National Mill Dog Rescue

Founded in 2007, National Mill Dog Rescue rescues, rehabilitate and rehomes discarded breeding dogs from puppy mills and educates the public about the cruel realities of the commercial dog breeding industry. NMDR is 95-percent volunteer based. The organization is a national leader in hands-on rescue, with an average of 1,200 dogs a year "taking the freedom ride." It has an 14,000 sq. ft. kennel, a 3,000 sq. ft. veterinary clinic and a dedicated rehabilitation center on its property near Colo. Springs. Every dog saved gets every opportunity for restoration to health. Programs include rescue, vet care, rehabilitation, foster care, adoption, post-adoption support, and lost dog support. NMDR educates the public through social media, traditional media, school programs, community presentations and tours. It shares the goals of national animal welfare groups in advocating for an end to the commercial breeding industry and supporting shelter/rescue pet adoptions. . .

A world where every dog is treated with compassion.

Goal One: We will double the # of dogs rescued per year from commercial breeders by expanding our network of humane groups that request dogs for adoption.

Goal Two: Through collaboration, we will obtain retired breeding dogs and surplus pups for shelters/rescues in high-population centers where small adoptable dogs are in short supply.

Goal Three: We have purchased a property in the Midwest where most of our rescues occur. We will raise $250K for renovations and raise $500K additional in 2023 to support expansion of all activities.

A new board of directors was established in 2022 -- 2023. Members are attending board development/leadership training online and in person. Members have a written set of expectations and are term-limited. All members contribute financially and volunteer in direct animal care. All are engaged in fundraising and active in governance decisions.

1) With pet-store and internet sales declining, commercial breeders have experienced a surplus of unmarketable puppies. As a result, we rescued 373 pups 4 mo. or younger in 2022, compared with 89 in 2021. Our core mission is to rescue retired breeding dogs, but we don't say no, because, regardless of age, when puppy-mill dogs are out of time, they are destroyed. We adapted by increasing the number of rescue trips from 21 to 31 and by adding extra staff at our shelter. We doubled the # of pups transferred to existing partner shelters. 2) Upon learning that shelters in high-population centers along the East Coast had an ongoing demand for under-30# dogs, we collaborated with a national foundation to rescue more than 200 small dogs from Midwest breeders and helped facilitate their flights to destination organizations. This program is ongoing. 3) After 15 years of challenging overnight arrangements on our rescue trips (friends with barns, cheap motels, nights in the vans, etc.), we utilized an unexpected 2022 gift to purchase a property in SW Missouri. This is proving invaluable, not only for our teams and dogs that are returning to our Colorado home base, but to our new rescue/transfer program. Due to its more central location, receiving shelters can either pick up their new dogs at this site or, with help from the foundation, the dogs can be flown to their destinations. 4) We have increased fundraising efforts through social media, email solicitations, local TV/radio, cultivation of major donors, potential new donor contacts, grants, and special events to meet a $2.7 million budget for 2023.