Dog lovers all over the US have reason to celebrate news from the NAIA, which reported recently that the number of dogs entering US shelters has dropped significantly over the past few decades to new lows. Digging deeper into the matter, NAIA also learned that only about three percent of dogs in our country’s shelters are purebreds. NAIA’s […]

Portia Rocks Alsup THDD owned by Kathleen Smiley-Aslup of Rockford, IL Portia was a stray, found wandering the streets, and was taken in by Bullmastiff rescue groups after her rescue. But even rescue did not know what to do with her after a foster home did not want her back and adoptive owners returned her. […]

We all know dogs are extremely smart and a New Zealand rescue group proved it by teaching three of their shelter dogs to drive cars. The experiment, conducted in 2012, was an effort to promote adoptions and show how capable and intelligent rescue dogs can be! Mixed-breed dogs and rescues, like Porter, can be part of […]

Donald Rakestraw of Wichita, KS, wrote this amazing story of a nearly feral dog who was found living in culverts in a neighborhood. Donald and his wife, Naomi, adopted the dog after her rescue and quickly realized that they had taken on a dog with many serious issues, including extreme fear that led to growling […]

I got Cleo from a local no-kill shelter.  She was only 7 months old, and I was her fourth home.  I enjoy outdoor activities: hiking, backpacking, skiing, etc., and Cleo was friendly and athletic. But when I got her home, I discovered I adopted Houdini. She got out of every fence/kennel I had.  Cleo and […]

A tail-wagging crowd of well-trained dogs showed their skills at the Twin Ports Dog Training Club’s three days of AKC rally and obedience trials at the Four Seasons Event Center in Carlton, Minnesota, Friday through Saturday, July 10–12. The fun began on Thursday evening, with “5 for 5” run-throughs, a casual get-together where owners can get in some […]

Jennifer Isaacs of Kansas City, KS, shared this wonderful story and video  of Red Rooney, her Beagle Mix who has an incredible, “Wags to Riches” story. Red was rescued after a three-month stay at the Lawrence Humane Society in Lawrence, KS. Originally brought there for “running at large,” shelter life was not easy for Red; […]

“We both enjoy doing this because we like seeing how the residents light up when Max enters the facility,” Burn said.  “It provides joy to all involved in the encounters.” Steve rescued Max from the Arlington (TX) Animal Services Center in December 2009. He is a mixed breed and, according to a DNA test, he […]

One person described him as the “ most disheartening neglect case” she had ever seen. When Harry, a Chow Chow, was brought into a Kansas City, Missouri, animal rescue he was covered with matted hair and flies had left his ears raw. Even worse, he is nearly blind and missing a part of his nose. “The […]

AKC GoodDog! Helpline trainer Christie Canfield, who teaches therapy dog classes and works with service dogs, explains the difference in therapy dogs and service dogs. A question we are frequently asked at the AKC GoodDog! Helpline is 'Can I train my dog to be a therapy or service dog?'  The difference is often confusing, yet the […]