The Story of Small Dog Rescue

Small Dog Rescue began with a single, unforgettable dog named Bubba — and a promise that love and companionship should never end simply because life does.

It started when a local groomer received a heartfelt request from one of her longtime clients, a 95-year-old woman devoted to her little white Toy Poodle, Bubba. The woman asked for just one thing:

“If Bubba ever outlives me, please promise you’ll help find him a good home.”

When she passed away, the groomer kept her word. Bubba, then 13 years old and diabetic, suddenly found himself without his lifelong companion. Wanting to honor her client’s memory and help Bubba find a family, the groomer shared his story on Facebook — complete with a cheerful makeover in Seahawks blue and green to help him stand out.

That simple act of kindness set everything in motion. Bubba’s story touched hearts across the community, and he did find a loving home. But more than that, his story revealed a deeper truth: there are countless small dogs in need of care and connection, and countless people whose lives could be changed by welcoming one into their home.

Our Mission

At its heart, Small Dog Rescue — or as we often call it, the Small Dog Re-Home/Rescue — was founded to help bridge that gap.
Our mission is to:

• Place small, loving dogs with people who crave companionship without the demands of raising a puppy.

• Help families rehome dogs when illness, aging, relocation, or life transitions make it difficult to keep them.

• Honor the bond between humans and their pets, ensuring that no dog is forgotten and every story continues with dignity and care.

Growing Through Change

Over the years, our community of volunteers and foster families has grown stronger and closer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many in animal rescue, we faced an overwhelming increase in requests to help rehome dogs from a wide range of circumstances. To meet that need, we temporarily expanded our mission to include younger dogs as well. Although our primary focus remains on senior and small-breed dogs, we believe every placement — young or old — reflects the same compassion and purpose that started it all.

Recently, our group experienced a profound loss with the passing of one of our key founders, Dr. K., a beloved veterinarian and the heart of our foster network. Her knowledge, care, and commitment shaped who we are today. Following her passing, we restructured and modernized our online presence — creating this new website under the name Small Dog Rescue to better reflect our mission and make it easier for people to find us. While our online footprint may look new, our work and community are anything but. The same dedicated volunteers, foster families, and supporters continue the mission Dr. K. helped build.

At this time, due to limited foster capacity, we are not accepting new dogs. However, we are actively seeking additional foster families to join our network. Once new fosters are approved, we’ll be able to open our doors again to dogs in need.

100% Volunteer-Driven and Local

Small Dog Rescue is a completely volunteer-driven, self-funded organization. Everything we do depends on the generosity of people who give their time, homes, and hearts to this mission. Our dogs are cared for exclusively by local foster families across the Greater Seattle area and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

We take pride in staying local — we do not import dogs from other regions or ship them elsewhere. Every dog we place comes from our community and stays within it. We believe the best outcomes happen when neighbors help neighbors.