rescues | springfling 3/20

Rescue Ur Forever Friend at Unleashed's Spring Fling!

Amy
Mar 29
2 min read

Welcome Spring Fling newcomer, Rescue Ur Forever Friend! This nonprofit rescue group has recently started coming to Unleashed stores for meet and greets and we are looking forward to seeing them at Spring Fling!

Rescue Ur Forever Friend (RUFF) is an all-volunteer, foster based, nonprofit rescue dedicated to reducing the homeless population of pets, through foster care, medical treatment and adoption into forever homes. RUFF encourages responsible pet ownership through community outreach and education.

VISION:

"RUFF envisions a community where every pet finds a loving and permanent home, is spayed or neutered, and is treated with respect and compassion."

MISSION:

"Rescue Ur Forever Friend (RUFF) improves the quality of life of homeless pets by providing a safe refuge through excellent foster and medical care until their permanent homes are secured, ensuring a long lifetime of safety, love and companionship. RUFF also encourages responsible pet ownership through education, advocacy, programs and services."

ADOPT PEACH!

(available as of 3/29/25)

Check out one of their currently adoptable dogs, Peach. Peach/Peaches/Peachie is a lab/hound mix, about 3 years old, who loves to play, go on adventures, go on walks, and even cuddle in your lap or at your feet. Learn more on her page: Peach (FKA Navabi)'s Web Page

Take a peek at some of the other pets currently waiting for a home from RUFF (as of 3/29/25):

See all of their available pets here: Animal Browse

Learn more about how to adopt, donate, and more on their website and keep up with their current events on Facebook . Check out the Unleashed calendar of events to see when they will be at one of the Unleashed stores near you too!

And don't forget to stop by their booth at Spring Fling and say hello! In addition to adoptable dogs, they will have some RUFF merch, and even a book!

One of the RUFF adopters, Karen Ruben, wrote a book, Ruff Riders, based on a true story about the volunteers that rescued a litter of puppies that included Ruby, the dog that she would end up adopting from RUFF.

In the book, 11-year-old Olivia Thomas longs for a dog of her own, but her reluctant parents don't think that she is responsible enough. When she hears about an abandoned dog with a litter of puppies in the forest, she and her friend April, along with their new tech-savvy friend, Quinn, leap into action.

Through teamwork, family, and community, Olivia learns that anything important is worth the effort.

A portion of the proceeds from the book go to RUFF! Learn more about the book and author here: Rescue Ur Furever Friend

Visit Rescue Ur Forever Friend 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:

2025 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1TntG29de2/

Blog: https://www.k9springfling.com/news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9springfling

Turtle Pants Farm - Animal Rescue and Sanctuary

Shannon
Mar 27
2 min read

Turtle Pants Farm is joining us for their first Spring Fling! They are a small family farm in rural Chatham County, North Carolina. The farm operates as an all-species rescue/sanctuary - taking in, vetting, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals of various species and backgrounds. The belief at Turtle Pants Farm is that all animals deserve a caring, loving forever home.

This little farm is a recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization, offering sanctuary and potential adoption for species ranging from cats, dogs, and chickens, to donkeys and cows. The sanctuary animals all live in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Dogs and cats for adoption are spread out in foster homes around the Raleigh/Durham and Triad area.

Turtle Pants Farm works to provide a safe space for animals in need, because they believe that all animals deserve a chance to survive and thrive. They are an entirely volunteer and foster-run organization, meaning 100% of all donations go directly toward the care of animals in their rescue.

Their goal is to provide sanctuary for all species that need a safe home, and to provide a temporary foster home for adoptable animals while they are in transition to their forever home. The Turtle Pants Farm team also continually strives to educate the public on proper care, feeding, and vetting of all shapes, sizes, and species animals.

"You’ll never meet hearts bigger than the folks who run TPF. We are a welcoming community of friends and neighbors who simply want to help animals in need."

Be sure to stop by their booth to learn more about their mission and browse rescue merchandise (handmade mugs, totes, pet accessories) that is made by their hardworking volunteers - and all proceeds go back to the animals at Turtle Pants!

You can also learn more on their website and stay up to date on their social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram!

Visit Turtle Pants Farm 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:

2025 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1TntG29de2/

Blog: https://www.k9springfling.com/news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9springfling

Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue - Providing comfort and dignity to dogs at the end of their journey

Shannon
Mar 27
3 min read

Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue is joining us for their third Spring Fling! This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is devoted to saving and caring for senior dogs and those with serious health issues who have been abandoned at shelters- dogs just this side of "the Rainbow Bridge."

Never heard of "The Rainbow Bridge," or heard of it but interested in learning more? Check out this article (completely unaffiliated with Spring Fling) that tells the whole story behind "the Rainbow Bridge." Whether you are hearing of this for the first time, or are familiar with it, this was a very interesting read: "The Rainbow Bridge: The True Story Behind History’s Most Influential Piece of Animal Mourning Literature."

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge." -Edna Clyne

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a place called Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue.

Senior dogs and dogs with significant health care issues are typically not adopted due to the high cost of their medical needs or their advanced age. Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue will save these dogs from being euthanized and care for them in a home environment until they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Most of these dogs are suffering from expensive medical issues and while treatment options may exist, they can be too expensive for many people to afford. That leads the dogs to be surrendered to shelters, where they are often euthanized because of their condition. Shelters have very few resources and many animals to care for so in order to help as many pets as possible, they have to make hard decisions. Additionally, they may not have the ability to keep up with medication schedules or the rigorous care that some medical conditions require.

This is where Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue steps in. They take those dogs into their care and do what others are not able to, for as long as the dog remains comfortable. Many can have a good quality of life until their time comes to cross the rainbow bridge and that is exactly what they get at Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue. Occasionally, adopters are found who are willing and able to take on the care of these special-needs dogs, but for the most part, they will remain with Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue until they cross the bridge.

Adoptable Seniors!

(as of 3/27/25)

View all of their adoptable dogs here!

Founder, Terri, has always been drawn to the ones who need the most care, the ones with missing legs, deformed kidneys, no eyes, one eye, missing an ear, no teeth, heart worm positive, saved from Korean meat markets and similar situations. She and her husband have been helping dogs since 2011, when Terri first got Princess Reagan Marie, a shih-tzu that was rescued in extremely poor condition from a breeder who was arrested for the horrible conditions her dogs were kept in.

Meet Colby!

This sweet, blind 16-year-old Cocker Spaniel is in the rescue now. Colby came to Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue after the family of someone suffering from drug addiction sought their help. Since then, she has been surrounded by nothing but love and care.

Recently, their vet discovered a mass, and given Colby's age, they are focusing on keeping her comfortable and ensuring she feels cherished in her golden years. The goal is to provide her with the best quality of life, filled with warmth and dignity.

Rainbow Bridge Hospice Rescue is reaching out to its wonderful community for sponsors who can help them provide the best care for Colby during this critical time. Your sponsorship will contribute to her medical expenses, specialized care, and the little comforts that make her days brighter.

If you want to help Colby and others like her, make a donation on the rescue's website.

You can also follow their work and see the dogs in their care on Facebook and Instagram.