Dogs Deserve Better, Inc.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Education
DDB provides a variety of educational materials through our website to address the issue of chaining dogs. We emphasize not only the impact of chaining on the dog himself/herself, but on the community as a whole. In addition, DDB volunteers make educational presentations to groups throughout the world on these issues. We have a form on our website which allows neighbors or passersby to report chained or penned dogs. We then mail an educational brochure offering help and a letter to the address, and the reporter remains anonymous. We offer many items for sale on our site to educate about chaining; brochures, doorhangers, children's books, and books for adults, most written by staff or associates of Dogs Deserve Better. We also offer coloring books and annual calendars for sale to not only assist in the educational process but to raise funds for our efforts to unchain man's best friend.
Legislation
DDB Representatives work with other animal welfare organizations and concerned citizens to advocate for changes in exisiting laws to end the practice of chaining dogs 24/7. DDB representatives lobby for these changes at all levels of government from counties/cities through state.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
Each year DDB, rescues and rehabilitates anywhere from 150-300 dogs that had previously spent their entire lives at the end of a chain. In 2011 we bought Vick's former Bad Newz Kennels and are creating a rescue home for chained dogs on the property. As of October 2014 we have helped over 180 dogs just from the home that came with the property. We hope to build an addition ASAP to double the number of dogs we can assist at any given time. We also have area reps in several areas of the country who foster dogs and get them rehomed. Be sure to check out our Hero Fund Vet Care Grants as well.
Activism
Activist campaigns include Chain Off, where advocates chain themselves to doghouses in order to bring awareness for dogs nationwide, and protests for dogs in illegal situations. We make incredible use of our facebook page to gain help for individual dogs living in illegal situations, and succeed in freeing them time after time.
Hero Fund Vet Care Grants
Our Hero Fund Vet Care Grants are meant to assist rescuers who help chained dogs with the financial burden they incur when rescuing a dog. We pay the vets directly a $300 Grant which helps the dogs get back on their feet again, and often includes heartworm test, spay or neuter, shots, and worming. As of May 2014 we have provided grants to 147 dogs at a total cost of $44,100.00, and we will continue this grant as long as funding is available.
Canine Rescue and rehabiliation
We rescue abused and neglected, c hained and penned dogs, from a life of despair and rehabiliate them both medically and emotionally to become the family pets they have always wanted to be.
Where we work
Awards
ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award 2003
ASPCA
Rescue Organization Saving Dogs 1ST PLACE - Dogs Deserve Better 2010
American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards
Voice For Ending Dog Chaining 1ST PLACE - Dogs Deserve Better 2010
American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards
Founder Tamira Thayne, IDA Guardian of the Month 2008
In Defense of Animals
Dog's Life "Breaking the Chains that Bind" Article in December 2007 Dog's Life Magazine 2007
HSUS Genesis Awards
External reviews
Photos
Videos
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?
Our long term goal is to end the chaining of dogs in America and around the world. We hope to accomplish this through education, legislation, and rescue and rehabilitation. We work from our Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs in Smithfield, Virginia, where we bring chained dogs from many states in the U.S. and assist our reps by bringing dogs they rescue to our facility. Our immediate goal is to build a wing onto the center in order to double the number of dogs we can rehab at any given time. Our longterm facility goal is to build a state of the art facility for training and rehabilitating up to 50 dogs at a time; at this facility we will house train and obedience train them in order to find them new, inside, homes and families. At that point we will turn the current small facility into a vet care facility for our own dogs and for community dogs to get inexpensive veterinary care. Major donors are needed to bring this project to fruition. We also want to continue our Hero Fund vet care grants for rescued chained and penned dogs. This grant has helped 186 dogs as of October 2014, at a cost of $55,800, and we need more funding to keep it going in order to take the financial burden off those who rescue chained or penned dogs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
When we started we naively thought chaining could be knocked out within ten years...but that didn't happen. Chaining is insidious in America and around the world, and we've found that areas where we take on chaining as an issue get quickly cleaned up and it has made us realize that the more volunteers we have spreading the word the quicker things will change. We believe we are hitting it from every angle with our programs and campaigns that educate, legislate, rescue, rehabilitate, and advocate.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Dogs Deserve Better was the first organization to actively take on the dog chaining issue. We have educational materials that include books, brochures, calendars, door-hangers, coloring books, and children's books. We provide these materials to volunteers and dog caretakers around the country, and we mail educational materials to homes all around the country in order to advocate for the dogs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We've educated citizens and dog advocates in fighting for laws for dogs locally, and spoken at town meetings and in front of state committees on chaining legislation. Most citizens who take on the issue in their communities come to us for advice or visit our website for the strategies we present. We've rescued and rehabbed formerly chained or penned dogs, and for these dogs their new lives are priceless. We have a facility on the site of Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound, and every day our dogs run through the fields where once dogs lived chained to trees. We've implemented a Vet Care Grant for dogs we are unable to rescue ourselves due to facility constraints, but we lift the financial burden for other groups or individuals who step up to rescue chained or penned dogs. These grants are paid directly to the vet offices on the dog's behalf. The organization has spent over one-half million dollars on vet care for dogs since our inception in 2002.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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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.
Dogs Deserve Better, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 09/21/2023
Roslyn (Roz) Willis
DDB
Term: 2022 -
Roslyn Willis
Kimberly Hawk
Sheri Labauch
Kate Goodrich
Ginger Staron
Amy Swope
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes