Rescue is hard…

Working in rescue is hard.

We invest our souls in saving the lives of those who have no voice. We hear the heartbreaking stories. We rescue them. We retrain them. We heal them. We rehome them.

And then we do something that is just as important: we stay.

At LBL, we do deep dives on every applicant and every foster. We get to know the families who adopt from us. We build relationships. And we support our adopters 100%—for the life of their pet, and beyond.

We are a small, local nonprofit. We don’t have a brick-and-mortar facility. We run on foster homes, donations, volunteers, and an incredible amount of heart. We don’t have the manpower for huge fundraisers or elaborate events. We struggle to find fosters. We are not a high-volume operation.

But somehow, we always get it done.

And we are damn proud of what makes us different.

There is a personal connection between LBL and our adopters that offers comfort and support in a way that, sadly, I have experienced missing from other rescues.

Over the past 25 years, I have personally rescued five shelter dogs through five different rescue organizations. Not once did anyone check in with me after I brought my dog home.

When issues surfaced—chronic illnesses, behavioral problems, or other challenges—I reached out for help and often received no response at all. I discovered that information in the dogs’ paperwork had sometimes been changed or omitted. Ages were altered to make dogs seem more adoptable. Behavioral issues were minimized or hidden.

The lack of transparency and support was incredibly disappointing.

Those experiences have stayed with me. And they are a huge part of why I am so incredibly proud of the work we do at LBL.

We put our whole hearts into every single beautiful life we save.

Are we high volume? No.

But what we do matters.

We work incredibly hard to save the lives we can. And every time we walk away from an adoption, we walk away with tears in our eyes—because by then, that dog has become a piece of us.

But our job doesn’t end when the adoption papers are signed.

Our adopters always get a text from us asking how that first night went.

We check in.

We answer questions.

We help troubleshoot.

We recommend trainers.

We analyze pictures of poop sent to our phones. 😂

We lend crates. We recommend our favorite products. We celebrate the milestones. We worry when something doesn’t seem right.

And we are there.

Always.

Some of our fosters develop lifelong relationships with their adopters. They stay in touch. They visit their former foster dogs. They become part of each other’s lives.

Because that’s how invested we are.

And our adoption fee—or donation—simply helps cover the cost of saving that dog: transportation, veterinary care, medications, supplies, and everything else required to get them safely into a new life.

That’s it.

It doesn’t begin to cover the rest.

Sometimes we buy things ourselves because we’ve fallen hopelessly in love with a foster and simply want them to have the very best.

We want them to feel safe.

We want them to feel loved.

For some of these dogs, it’s the first time they’ve ever known what that feels like.

The adoption fee doesn’t include the pieces of each of us who have had a hand in giving that dog a new beginning.

It doesn’t include the late nights, the worry, the tears, the sleepless nights, the countless conversations, the miles driven, or the emotional investment.

It doesn’t include the transformation from a life of uncertainty to one where soft beds, warm human hands, kind voices, belly rubs, and full bellies are simply the norm.

I’ve been working in dog rescue for more than 10 years, and I know this work isn’t for everyone.

Some people wouldn’t feel fulfilled working for a small-but-mighty organization like ours.

It takes a special kind of person to make that commitment.

But trust me when I tell you this:

The doggy kisses are worth it.

Finding the perfect forever family for a dog who desperately needs one makes our hearts want to explode.

Watching a scared dog learn to trust.

Watching a neglected dog discover toys.

Watching a dog who has never known comfort curl up on a soft bed.

Watching a foster leave with their forever family knowing they are finally safe.

Those are the things that keep us going.

In the world of rescue, it’s often the little things that bring the most joy.

It’s not about how many dogs we save.

It’s about the fact that we save lives. Period.

Every single one matters.

Every single life is worth the effort.

Every single dog deserves the chance to know what it means to be safe, loved, wanted, and home.

And if you think you might be able to help us create those beginnings—whether by donating gently used supplies, making a financial donation, volunteering your time, or opening your home as a foster—we welcome you.

Come be part of the little things.

Because the reward?

It’s greater than any amount of money.

And sometimes, it comes with four paws, a wagging tail, and the sweetest kiss you’ve ever received. ❤️🐾