Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We are addressing the problem of thousands of dogs receiving substandard care in commercial breeding facilities. We focus on puppy millers in Midwest states where federal and state oversight is virtually nonexistent. Those states are Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Nebraska, but we go elsewhere when contacted by breeders who are shutting down or looking to discard non-profitable dogs. Our core mission is to rescue as many dogs as our resources will permit and address their problems; i.e., lack of veterinary care that has resulted in untreated injuries and illnesses, lack of socialization that has resulted in fearful behaviors, lack of training in how to be what they were meant to be--faithful, family companions. We are also addressing the challenge of educating the public about the cruelty and inhumanity inherent in the commercial dog breeding industry, as well as the problem of the proliferation of pet store and internet sellers.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Rescue
We make an average of two trips a month to Midwest puppy mills whose owners have called us because they are ready to retire/destroy some of their dogs. We have built relationships with 250 mill owners over the years. We do not purchase these dogs; we rescue them. They are either older worn-out breeding dogs or younger with medical problems; we take them all.
A typical trip involves 3-6 days over 1,500 to 4,000 miles across several states. We have two rescue vans and 4-6 team members.
1,069 dogs were saved in 2021. We could rescue more, but we will not overcrowd our kennel and medical/rehab facility, as this would jeopardize the well-being of the dogs in our care and overburden our most valuable asset--our volunteers. Also, because these dogs have special needs, we are careful to place them in only the most appropriate homes, so we take much more time in rehabilitation and in adoption screening than would be typical for dogs that are already adjusted to family life.
Veterinary Care Program
The average per-dog cost for in-house veterinary care is $250.
This program is among our greatest prides. Our outstanding in-house team members, including three veterinarians, three technicians and one assistant, are experts in intricate and extensive surgical and dental procedures. They take immaculate care of our dogs.
Every incoming dog is examined, vaccinated, dewormed and heartworm-tested. Medical conditions dealt with frequently include pyometra, injured and infected eyes, ears scarred from prolonged untreated infections, parasite infestation, leg and foot deformities, blindness, deafness, hernias, mammary tumors, other cancers, decayed, infected teeth and rotted gums.
We also call regularly on many private-practice veterinarians for treatment of the most severely ill and injured dogs or those with conditions that require specialized diagnostic and/or surgical care. In 2014 and 2015, almost one-third of our dogs benefited from the skill and expertise of nine different specialty clinics in Colorado Springs and Denver. Our average cost for outside care in 2015 exceeded $10,000 per month.
It is important to note that expenses for outside veterinary care continue to rise because we are emphasizing the rescue of more dogs from truly horrific conditions and rescuing more seniors with complex health issues.
Education and Outreach
Educating the public is critical to our mission. It is the long-term solution to bringing about awareness and change in the commercial dog breeding industry.
Our rescued dogs themselves and the publicity generated about them are the best ways to capture the attention of the unaware public. From there, we inform everyone willing to listen.
We conduct an impressive, ongoing outreach program, reaching thousands of people through traditional and social media, as well as through service groups, school programs, Scout troops, special events, open houses and adoption fairs. We enjoy TV and radio coverage in Colorado Springs, as well as nationally, with articles published in newspapers, magazines and online.
Rehabilitation
Most discarded mill dogs have had minimal veterinary care and limited socialization with humans. Nevertheless, the great majority are amazingly forgiving and resilient. Once they receive the medical care they need and learn the trust of a loving hand, most are ready to move on to lifelong homes. The average time they spent with us last year was only 11 weeks. In many shelters that would be considered a long stay, but for a population of dogs that has endured such prolonged neglect, it is a relatively short time to heal.
About 20 percent of our dogs do suffer deeper physical and emotional effects from their former lives. These dogs may require extensive veterinary care and/or psychological rehabilitation. Nurturing them often takes many months. We are deeply committed to these dogs and are entirely successful in their restoration to health and eventual placement.
Within this group of seriously affected dogs are those whose grave lack of socialization in their former lives causes them to bite. They are in desperate need of security, consistency and, above all, love. They could rarely be given a chance in a conventional shelter setting, but thanks to our intensive rehabilitation efforts, we are able to give them the time and expertise they need to find their courage and learn to trust.
Adoption
Our most effective tools for highlighting our available dogs--as many as 150 at any given time==are our website postings and social media platforms. Our volunteers and staff post exceptional photos and videos along with detailed biographies to introduce our dogs to the public. In addition to our own site, we post on petfinder.com, adoptapet.com, allpaws.com and petango.com.
We adopt an average of 60 dogs a month. We are extremely careful in placing our dogs. Potential adopters are screened through an online application that includes questions about lifestyle, expectations, home environment, pets past and present, family members and more.
Applicants who are not deterred by the need to housetrain, leash train, and deal with fear responses or special needs move to the next step--a comprehensive phone interview.
If they appear to be a good match, counselors contact the veterinary references and request photos of the fenced yard and close-up photos of the gates. If at any point a counselor questions the suitability of an applicant, a home visit is scheduled.
Overcoming the behavioral challenges of some puppy mill survivors is certainly not for everyone. Our adoption process helps us and our applicants make the important decision as to whether one of our dogs is the right fit for them. Our goal is to ensure that, through our very best efforts, we are selecting only the finest permanent, loving homes for our dogs.
Where we work
Accreditations
Better Business Bureau 2021
Charity Navigator 2021
Great Nonprofits 2021
Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, Colo. Dept. of Agriculture 2021
Awards
4-Star Rating 2021
Charity Navigator
Top-Rated 2021
Great Nonprofits
Affiliations & memberships
Colorado Animal Welfare Association 2022
Metro Denver Animal Welfare Alliance 2022
Pet Professional Guild 2022
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of animals with freedom from hunger and thirst
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Rescue
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of animals with freedom from discomfort
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Rescue
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?
Working with national groups, our goal is to shine a light on the shameful and cruel commercial dog-breeding industry until such time as it no longer exists. Until then, our goal is to continue rescuing as many survivors as our resources permit and restore them to health, so that they can know freedom and become the cherished pets they were meant to be.
Our financial goal is to have the resources to continue to care for this population of dogs for 25 years and beyond.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategy for rescuing dogs is unique, in that we have developed working relationships with roughly 250 mill owners. We have demonstrated a level of trustworthiness over time, so that they now call us on a regular basis when they have dogs that they are ready to discard.
Our strategy for education is to maximize the use of social media and traditional media to get the word out both locally and nationally about the industry.
Our strategy for fundraising is also to maximize social media, as well as to send direct mail appeals, hold special events, apply for grants, practice good stewardship, and to register with sites like Guidestar, ColoradoGives, Charity Navigator, Great Nonprofits, the Better Business Bureau and others.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
While bringing the puppy mill industry to its knees may not be realistic in our lifetimes, we are entirely capable of reducing through education the number of people who will purchase their next pet at a pet store or through an Internet site.
An example of this occurred in 2015 when, through the tireless efforts of our volunteers, one of our rescued dogs -- a grizzled, 15-year-old, one-eyed Chihuahua named Harley -- achieved international status by being selected by the American Humane Association as its 2015 American Hero Dog. Harley's story--and thus the story of the cruelty of the mills--resonated with hundreds of thousands of people, literally around the world, through publicity in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, on the NBC Today Show and the Hallmark Channel programming, through interviews held with his adoptive owners and the NMDR executive director on Capitol Hill in Washington. The story was picked up in Germany, countries in South America, and other locales, for a total of 40,000 impressions.
We are also entirely capable of rescuing up to 1,200 dogs annually, meeting all of their medical needs and emotional needs and placing them in homes. This we have established over the past 15 years. We have an 14,000-square-foot kennel facility, a new, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, an evidence-based training and behavior program, a robust volunteer and foster care program, and an outstanding adoption program, with post-adoption support.
Fundraising is our biggest challenge, but with constant effort in this regard, we have proven we can meet the challenge of a nearly $2 million budget per year. We could not do this without hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who devote countless hours and save us the equivalent of roughly 30 full-time employees a year.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We are a leading organization in the country devoted exclusively to rescuing puppy mill survivors. We have grown over the past 13 years from a group of three committed individuals to a an established, respected organization whose day-to-day operations are handled by hundreds of dedicated volunteers. We have only 31 full-time and part-time employees, most of whom are direct caregivers to our dogs.
Our work has been recognized by the ASPCA (2013 Henry Bergh Award), the American Humane Association (American Hero Dog), The Humane Society of the United States (featured in Animal Sheltering magazine), People magazine, Dog Time, One Green Planet, and dozens of other sources.
Since 2007, we have rescued more than 15,000 dogs. For all of them, we provided extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, socialization and adoption services, with a goal of preparing every one for life in a loving home.
What we haven't accomplished? So many dogs must be left behind because the industry is mammoth in size and our resources are limited. Too many people still do not know what a puppy mill is, how the dogs are treated and why they should eschew pet stores and Internet sellers in favor of adoption through rescue groups and shelters.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We serve about 1,000 dog adopters a year, and we serve the general public through education about the cruel realities of the commercial dog breeding industry.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
social media responses,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
We analyzed our donor-recognition process to ensure that every contributor receives a prompt thank you. There had been gaps in the process, resulting in some people's gifts not being acknowledged.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
We ask annually for reviews of our services in order to qualify for the highest ranking by Great Nonprofits. In October 2021, we asked and received a dozen positive reviews from adopters and thanked them for taking the time. It supported an overwhelmingly positive relationship we have with our clients.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
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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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
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NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE
Board of directorsas of 05/02/2022
Mrs. Theresa Strader
Lawrence Harris
none
Tommie Evans
Rocky Mtn. Children's Law Center
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 ? No -
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? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/28/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.