| Spot and Tango

The holidays are nearly upon us! For many this can be a great time to celebrate gratitude for your family and share the joy with others. Because this is such wonderful time of giving, it is important to make sure we don’t forget about animal rescues who often have a harder time during this period when adoption rates slow and rescue dogs are desperate for their forever home (or even a foster family). That’s why for the first 12 days of December, we will be featuring a different animal rescue each day, sharing how they started, and what they could use most during the holiday season. Ninth up is Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, CT.

Lucky Dog Refuge all started with one unfortunate puppy who ended up being very lucky. Our founders’ family has been rescuing dogs since 2017, with 6 family dogs collectively. With each dog they rescued, they tracked down the rescuers to help pay it forward by contributing to other rescue dogs in need. That’s how the Lucky Dog Refuge rescue network began and gradually developed throughout the south. In August 2019, a fellow rescuer posted about a very sick 10-week-old puppy who was found in West Virginia, split open from chin to belly. The initial vets said to put him down, that he would never survive – but luckily Sheabel Veterinary Hospital in Lexington, KY, takes on extreme cases. Lucky Dog’s founders immediately committed to the small puppy and paid for his medical treatment. It was touch-and-go as the wound was infected in the worst way. Two months of daily wound care, stem cell bandages, antibiotics, and the creative use of sewing buttons to stretch the skin closed, and their sweet puppy was healed. He arrived to Lucky Dog in Connecticut in October 2019 and has since been the happiest, healthiest dog you’ve ever seen. They named him Lucky – because he was so lucky to be alive, thanks to the tireless efforts of a village of believers.

Lucky inspired their family to take their rescue efforts to the next level. They started Lucky Dog Refuge, which focuses on the more dire cases, the ones (like Lucky) that many would give up on before even trying. Lucky Dog then purchased a facility in Stamford, CT so that those dogs would have a safe place to arrive. They hired a team of passionate, tireless rescuers who sacrifice their time, energy, love, and hearts for these dogs. Since Lucky’s arrival and their first official adoption in June 2020, Lucky Dog Refuge has saved nearly 700 Lucky Dogs from all over the United States, the Caribbean, and Thailand. These now happy, healthy, adopted dogs had suffered through the worst of humanity – from infections to gunshot wounds, being hit by cars, mange, starvation, neglect, parasites, heartworm, abuse, and more. Lucky Dog take dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages. Inspired daily by Lucky, they ensure that every dog they commit to has a fighting chance to survive and thrive.

Medical cases are exceptionally expensive, and we average $2500/dog, with a recent case costing up to $20,000. Donations, grants, partnerships and sponsors are crucial to their ability to save these medical cases that are so desperately in need.

Interested in adopting this holiday season?

Lucky Dog has incredible dogs looking for homes this holiday season, including these adorable pups:

Lars: Sweet Lars came to Lucky Dog from Alabama, and we think he’s a bulldog mix of some kind with a brindle coat. He’s about a year old, 43 lbs, neutered, and dog friendly! He’s up to date on all vaccinations and ready to join your home!

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Maple: Beautiful Maple recently joined Lucky Dog from Mississippi. This sweet girl is about a year old, around 44 lbs, and plays well with other friendly dogs. She loves romping around in our playgroup and she’d make a great dog for any family. Are you ready to welcome Maple into your home? Fill out this form!

She is currently being treated for Heartworms, a condition that is curable, non-contagious, and covered by the Refuge. But that shouldn’t hold her back from starting her best life with a forever family of her own!

Meet Timmy! Timmy was a New Hope Partner save from the Brooklyn branch of NYCACC. He was bought as a puppy and sadly his family could not provide for him any longer and surrendered him to the shelter. Timmy started to deteriorate in the shelter setting and we were asked to help. We are so grateful we were able to bring him to Lucky Dog Refuge. Since arriving it was clear that Timmy is a huge loving puppy with extra exuberance and needed the training and structure required for a dog of his makeup. Every time we visit Timmy he has improved by leaps and bounds. He walks like a dream now and his training comes with lifetime support along with weekly group social classes during the warmer months. Lucky Dog wants to ensure that his adoption is a successful one so they will be here every step of the way to make sure the transition to home life goes as smooth as possible. Timmy would do best as the only dog in the home, no other pets please. Timmy is not cat friendly. If you have an active home and would like to take your dog on adventures Timmy would be an excellent fit. It is important that Timmy continues his training in the home in order to build a bond with his adopter and for his long term success in the home. Please only apply if you are looking to have a working relationship with your dog.

Lucky Dog has many dogs in shelter looking for their forever home for the holidays and all of their available dogs are posted on Petfinder here. Even if you don’t see the ideal dog for you available now, they get more dogs and sometimes cats joining almost every week so you might find your perfect furry friend soon!