Hounds on the Highway

Losing Dobby: Grieving a Pet Who Was Family It has been a little while since we have posted, and the truth is, life has been heavy. The day after Father’s Day, we said goodbye to our sweet Dobby after a nine-month battle with congestive heart failure. When Dobby was first diagnosed, we were told we might have six months left with him. Somehow, with love, care, medication, hope, and probably a little bit of Dobby’s own stubborn spirit, we were given nine. Nine months. Nine months of extra cuddles. Nine months of watching him closely. Nine months of celebrating good days and fearing the hard ones. Nine months of trying to prepare our hearts for something no heart is ever truly ready for. And then, on June 22nd, Dobby crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The Grief No One Can Fully Prepare You For Losing a pet is not “just losing a dog.” It is losing a family member. A shadow. A routine. A heartbeat in the home. It is looking toward the spot where they used to sleep and feeling the silence hit you ...

As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves looking back—not at the mile markers, but at the moments. The early mornings when the world was still quiet and we were loading crates with coffee in hand. The late-night texts that started with “Are you up?” and ended with “We’re on our way.” The handoffs in parking lots that somehow felt like little miracles—one car door opening, another closing, and a dog’s whole future changing in between. This past year has reminded us that rescue isn’t just about the animals (even though they’re the reason we do it). It’s about people showing up. It’s about community. It’s about the kind of support that doesn’t always make headlines, but absolutely makes impact. We’re so grateful for every share, every comment, every donation, every foster application, every volunteer who said “yes,” and every rescue partner who trusted us. Every single bit of attention you helped bring to the rescue community mattered—because attention leads to action. Action leads...

Some transports stick with you, and this one? This one was  one for the books.  Picture this:  13 puppies. Three crates. One person.  And a long journey from New Jersey to Maine. Sounds like a challenge, right? Well, it was—but as always, it was worth every single mile.   The Logistics Nightmare: Finding the Right Car  When I agreed to take on this transport, I thought,  “Sure, I’ve transported puppies before. How hard can it be?”  But I quickly learned that finding a car that could actually fit all three crates was going to be my first major hurdle.   Crates take up a LOT of space, and when you’re moving 13 puppies safely, there’s no room for error. After trying to configure multiple setups in different vehicles, thanks to our amazing friend Phyllis, we finally found one that worked. The puzzle pieces fit, the crates were secured, and I was ready to hit the road.  But if you think that was the hardest part—just wait.  ...

When Mark and I began searching for an animal rescue organization to volunteer with, we were met with silence—no one responded to our inquiries. That was until we submitted our application to NYC Second Chance Rescue (SCR) . Within just two days, we each had a phone "interview" with an SCR team member, and they quickly reached out to our references.  We never imagined that a simple conversation about wanting to give back to the rescue community—largely inspired by our love for and incredible experience adopting Stella (yes, we reached out to her rescue first but never heard back)—would lead us here.  Now, volunteering with SCR has become a rewarding part of our lives. We cherish the quality time we spend together and with the amazing dogs we transport. It’s an experience we wouldn’t trade for anything.  As we reflect on this year’s transports, we’re excited to share some behind-the-scenes statistics and highlights that showcase the impact we’ve made. 🐾❤️ 2024   Tot...

  So, today's post is going to be all about me! My hoomans took me and Dobby (my surrogate brother from another mother) out on a road trip these last few days. Now, I used to hate the car and when I say hate I mean DESPISE the vehicle. It always felt like I was being taken somewhere to be dropped off and gotten rid of again (trauma from my past resurfacing) but my hoomans have made the car a fun place to be. I do not mind going in the car now. I used to be so anxious that I would throw up within about 1 minute into any car ride, no matter where we were headed.   Now, I told them that I didn't like the car maybe not in so many words, but I told them in actions. I would struggle with them to get in the car, I would try and get out of the car once I was in it, and I would throw up every time I was in it. Well, I have trained them well to be good hoomans after all because they listened. They would take me into the car for small trips around the block with Dobby to get me used to i...