Spotlight on Pawtastic Friends and Paw Partners Unleashed
Pawtastic Friends: Enrichment for Second Chances
Pawtastic Friends carries a mission that's as simple as it is profound - to make the world a better place for homeless animals. This private, non-profit organization relies on much need donations to support its efforts of improving the lives of homeless dogs through training programs that prepare them for their eventual furever homes in addition to providing enrichment while they wait. Michael, Mellissa, their volunteers, and trainers with unwavering commitment shine a light of hope into the lives of these loveable pups.
Pawtastic Friends started when Michael and Melissa started video-taping dogs at the shelters to try to find them homes and has grown into an incredible training facility, employing several trainers who are helping with about 50 homeless dogs from various rescues.
Pawtastic Friends was born with the earnest act of videotaping shelter dogs, in an effort to connect them with potential homes. Over time, this modest seed of compassion blossomed into something extraordinary – a remarkable training facility. Today, Pawtastic Friends stands as a testament to their dedication, employing a team of skilled trainers committed to the well-being of approximately 50 homeless dogs from a diverse range of rescues. Through their tireless efforts, Pawtastic Friends provides the guidance and care that lay the foundation for these dogs' transformation into cherished companions.
Paw Partners Unleashed: A Helping Paw for Rescues
In the pursuit of saving lives and creating a stronger, more compassionate pet-loving community, Paw Partners Unleashed takes the lead. Their mission is clear and resolute - to support those who tirelessly dedicate their efforts to animal rescue and provide a helping hand to the community in times of need.
Paw Partners Unleashed extends its reach beyond rescues. Their Community Partner Program collaborates with local organizations to ensure that beloved pets need not be given up due to financial constraints, as they believe that every pet deserves a loving home, regardless of economic circumstances.
Education Outreach is another cornerstone of Paw Partners Unleashed. Through public events, group meetings, school visits, and educational materials, they provide valuable information on pet care and responsible pet ownership to the community, because a well-informed community is one where pets flourish.
Nadia, the stunning Akita Husky mix from last week's blog post played a role in the inspiration of Paw Partners Unleashed. President/Founder, Eileen Jones fostered a very ill Husky named Lacey and her puppies for a local rescue. The unfortunate passing of Lacey left her Husky/Akita mix pups orphaned at only three weeks of age. Learning firsthand the heartache and struggles rescues faced on a daily bases is what inspired the creation of an organization to provide support to rescues.
Jake: The Insurance Pup
Jake, a 19-year-old Chihuahua Mix whose journey embodies the spirit of resilience and new beginnings. Found running in traffic on Bermuda and Warm Springs Road 11 years ago, although he was microchipped, his humans didn't want him and his chip revealed a history of being in the local shelter twice before. Today he spends his golden years as a customer greeter in his sister's office and enjoys the comfort of his fur siblings on his parent's ranch.
Jake's remarkable journey is more than just an individual story; it's a representation of what's possible when compassion meets determination. Not only did Jake participate in and win a spot in the Annual Calendar Contest for Pawtastic Friends, which raised $4,268, but he also took part in the Tails of the World project, contributing to the $1,500 raised for Paw Partners Unleashed.
Making a Difference Together
The photographs of Jake at Symphony Park serve as a reminder of the impact of these two incredible organizations, Pawtastic Friends and Paw Partners Unleashed. Through their dedication, countless rescue dogs like Jake find new lives filled with love and purpose.
Whether you're an animal lover, a supporter of rescue efforts, or simply someone who believes in the power of second chances, there are many ways to get involved. Visit their websites to learn more about their initiatives, events, and opportunities to make a difference:
To read more blog posts from other pet photographers on this week's theme of rescues, click the link at the bottom of each post, starting with Kelly J. Russo, a pet and equestrian photographer in Houston, Texas shares how the power of photography enhances the chances of dogs finding forever homes and makes a lasting impact.
2 Comments
Aug 11, 2023, 9:02:49 AM
Nicole Hrustyk - I should have mentioned, they post lots of videoes of each dog now. :)
I love that background too. It's a huge metal art sculpture called 'Pipe Dreams' and I'm so happy we were able to capture Jake in front of it.
Aug 11, 2023, 5:01:11 AM
Kim Hollis - Pawtastic Friend's vision of doing video is so ground breaking. Great photos are really nice too but a video can really help show the dog's personality and the fact that it's morphed into training is amazing. Most rescue dogs can really benefit from training. Can we talk about the wall in the first photo too? OMG... I love it!!