“Our goal is to find loving homes for every dog we rescue, no matter how long it takes; we’re saving one life at a time. We have 26 climate-controlled kennels with indoor/outdoor access, 5 quarantine kennels for new arrivals, 2 outdoor playpens, and 3 acres of walkable cleared land. We’re licensed for 40 dogs, so some may share a space when at maximum capacity.

Our 7-step adoption process ensures that a good match is made for both parties, and sometimes it takes a while. Brooklyn, a pit bull mix, was with us for five years. Someone had badly mistreated her, and clipped her ears way too short, so she looked a little fierce. But she was an absolute marshmallow on the inside and is now the sweetest baby in her new home. We find homes for about 125 dogs per year.

We get most of our rescues from North Carolina county shelters. Our state has the third-highest euthanasia rate in the country, and the phone rings daily and sometimes hourly from shelters that are overcrowded. We don’t receive any federal or state money, and rely on individual donors, the support of local businesses, and grants. Our dogs are seen by a vet, receive any necessary surgeries and treatments, and are spayed or neutered, given vaccinations, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, and micro-chipped. They get lots of love and attention from our volunteers and staff every day.

We have a small paid staff, including a kennel manager, business administrator, and kennel cleaners, who remove everything and deep clean every kennel each day. We couldn’t exist without our army of volunteers. They do everything from our 18 loads of laundry per day to walking the dogs, washing the windows and mowing the grass. And we couldn’t do it without groups, like LifePoint Church, Cape Fear Country Club and local businesses like Coastal Painting, who donate their time and services.

Our next fundraiser is Raise the Ruff, a casino night on March 8, 2025, at the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington, and it will be so much fun! We’re looking for sponsors and silent auction items, and tickets will be available later in the year.