Labrador Rescuers
Rescue - Rehabilitate - Rehome
Learn how to support this organization
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Labrador Rescuers works to address the problem of dogs turned in at shelters, abandoned dogs, stray dogs whose owners do not find or reclaim them, dogs relinquished by their owners for a variety of reasons, including age and medical needs, and dogs who otherwise need extra help to find their forever homes. While young, healthy dogs may have a good chance of adoption, dogs who require medical treatment, surgery, some extra attention and/or training, languish with little or no interest from people looking to adopt a dog. Although these dogs will make wonderful companions, limited shelter and other resources mean many are at risk for euthanasia unless they are rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
The Three Rs (Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome)
Labrador Rescuers (LR) focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of stray, abandoned and unwanted Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Retriever mixes, including shelter dogs and dogs relinquished by their owners because of age, health, financial or behavioral reasons. The purpose of LR's program is to save as many dogs as possible from over-crowded shelters, abandonment and potential euthanization. LR measures success by the number of dogs saved. LR serves the general public and animal shelters in Southern California in the Counties of San Diego, Orange and Riverside, and parts of San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Imperial Counties.
Second Chances for Senior Dogs
Labrador Rescuers (LR) shares in the philosophy that senior dogs have a positive impact on quality of life and can teach us a great deal about patience, responsibility, respect, loyalty and unconditional love. Every senior dog deserves to live his or her golden years, months, weeks, days or hours surrounded by love, security and peace. Dogs are not a disposable commodity. They depend on humans to care for them through all stages of their lives. No old dog should die alone and afraid.
LR is finding that more and more senior dogs need help. Senior dogs are dumped at shelters, owners turn in senior dogs because of old age and/or medical problems, and senior dogs find themselves as strays and wind up in shelters where they are unclaimed. While young, healthy dogs have a good chance of adoption, seniors often languish, with little or no interest from the general public.
The shelters with whom LR works know LR volunteers have a very big heart for seniors. LR regularly takes in seniors that other rescues pass by because of age and/or medical issues. For seniors with treatable medical issues, LR provides the veterinary and other care required to restore them to health. They are lovingly cared for in foster homes until they are adopted out to approved forever homes. Seniors with insurmountable medical problems are welcomed into LR's Lifeboat Labs program.
Lifeboat Labs Hospice Care
When dogs come to Labrador Rescuers (LR) with insurmountable medical problems, they are placed on Lifeboat Lab status and lovingly cared for in permanent foster homes. Each Lifeboat Lab's needs, including medical and dental care, are provided for during the remainder of his or her life. LR does not want any dog to spend his or her final days, weeks or months on a cold shelter floor.
Where we work
Awards
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2016
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2017
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2018
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2019
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2020
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2021
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2022
GreatNonprofits.org
Top-Rated Nonprofit 2023
GreatNonprofits.org
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
The Three Rs (Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome)
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The number of dogs available to rescues decreased in 2021, as pet adoption directly from shelters increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Number of animals rehomed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
The Three Rs (Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome)
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The number of dogs available to rescues decreased in 2021, as pet adoption directly from shelters increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in fewer dogs available for adoption from LR.
Number of senior dogs rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Second Chances for Senior Dogs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of senior dogs adopted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Second Chances for Senior Dogs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of dogs in hospice care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Lifeboat Labs Hospice Care
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Labrador Rescuers' (LR) goal has been and continues to be rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming as many Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Retriever mixes as its resources allow. LR is known for rescuing dogs that other rescues decline to intake because the dogs require extraordinary veterinary care, such as orthopedic and other types of surgery, and/or dogs that are older than many adopters wish to consider.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Labrador Rescuers' (LR) strategies to achieve its goal include: (1) continuing constant fundraising efforts to raise sufficient money to provide the care required to restore rescued dogs' health and ready them for adoption; (2) continuing work with shelter partners to identify dogs who need LR's help to save their lives and find their adoptive homes; (3) continuing support of volunteer fosters in caring for foster dogs while the dogs wait for their forever person, couple or family to find and adopt them; (4) continuing recruitment of volunteers to help in a variety of capacities; (5) continuing efforts to raise awareness of shelter dogs; and (6) continuing efforts to promote rescue and adoption.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Labrador Rescuers' (LR) capabilities for meeting its goal are dependent on its ability to continue raising funds and attracting volunteers who are committed to helping LR achieve its stated mission. LR has been able to meet its goal every year since its inception in 2004 and anticipates continuing to do so through hard work and dedication.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Labrador Rescuers has saved over 5,500 dogs since its formation in 2004.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Labrador Rescuers
Board of directorsas of 09/28/2023
Betina LeVeau Zlotlow
Labrador Rescuers
Term: 2023 - 2023
Betina LeVeau Zlotlow
Rachel Shreve
Andrea Miller
Richard Good
Toni Kraft
Wendy Chinn
Karin Johnson
Paula Weber