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Carolina Boxer Rescue - Saving the Nubs Since 2001

Carolina Boxer Rescue Blog Announcement

We are thrilled to have Carolina Boxer rescue joining us for another Spring Fling! This amazing rescue has joined us for at least SIX Spring Flings in the past, and we can't wait to meet the Boxers they bring this time! Their volunteers love meeting new businesses and building new relationships, so be sure to stop by their booth and say hi!


Carolina Boxer Rescue is a refuge for boxers who find themselves abandoned. Their rescue promises them safety, wellness, and a second chance. CBR does this with a sense of community, compassion, and education, so their adopted boxers will have a lasting relationship with their forever families.

CBR Boxer giving kisses

Established in 2001 by three NC natives, Carolina Boxer Rescue works to help boxers (and boxer mixes) as often as possible, regardless of age, medical status, or health condition, across Virginia, North and South Carolina and parts of Georgia. They are a foster-based rescue, which means all their dogs are in foster homes across their service area.  


Carolina Boxer Rescue was founded in 2001 to save abused and abandoned boxers. 2001 meant operating a rescue with Polaroids and fax machines. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and have saved countless boxers in that time. Technology is a huge part of their rescue now, along with dedicated volunteers and supporters who love the breed and work to save as many boxers as possible.

CBR Boxer

CBR saved 280 boxers in 2025. 280 boxers received medical care and loving homes, sometimes for the first time. Their adoption, foster and volunteer applications increased across the state as well. Rescue takes a village and this group has an amazing one!


In addition to dogs available for adoption, they also have hospice foster homes, where dogs with advanced medical conditions receive the love and care they need until it's time for them to cross the rainbow bridge.  

CBR - saving the nubs since 2001!! Our mission is to provide a loving home and medical care to all boxers, from puppies to seniors to hospice care.


If you want to help out, they are always in need of foster homes as well as people to transport boxers from shelters to their foster homes. Donations are another great way to contribute if you don't have the time for fostering or transporting dogs. Learn more about fostering, here!


You can read about all the dogs available from Carolina Boxer Rescue on their website, or on their social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.


You won't want to miss visiting the boxers and your chance to browse their t-shirts, decals, and brochures at Spring Fling 2026 on April 26!


BONUS: You can meet Carolina Boxer Rescue before Spring Fling!

They will be at Unleashed in Durham on April 19th from 1-3pm!


Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2026:

 
 
 

Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies - Saving Neonatal Puppies

Paws 4 Ever Joins Spring Fling!

Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies was a big hit their first year at Spring Fling, and we are so happy that they will be returning for their second year this April! We are also excited about the fun they're bringing to Unleashed with Puppy Yoga and Crafts with Puppies! This nonprofit neonatal puppy rescue is dedicated to giving orphaned newborn puppies a chance. They specialize in the most fragile cases—bottle babies who need around-the-clock feeding, medical oversight, and experienced foster care during their earliest, most critical days.


"Every Blazin' Trails puppy is raised in a home environment, supported by trained fosters, veterinary partners, and a compassionate community that believes tiny lives are worth extraordinary effort. From emergency intake to thoughtful adoption, our work is rooted in dignity, education, and hope—turning uncertain beginnings into healthy futures, one bottle at a time."
Newborn Blaze
Newborn Blaze

Blaze Blazes the Way


This group was established in January 2024 when founder Shana Sommer came across a newborn puppy, Blaze, while scrolling through social media. Blaze was only a day old and missing his front leg due to his mother chewing it off. Despite having no experience with bottle-feeding puppies, Shana felt called to help. This journey led her to discover the lack of reliable information available with no solid guidance or expert advice tailored to neonatal puppies. Vet after vet turned Shana and Blaze away, saying things like...


Blaze the small terrier mix at almost two years old
Blaze, who turns 3 this July!

“Don’t get too attached.”

“There’s nothing we can do.”

“I’m not comfortable treating this puppy.”

“Sometimes they aren’t meant to survive.”


Blaze was the catalyst for the start to something incredible. Shana built a dedicated team, and with their support, began compiling the knowledge and resources necessary to save these fragile puppies. Together, they built a foundation of specialized care so that puppies like Blaze would have a real, fighting chance at life.



Support Blazin' Trails in the Most Fun Ways- YOGA & CRAFTS with PUPPIES!!


You don't have to wait for Spring Fling to meet and support Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies! They are offering some exciting opportunities to support & meet them that are fun, creative, and good for you too!! Don't miss Yoga with Puppies and Crafts with Puppies at Unleashed at Stonehenge in N. Raleigh!!

Monthly Puppy Yoga

PUPPY YOGA

Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies brings adoptable puppies to play and stretch alongside students

on the final Sunday of most months!


Choose from two sessions: 12-1pm and 1:30-2:30 pm.


Tickets are $35 each and all proceeds support Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies rescue puppies and the care they need to grow strong.


Save the Date for Future Puppy Yoga classes!

  • May 24

  • June 28

  • July 27

  • September 27

  • October 25

  • November 29


Be sure to check out the complete calendar and sign-up! Classes do sell out!


CRAFTS with PUPPIES!

Craft with Puppies

Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies is bringing puppies to fill the room with joy and silliness while you enjoy an afternoon creating a seasonal craft!


Don't miss your opportunity to enjoy this very special afternoon, which is more than just cute (though it will be very cute!) Each ticket helps cover the real-life essentials that keep orphaned newborns alive. Your craft table becomes warmth in an incubator, a full belly at 2 AM, and medical care when a fragile puppy needs it most.


For the upcoming session, expect spring vibes, simple hands-on crafting, lots of “aww” moments, and a chance to meet the team behind the bottles. If you’ve ever wondered what neonatal rescue looks like up-close, this is your chance to be part of it in the happiest way.


SIGN UP for Spring/Easter Crafting with Puppies: https://givebutter.com/unleashed-crafts-with-puppies-hgn3mn

  • Saturday, March 28

  • 1-3pm

  • Unleashed at Stonehenge- 7408 Creedmoor Rd. Raleigh, NC 27613

  • If you can't make it to this event but would still like to support it, you can donate through the link above too!

SAVE the DATE for Future Crafts with Puppies!

  • June 27 1-3pm

  • November 28 1-3pm



ADOPTABLE PUPPIES!

Currently available puppies as of 2/24/26. See Blazin' Trails Adopt Page for details.


Stay up to date with Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies on their Facebook or Instagram!

You can also learn more or apply to foster/adopt on their website.


Don't miss Blazin' Trails Bottle Babies at

Unleashed's 13th Annual Spring Fling Dog & Cat Fundraiser

Sunday, April 26, 2026

12-6 pm

Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2026:


 
 
 

Mia's Mafia - Saving Cats through Adoption and Trap, Neuter, Release

Mia's Mafia Logo Banner

If you shop at Unleashed's North Raleigh location in Stonehenge Market, you might recognize this next rescue group from the "Cat Shack," where the Mia's Mafia's adoptable kitties often come to spend the week! Mia's Mafia is a small group of animal lovers who are working together to help facilitate Trap Neuter Release (TNR), medical care, and adoption for animals in need. Mia's Mafia has been a regular Spring Fling attendee since they formed, and we are thrilled to have them back again this year.


TNR Program cats eating outside

Mia's Mafia began with a rescue cat, affectionately known as “Murderous Mia,” who came to her mom as a hospice foster with many medical issues. Her foster and the people around her fell in love and decided that they wanted to make a difference for cats in need like Mia. The way they chose to do that is through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) which is a process to spay and neuter feral cats and return them to the area where they were trapped (as often as possible). Community cats like these often have dedicated caretakers and are very much loved. Just because a cat doesn't want human interaction, doesn't mean they don't deserve to live their life as happy and healthy as possible!


Mia's Mission

"We focus on keeping things positive and supporting each other so that we can be at our best to do the most good for the animals. We strive to collaborate with others and encourage our team to come up with new and better ideas of ways to help and to run with those ideas."

True feral cats are very happy out in their environment. They can always use a little help though, in the form of someone to provide regular meals and bring them to a vet for medical care when they need it. Being spayed or neutered is also a huge help for these cats. Intact cats are more likely to get into fights during the breeding season and often sustain injuries or contract FIV. Additionally, feral cats are the main contributors of unwanted kittens that flood shelters and rescues during "kitten season" every year. Unlike their adult counterparts, kittens have a hard time surviving outside with predators, cars, inclement weather, and the people who view them as a nuisance.


While the TNR program is a huge part of the Mia's Mafia mission, they often come across cats who are not actually feral. These cats are usually former pets who were dumped or abandoned and left to fend for themselves. It's easy to spot these guys, even the ones who are too scared to be friendly. Where their true feral friends are well-kept and have good body conditions, pet cats who have been abandoned don't have the skills to survive without human help. They are often dirty and thin since they are not able to hunt well, and they aren't accustomed to caring for themselves outside. As much as possible, Mia's Mafia takes these cats in and puts them up for adoption after taking care of their medical needs


Adoptable Cats!

(as of 4/2/25)



Keep an eye out for the Mia's Mafia kitties at Unleashed's North Raleigh location on Creedmoor Rd. in Stonehenge Market! Their adoptable cats and kittens who are looking for a forever home come to stay in the store frequently!


Also be sure to stop by the Mia's Mafia booth at Spring Fling and see how you can help!


You can check out all of their adoptable cats on their website and make sure to follow their social media channels, Facebook and Instagram, to keep up with their activities and projects!


Visit Mia's Mafia at

Unleashed's 12th Annual Spring Fling Dog & Cat Fundraiser

Sunday, April 13, 2025

12-6 pm

Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2025:

 
 
 
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