When shelters overflow, we all have a role. DIFFERENT ROLES – ONE MISSION
- May 19
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The Rescue Dog Project believes every dog deserves safe, humane care—whether they’re in a shelter, rescue, foster home, or breeding facility.
Together, we can all help empty the shelters!
RESCUES – Save lives. Provide care. Offer second chances.
BREEDERS – Breed responsibly. Support solutions that reduce overpopulation. Prioritize health, temperament, and lifelong accountability for the animals they produce.
COMMUNITIES – Adopt. Foster. Volunteer. Educate. Be the difference.
LAWMAKERS – Support humane, effective policies that protect animal welfare and strengthen communities.
EVERY VOICE – Speak for them. Share the message. Drive change.
There aren't enough homes, and there aren't enough volunteers to fill the need in rescue – and euthanasia can not be the solution. These dogs deserve solutions that don't get them here in the first place.
Make it stop!
Every community and reservation that has a pet overpopulation problem should be fully funded for spay and neuter programs until shelters are empty. With consistent funding, mobile clinics, and veterinary partnerships, we can stop the cycle at its source.
Dogs Multiply fast, we need to act faster
------------> Please STOP supporting Backyard Breeding and 'Puppies For Sale' Signs – Get rid of these sales COMPLETELY! Breeding without regulation in homes, private properties, or parking lots occurs without care for the animals' future or the community's future. Daily, we witness purebred dogs being re-homed on community boards.
------------> END Puppy Mills, Online & Retail Puppy Sales – The increase in online puppy sales and informal parking lots sales has made purchasing animals easier than ever. Dogs are considered inventory, frequently living in dirty, cramped conditions – sold for thousands of dollars.
The actions of bad actors affect the entire industry.
Together, we can create a future where:
Puppy mills stop threatening ethical breeders
Every dog and cat already alive has a chance at a safe, loving home.
Overcrowding is addressed before more animals are bred for commercial sale.
Communities, lawmakers, breeders, and rescues work together to reduce overpopulation and prevent suffering.
Get Involved!
A lot of the bigger rescues are already petitioning and trying to get bills signed, let's get behind them with the ones I found online! Did we miss something? Please let us know at Info@therescuedogproject.com.
Also, Check out your own local rescue's websites to look for state-by-state petitions, or call and ask what you can help get pushed through! What I do know is there sure are a lot of them and they all need signatures!
See something you support? Tag Your Lawmakers. Pets Can’t.
Step 1. Know the laws in your state: https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-commercial-pet-breeders-laws
Step 2. Download the graphicor message and share to social media. (We have plenty for you to use!)
Step 3. Tag 5-10 organizations/people: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials:
Step 4. Write, Call, Tag, Email – Sing It from the mountaintops!
Script: “Hi, I support a ban on commercial sales of pets and stricter penalties for backyard breeding in [your state]. Our shelters are at capacity and animals are suffering, living In cages unable play and run because rescuers are overwhelmed! Please prioritize the people and pets of our community! Please support or introduce legislation that protects shelters and rescues, lawmakers have a role to play and need to act today!
The AKC says it hurts good breeders to put a ban across the nation. I say,
If there are already more animals needing homes than homes available, creating more animals only deepens the problem—regardless of intent.
Puppy Protection Act!
The Rescue Dog Project supports the Puppy Protection Act because it seeks to strengthen basic welfare standards for dogs kept by large-scale commercial breeders. Responsible breeders often exceed these requirements. Strong welfare standards help ensure that all dogs receive proper care, exercise, housing, and humane treatment. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4437/text
Sponsors of the bill: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 04/29/2026); https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4437/cosponsors
Script: "As your constituent, I urge you to support the Puppy Protection Act, H.R. 2253/S. 4437, which will crack down on puppy mills. Pets are family members and should be treated as such. We can no longer tolerate dogs being mistreated in these inhumane facilities."
After making your phone call, send an email, make it known!
Support other voices on Change.org
Click here to see: Multiple Puppy Mills petitions
Click here to see: Multiple Backyard Breeders petitions
Best Friends
They have GREAT resources on their page. From foster programs and transport programs to advocacy programs to get you started In your own community. Get updated statistics.
The Puppy Protection Act of 2025: https://bestfriends.org/advocacy/alerts/protect-pets-puppy-mills-support-puppy-protection-act-2025
Support a petition: https://action.bestfriends.org/categories/ending-puppy-mills
Humane World Action Fund
From their website: Humane World Action Fund publishes an annual Humane Scorecard of Congress to give you a snapshot of every federal legislator's record on animal protection issues.
Take a look to see how your legislators preformed in the first half of the 119th Congress. https://humaneaction.org/humane-scorecard
Legislative action: https://humaneaction.org/action-center
Do you have something you'd like to submit that will help inform, inspire, or move someone toward helping end the pet crisis? Please email: Info@therescuedogproject.com
Your voice can help shift perspectives, encourage people to adopt successfully, volunteer confidently, advocate freely, inform rationally, and collaborate openly to help end the pet crisis in our own communities.
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