Our Story - A Journey of Hope

We often get asked why we started Big Family Rescue and what inspires us to keep going. Our large family has always cared for animals of all kinds, from farm animals to personal pets. We’ve had them not only for our own enjoyment but because we feel a deep sense of responsibility to care for those in need. Our journey as a rescue has been ongoing, but the moment that truly sparked our efforts was when we found Percy. She was a sweet, kind older dog, abandoned and alone, so we took her in. Unfortunately, Percy passed away from distemper—a disease that’s easily preventable with proper vaccinations. Her passing opened our eyes to the overwhelming need for loving homes for stray animals in our community.

After that, we knew we had to do more. We weighed our options and took a serious look at our resources to figure out a way to contribute meaningfully. We began rallying the community, near and far, and started raising funds through social media and at our local businesses. We have been able to care for a good many animals in need. Our current workload has doubled since the beginning less than a year ago, but knowing the difference we’re making keeps us motivated each and every day. For the kids, it’s a lot to take on, but remembering all the lives that have been helped makes it worthwhile.

One of the most powerful things we’ve discovered through this process is the importance of community. Community has become a cornerstone of our mission. Through our rescue, we not only want to care for animals, but also to educate the community about how to properly care for them. By addressing the root causes of the stray animal issue—such as dog fighting, puppy mills, and general neglect—we hope to make a long-term difference. We also emphasize the importance of proper vaccinations and hygiene to ensure pets live their best, healthiest lives. Additionally we hope to be able to build a program to help those in the community in need through service animals

If we could give one piece of advice to new and prospective pet owners, it would be this: caring for a pet is a lifelong commitment. It requires continuous love, attention, and responsibility to help your animals thrive. When you take in a living creature, you become responsible for its well-being, and that bond can last a lifetime—not just for the animal, but for a loving caretaker as well.

Sometimes, when the workload feels overwhelming, it helps to step back and see the bigger picture. Whether it’s taking a quiet moment with the animals whose lives we’ve changed or physically stepping back to center ourselves and refocus on our mission, maintaining our well-being is essential. This rescue has taught us that we are capable of more than we ever thought possible. Our resources, our community, and the efforts we’ve put in have stretched farther than we could have imagined. And in turn, we’ve learned that animals have far more potential than they are often given credit for. We’ve never encountered an animal that isn’t full of goodwill and love.

We are committed to rekindling the bond between animals and their owners. We believe that an animal isn’t truly rescued until it finds its forever home. While we help as many as we can, there’s still much more work to be done to meet our goal of rescuing these animals. It’s essential for people to realize that one kind deed, one compassionate act, can change an animal’s life and make an immeasurable impact. We started this rescue to ensure that no animal is abandoned. Whether they be old and sick or young and furry, we want to create a space full of love for them to flourish and live out their days.

Looking to the future, our goals include expansion—especially with medical facilities—and potentially bringing in behavior specialists to help the animals overcome emotional trauma. There will certainly be plenty of community involvement, as well! We aim to provide service opportunities for animals, like hospital visits, service dog training, and volunteer work that allows people to connect intimately with the animals whose lives they’re improving.

We believe an animal hasn’t been fully rescued until it has a warm bed and a loving family to call its own. In this sense, “rescue” can be any action taken to better an animal’s life. We need more rescuers in the world.

As Dr. Seuss so wisely said, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

It’s easy to walk by animals in need and detach ourselves from the responsibility of care. But perhaps it’s time we all make a conscious effort to rekindle the true connection we once had with animals, to make it personal, and to change the way we think about the creatures around us. To become rescuers at heart.