RESCUE
Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control Shelter (Anne Arundel County, MD)
Website: aacounty.org
MEET DJAMILA & PIPPI
Why did you decide to rescue a dog?
We volunteer at a local animal rescue, Sweet Paws Rescue, and see first hand why rescue is so incredibly important. We already had an older chihuahua who is very dog selective, and we weren’t sure if we could bring in another dog so we weren’t looking. But one day we came across this really old chihuahua from a different rescue who needed a home. On paper he seemed an ideal fit for our girl, so we decided to put in an application. That ended up falling through unfortunately as he got adopted by his foster, but this did make us realize how badly we wanted to welcome another dog into our family. This is when we put in an open application with our own rescue.
How did you find your dog?
About a month after we put in our application, our adoption coordinator messaged us about this tiny, older dachshund mix from Alabama who was coming up North, needing a home. Because we’re volunteers, we were able to come in and meet her the day she arrived at the rescue for her quarantine period.
What is your dog's story?
Pippi spent her first 8.5 years of life with a lady in Alabama, who very sadly passed away. Unfortunately no one took her in. She was even left all by herself (aside from feeding etc.) for about a month before she was surrendered to our Southern team. She then spent a month in a foster home before she was driven up North to Massachusetts.
What was it like when you brought your dog home?
It felt pretty surreal we had just brought a dog home! Our biggest fear was that it wouldn’t click with our dog Lizzy. We took things slowly and at their pace. From day one, Pippi has been nothing but sweet and respectful towards Lizzy, who completely blossomed over time with the company of her new sister. Pippi settled in pretty quickly, but she did need to learn how to walk on a leash properly and she didn’t want to eat anything at first. Over time she too completely blossomed and is now fully part of the family.
Why is rescuing important to you?
Rescue is extremely important to us as we see all these animals come in, in various conditions, needing homes. There are too many animals, and not nearly enough fosters, adopters or even space at rescues and shelters. We’re living in a time where perfectly healthy and wonderful - even pure bred - dogs are being surrendered or dumped left and right, leaving them in need of new loving homes. Rescuers all over the country are overwhelmed because what we’re doing never seems to be enough. Adopting a rescue dog not only saves their life, but also the life of the next dog there is now an available space for.
FOLLOW THE RESCUE & DJAMILA
Sweet Paws Rescue (Groveland, MA)
IG: @sweetpawsrescue
FB: facebook.com/sweetpawsrescue/
Website: sweetpawsrescue.org
Djamila's IG: @auroraholisticanimals & @diaryofawildflower
