Rescues & Adoptions

At the start of 2025, six dogs were in Real Good Rescue’s care. By the end of June, thanks to the tireless work of our fosters, volunteers, and supporters, we had rescued 34 dogs, including 9 surrendered by owners who could no longer care for them. We found loving forever homes for 39 dogs. Here are a dogs we’ll never forget:

When we rescued Bijou off the streets of a South Adams neighborhood, during the LA fires earlier this year, she was very pregnant. In our care, she gave birth to seven perfect puppies. All have been adopted, except Bijou who is still looking for her forever home.
Piper came to us very sick and in so much pain she could barely walk. Through community support, we got her in for an urgent treatment of pneumonia and double hip-surgery due to severe hip dysplasia. She’s now fully recovered, living the Real Good life with her family, going on long hikes pain-free.
We rescued homeless Muffin, Oreo, Toffee & Brownie from a dangerous encampment near the freeway, where they were doing their best to survive off scraps and trash. At the time, Muffin, a very young dad, was doing his best for his three, 5 month-old pups. Today, all are living in Real Good forever homes.

By the end of June, thanks to the tireless work of our fosters, volunteers, and supporters, **we had rescued 34 dogs**, including 9 surrendered by owners who could no longer care for them.

Health & Wellbeing

Every dog who entered our care this year received routine vaccines, bloodwork, urinalysis and microchips. Over six months, our dogs attended 73 veterinary visits for regular checkups and treatment, averaging nearly two vet visits per dog.

Specialized care: Six dogs received professional training support, including board-and-train programs, to help them overcome behavioral challenges and thrive in adoptive homes. We invested $18,000 on board-and-train to make sure these six dogs could be set up for success once adopted. Too often dogs get placed back in shelters because of one incident; we do all we can so this doesn’t happen.
Medical interventions: In addition to standard spay/neuter procedures, several dogs required more complex medical support. We invested $20,127.52 in surgeries to give these dogs a second chance at healthy lives.

The Heart of Our Rescue: Fosters & Volunteers

Behind every successful rescue is a network of people who open their homes and hearts:

34 households, from families to individuals, fostered RGR dogs during the first six months of 2025, giving each dog stability, socialization, and love while they waited for adoption.
6 core volunteers power our work every day, managing rescue operations, coordinating vet care, fundraising, and ensuring no detail falls through the cracks.
Together, this core volunteer team contributed an incredible 2,600 hours of service in just six months. (As a volunteer-run organization we accomplish a lot but have big plans for the future. Imagine what Real Good Rescue could achieve with a full time team of staff. Look for announcements later in the year about how you can make this possible.)

The Cost of Care

Rescue is both heart work and hard work. On average, it costs about $3,000 to rescue, foster, and care for one dog for six months, not including the extra expenses of specialized medical treatment or intensive training. These costs are borne almost entirely by donations from our community. We’re grateful for support from the 15/10 Foundation, who has sponsored medical care for three dogs in this period.

Looking Ahead

The first half of 2025 has been full of challenges and triumphs. We’ve saved lives, healed bodies, and gave dozens of dogs the chance to experience love and belonging. With your support, we’ll continue to grow this impact in the months ahead: rescuing more dogs, supporting more families to foster and adopt, and building the kind of community where every dog gets the chance they deserve to live the Real Good life.

As mentioned above, it costs approximately $3,000 to rescue, foster, and care for one dog for six months, not including the extra expenses of specialized medical treatment or intensive training. As we look ahead to the final months of 2025, the Real Good Rescue team has the capacity to rescue and provide loving foster homes for up to ten new dogs a month if we have the money to cover their care, available fosters and ten dogs in our care are being placed in forever homes. That’s $30,000 a month, ten new foster families, and ten homes ready to adopt. You can be the reason ten dogs are rescued this month. And next month. And so on. Here’s how you make it happen:

Apply to be a foster.
Adopt a dog.
Make a one-time donation today or join our special giving circle, Real Good Rebels, that have committed to showing up month after month with a recurring donation.

Thank you to our fosters, adopters, volunteers, and donors. You made all this possible.

About Real Good Rescue

At Real Good Rescue, we’re not just about finding homes for pups; we’re on a mission to change lives.

Our goal is simple: to make sure every dog feels the warmth of a safe home and the love of a caring family. Whether it’s pulling dogs from overcrowded shelters, rescuing them off the streets, or matching them with their perfect forever family, we work every day to give pups a real good chance at a better life.

But we don’t do it alone. Our incredible network of volunteers, fosters, and donors makes this possible. Together, we’re building a world where every dog has a shot at happiness—no matter their past.

Support our Rescue Work