Staci's 2026 I Heart Dogs Community Challenge

Three Dogs, One Second Chance Each

I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven leads the no-kill movement by rescuing, rehabilitating, re-homing and providing refuge for homeless dogs — and a haven for the pets of domestic violence survivors.

Here's what that means in practice. All three of these dogs joined my family.

Guss — His owner passed away. Animal control was called to pick him up, and he arrived at I Heart with much of his hair missing from an allergy-related skin condition. He hadn't done anything wrong. He'd just lost the person who took care of him. His hair has fully grown back, and he spends his days digging holes and burrowing into blankets.

Otto — Found in a park wearing a shock collar. Severely underweight, in renal failure, anemic, with broken bones that had never been treated. I brought Otto home as a hospice foster, knowing our time would be short. He was the sweetest dog. He loved his hammock and he loved to snuggle. After everything people had done to him, he still chose to trust one more time. Otto is why I keep doing this.

Kaia — An owner surrender, struggling with mange and open sores across her body. She's fully healed now, running laps around the backyard and barking at birds with total conviction she'll catch one someday.

My family has adopted two of these dogs as well — Smokey Joe and Leia. Five dogs between us. Five dogs who are safe.

Why this rescue

Every one of these dogs cost money to save. Skin treatment for Guss. Renal care and pain management for Otto. Mange treatment and wound care for Kaia. Food, vaccines, transport, and a foster network for all of them.

I Heart doesn't put a deadline on a dog. That's what no-kill actually means: Otto was never going to be an easy adoption, and he still got veterinary care and a soft place to sleep. Guss's only crime was outliving his owner, and he got treatment instead of a clock.

And there's a part of this mission that deserves more attention. I Heart also shelters the pets of domestic violence survivors. Many survivors stay in dangerous situations because shelters won't take animals and they won't abandon a pet to an abuser. I Heart removes that barrier. That work saves more than dogs.

What your donation does

Your gift covers the unglamorous things that make rescue possible — vet bills, medication, surgery, food, safe placement. Guss digs holes today because someone gave. Kaia chases birds because someone gave. Otto had a hammockand a person who loved him at the end because someone gave.

Please consider donating to I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven through the Rocket Community Challenge. Whatever you can give goes directly toward the next dog waiting for someone to say yes.

They just need a chance. Let's fund it.