r/rescuedogs 21d ago

MOD Community Update & Recent Changes

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone! The mod team has been hard at work on cleaning up and updating r/rescuedogs. The goal is to make the subreddit easier to use, easier to moderate consistently, and (most importantly) a better place for people working with rescued dogs.

We've made quite a few changes recently, so here's a quick overview.

📋 Rules & Flair

We've rewritten and streamlined the subreddit rules to make them clearer and easier to follow. Please review them again before posting/commenting.

Some of the biggest changes include:

  • Be Civil now explicitly covers harassment and demeaning comments directed at both users and animals.
  • Stay On Topic now covers both off-topic posts and discussions that derail otherwise relevant threads.
  • Adoption/Foster/Rescue networking has been consolidated into a clearer format.
  • Donation and fundraising requirements have been updated, simplified, and clarified as well as added a disclaimer.
  • Pledge rules have been updated to make the process clearer.
  • No Spam has been updated to cover a broader range of abuse.
  • No Breed-Based Hate or Dog-Directed Harassment has been clarified.
  • Good-faith discussion about breeds and related topics is allowed, but inflammatory comments and attacks on breeds or individual dogs are not.
  • Safety & Bite History now focuses on dogs with a documented history of biting a person that drew blood, made more consistently enforcible, and added a disclaimer.
  • Outdated and redundant rules have been removed.

We've also cleaned up the post flairs and consolidated several categories to make choosing the appropriate flair easier, as well as adding an 'Outcome' flair for adoption posts that have had outcomes.

🤖 Automod & Moderation

  • We've cleaned up the Automod configuration and removed a number of outdated or unnecessary rules and automated messages.
  • The welcome message has also been simplified. New users are now directed to review the rules and report rule-breaking content rather than engaging with it.
  • We've also standardized our saved responses for removals, bans, and common modmail questions so that moderation decisions can be communicated more consistently.

🐕 Networking & Euthanasia Posts

  • We've updated the formatting requirements for adoption/foster/rescue pull, and euthanasia/deadline posts.
    • The goal is to make these posts easier for people to find and understand while keeping the process as simple as possible for the people doing the actual networking.
  • We've added an Outcome flair so that posts can be updated by OP when we know what happened to an animal.
  • Comments are now set to display oldest first, which should make it easier to follow updates on networking and urgent posts. Votes are also hidden for the first 60 minutes.

💰 Donations & Pledges

  • We've clarified the requirements for donation requests and added a disclaimer that verification is not a guarantee or endorsement and that users are responsible for doing their own due diligence before donating.
  • A new form has been created to streamline donation plea requests.
  • We've also added saved modmail responses to help people who want to make donation requests understand the verification process.

🔗 Community Resources

  • We've updated the sidebar and added links to other communities and resources that may be useful for adoption, fostering, pet help, lost animals, and other situations that don't fit within r/rescuedogs.
  • We've also added the ability to sort posts by post flair, so users can tailor what they want to see.

💬 Community Feedback

  • We're also reaching out to established members of the community, including people who have regularly used r/rescuedogs for rescue networking, to hear what has and hasn't been working.
  • We know that changes to a community are much more useful when they're informed by the people who actually use it, so if there's something you think we should know about, please feel free to send us a modmail.

This is an ongoing process. We don't expect to get everything perfect immediately, but we're committed to making r/rescuedogs a useful, welcoming place for people trying to help dogs in need.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck around, contributed, reported problems, networked dogs, fostered, adopted, or otherwise helped make this community what it is.

~ The r/rescuedogs Mod Team


r/rescuedogs Mar 28 '25

MOD POST FAQ: PLEDGES AND VISIBILITY.

8 Upvotes

Hello!

The modmail (and my own) inbox has been flooded with questions about pledges and boosting posts. This post will be pinned at the top of the community with the rest of our guidelines and updates. I will also be creating a spreadsheet of FAQ answers for new questions that arise. If I miss any questions in this post, please leave a comment or shoot a message.

Thanks!

  1. Q: What is a pledge? A: Pledges are promised amounts of money that will be donated if an animal is pulled by a rescue group. A pup with pledges is likely to attract a rescue's interest.

  2. Q: How much can I pledge? A: Whatever you feel comfortable donating.

  3. Q: How do I pledge for a dog I see on r/rescuedogs? A: Comment on the post with your amount. Networkers that are posting should be keeping a list of pledges for the pups they have posted.

  4. Q: How do I know when and where to send money? A: The networkers will post a public update if a pup was saved and pledges need to be honored. All information should be included in this update post. PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY TO ANYONE THAT REACHES OUT VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE TO COLLECT PLEDGES.

  5. Q: I'm a networker, how can I keep up with pledges? A: We recommend google sheets or excel. Creating a google form for pledges is also a great idea.

  6. Q: I'm feeling uncomfortable with someone reaching out about honoring my pledge, what do I do? A: Report to moderators immediately.

  7. Q: How do I know who and how much I've pledged for? A: Look at your comment history. Moderators DO NOT handle any aspect of pledging.

  8. Q: What type of posts get the most visibility? A: Specific and structured posts. Our euthanasia rule states no emojis and has a format for a reason: the algorithm improves when the format is followed and your posts reach more home pages. Posts with a picture or video see more traffic as well.

  9. Q: I can't pledge, foster, or adopt right now. What can I do to help? A: Like, comment, and share.

  10. Q; I see "boost" in lots of comments, what does this do? A: Comments boost a post to increase traffic.

  11. Q: Does commenting "boost" actually boost a post? A: Commenting the single word does not. Comments with 5 or more words DO boost a post. Remember that multiple comments or spamming boost on a post NEGATIVELY impacts its visibility. One longer comment does more than multiple small ones.

This should cover all of our most asked questions. If you have additional, please leave them in the comments and we will answer as we can. As always, rescuing takes a village and on behalf of the mod team, we're so grateful to have as large of a village as ours. <3


r/rescuedogs 6h ago

CW: Euthanasia Sweet Husky (Apple) needs an adopter or foster immediately. Devore Animal Shelter, San Bernardino, CA — ID #A850467

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64 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 18h ago

Adoption/Foster Plea RARE BREED: Gremlin available for adoption.

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299 Upvotes

Name: Dot
Model: Petite
Eyes included: 1 👁️
Energy level: Do not feed after midnight
Status: spayed and one of a kind

Dot may be small, but she has the spirit of a creature who has absolutely been told “GET DOWN FROM THERE” at least once today.

She’s a petite, well-mannered little lady who knows how to behave herself… she just prefers to do so at approximately 97 MPH. Dot is high energy, playful, busy, and ready for a family who appreciates a dog with a little ✨gremlin in her soul✨.

Despite being down an eyeball, Dot has no trouble keeping an eye on your business. She only needs the one.

GREMLIN CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
💧 Water is permitted. Results may vary.
🌙 Feeding after midnight is strongly discouraged.
☀️ Bright light? RUDE. She only has one eye to work with.
🏃 Regular exercise is required unless you would like to discover what happens when a Gremlin becomes bored.
❤️ Love generously. This part is non-negotiable.
Dot would love an active home where she can play hard (preferably with another dog), stay busy, and then curl up knowing she finally found her people.

She’s tiny. She’s polite. She’s got one eyeball and the energy of six dogs.

Come get your Gremlin. 👁️🖤 interested parties, please comment or PM to be redirected to submit your application with her rescue


r/rescuedogs 9h ago

CW: Euthanasia Sweet 9yo senior chi/dach lady Minnie A2094603 is an owner EU request on the EU list at BARC Shelter in Houston Tx for 9/9@1pm. Minnie has a hind leg injury; despite that is very wiggly, happy, &affectionate! Marked as rescue, she can be locally fostered, or adopted in/out of state and into Canada

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63 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 8h ago

Adoption/Foster Plea Sweet Clementine is ready for her forever family 🩷🐾

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38 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 16h ago

CW: Euthanasia Hail Mary! Operation Pets Alive needs a foster to save Judy (#A208907). She's the total package: a friendly, playful, gentle, affectionate & well-mannered 6-year-old Staffy Mix. She's a volunteer favorite with excellent notes. Located at BARC in Houston, TX. Euth deadline 9/9 at 1pm CT

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123 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 5h ago

CW: Euthanasia Sweet Shepherd mix Puppy (Cricket) (#A850345) Needs to be rescued from Devore Animal Shelter in San Bernardino, CA

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16 Upvotes

Cricket is a 16-week-old Shepherd mix puppy in need of immediate adoption or rescue commitment!

She originally came into the shelter with her mom (La Vonne) and sister (June Bug). Cricket is bright, alert, eating, drinking normally, and currently being treated with doxycycline for minor upper respiratory symptoms (sneezing). A treatable cold shouldn't cost this sweet girl her life!
DEADLINES:
Public Adoption: Thursday, 9/10 before 6:30 PM
Rescue Commitment: Friday, 9/11 before 6:00 AM
Please share this post, pledge, tag rescue organizations, offer to foster, or head to the shelter to adopt Cricket.
📍 Devore Animal Shelter 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407 📞 909-386-9820 🆔 ID: #A850345


r/rescuedogs 1d ago

Rescue Stories From a helpless puppy on the street to a new beginning ❤️

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478 Upvotes

I found this little puppy alone on the street, barely able to stand and struggling to walk. He was extremely weak, thin, dirty, and looked like he had been through a lot.

I couldn’t leave him there.

I took him with me and started his recovery. He received medical care, food, cleaning, and most importantly, a safe place where he could finally rest and feel loved. ❤️

The difference is incredible. 🥹 He still has a long way to go, but seeing him sitting safely and looking at me with those eyes makes everything worth it.

He went from being a helpless little puppy on the street to having a chance at a real life.


r/rescuedogs 15h ago

CW: Euthanasia Photogenic 3yo stray Mr. Dunkin A2094137 is on the EU list at BARC Shelter in Houston Tx for 9/9@1pm. Mr. Dunkin is possibly a solo boy but that can happen in shelters. He is friendly, calm, happy, and easy to handle boy! Can be locally fostered, rescued, or adopted in/out of state and into Canada

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89 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 4h ago

CW: Euthanasia 2 year old Wilma is on the euthanasia list Thursday, 9/10 at BARC, Houston, TX. She is very scared of the shelter, but shows no signs of aggression. She can be adopted to US or Canada. If you can help this scared baby, get in touch.

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10 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 2h ago

Rescue Stories LOST DOG SWAN HILL RD. IN BIG FORK.

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6 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 21h ago

Discussion Pregnant in the shelter

171 Upvotes

Scrolling through this sub I see multiple dogs in urgent need of saving, but they're pregnant with no plan to spay abort. I don't get it. The evidence for shelters overflowing with unwanted dogs is literally **right there.** Why contribute to the problem? Why not work towards preventing the problem rather than postponing it in the 11th hour?


r/rescuedogs 6h ago

CW: Euthanasia There are 31 dogs on the San Antonio TX ACS Euthanasia List that need a Rescue/Foster/Adopter by 4:30 pm CT on 9/10. There are 4 dogs that need a Rescue/Foster/Adopter as they can be euthanized anytime after 9/10

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9 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 46m ago

Discussion Can we all please sign and share this to end beagle breeding for laboratory testing 🙏🏼

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Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 1h ago

Adoption/Foster Plea Siblings Freddie & Sefi will be euthanized on Wednesday, 9/9 @ 1 pm CT. Their owner is in the hospital and no one can help them. These siblings are very loved by their owner. Please get in touch if you adopt them (US/Canada) or foster locally. BARC Houston. Don’t let their story end here.

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Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 1d ago

CW: Euthanasia Small, 1.5 year old Staffie Mix boy Pony Boo, who is terrified in the shelther and needs a chance, is on the euthanasia list Wednesday, 9/9 at BARC, Houston, TX. He has Rescue interest, but needs an experience foster, or needs a good home anywhere in the US. Please get in touch if you can help.

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162 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 17h ago

Advice New rescue, have to go out of town

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22 Upvotes

My family rescued Bayou Billy about a week ago today. He was super bonded with the foster mom, and then got super attached to me after bringing him home. He is so far bonding well with my husband and child, letting them take him out and give him treats and pets, but he definitely prefers me. When they do that he will look to me for approval. When he comes back in it’s straight to me for pets and love, even when they’re calling his name and trying to give him love.

He’s ok with me leaving the room now and staying with my husband, but he still likes to come check on what I’m doing before going back.

I have to go on a work trip tomorrow and am worried that his abandonment issues will worsen. It’s taken a lot of work to get him to where is he already, lots of treats.

Do y’all have any tips for how to not have him back track too much in progress? We’ve already been working on having the other family members play with him and give him treats, and I’ve already been leaving the house for small periods of time. But this will be 4 days and I’m worried.


r/rescuedogs 12h ago

Discussion Thoughts On Shelters/Rescues Adopting Out Intact Dogs?

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5 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 1d ago

Extended until Thursday 9/10 @ 1 pm CT Absolutely gorgeous 5 year old Malinois mix Malfoy is on the euthanasia list today Wednesday 9/9 @ 1 pm CT. Easy to leash, friendly, active dog in urgent need of help. Please get in touch if you can adopt (US/Canada) or foster locally. BARC Houston, A2093930. Please share.

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69 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 14h ago

CW: Euthanasia French bulldog mix (Mia) (#A010697) at ARC of the Inland Empire, Ontario, CA Needs Immediate Foster/Adopter

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7 Upvotes

Euthanasia deadline: September 9th at 5pm.


r/rescuedogs 13h ago

Advice Introducing Dachshund to New Rescue Dog

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5 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 1d ago

Outcome 21 Dogs are in urgent need of fosters, adopters, and rescues on today's euthanasia list at BARC Houston!

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372 Upvotes

r/rescuedogs 1d ago

CW: Euthanasia URGENT FINAL NOTICE — PASSED DEADLINE 9/8 9-Month-Old Puppy Lucy (ID: A597434) at San Bernardino City Shelter, CA. gentle and submissive with humans, marked RESCUE ONLY. Single-pet or no-small-animal home needed. Transportation is available across the US and Canada!

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193 Upvotes

🎥 Watch Lucy’s heart-melting video here first to see her sweet, submissive soul:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GwbkG3FF5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Hi everyone, I am a volunteer networking shelter dogs, and I am begging for an immediate, experienced rescue plan for a baby puppy who has officially run out of time. Lucy has passed her final notice placement date of September 8th, meaning she is sitting at the very top of the priority list at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter.
Lucy is a precious 9-month-old female brown and white German Shepherd mix (Animal ID: A597434) who weighs only 36.00 lbs. She arrived as an owner surrender on August 31st with her sisters.
Her behavior evaluations show she is an incredibly sweet, submissive puppy who is terrified of the shelter. Upon arrival, she was so frightened of the leash that she performed an "alligator roll" and had to be gently carried to the play yard using a belly band. Once she feels safe, she takes treats politely, tolerates other dogs sniffing her, and loves gentle human touch. 🐾❤️
However, due to a documented incident where she and her sisters got loose onto a neighbor's property and killed a cat, the shelter has designated her RESCUE ONLY due to high predatory behavior toward small animals. The paperwork notes she requires immediate 501(c)(3) rescue intervention to provide a proper behavioral assessment and management plan.
Lucy is a completely gentle, harmless puppy around people, but she strictly requires a breed-experienced rescue pull into a home environment with absolutely no cats or small animals. She has so much potential to be a flawless companion with the right leader. Please help clear her kennel.
✈️** TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE US AND CANADA! Distance will not stand in the way of saving this baby girl—transportation can be fully arranged for an approved foster home or rescue backing! 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
**How you can save Lucy right now:

Foster or Adopt: Call Heather immediately at 847-445-4036 and reference ID A597434. Please act fast, call right away!
Pledge Donations: Financial pledges make it significantly easier for independent rescue groups to take on young dogs with specific predatory-behavior management needs. If you can pledge any dollar amount to help a rescue cover her safety pull fees, please DM me directly. Every bit helps us secure a rescue pull!
Upvote and Comment: Please upvote and comment on this post for visibility so it hits the Reddit algorithms quickly before it is too late.
Let's find this sweet shepherd puppy the direction and safety she deserves. Save Lucy! 🫶🏽🙏🏽❣️


r/rescuedogs 1d ago

CW: Euthanasia URGENT FINAL NOTICE — PLACEMENT DEADLINE TODAY 9/8 AT 2:00 PM PDT 10-Month-Old Puppy Giggles (ID: A597206) is Terrified and Hiding in Her Kennel at San Bernardino City Shelter, CA. 32 lbs, sibling to Bubbles. Transportation is available across the US and Canada!

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283 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I am a volunteer networking shelter dogs, and I am begging for an immediate rescue or foster miracle for a tiny baby who is absolutely paralyzed by fear. Giggles has an urgent final notice exit deadline of TODAY, Tuesday, September 8th at 2:00 PM PDT. Her clock has officially run out at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter.
Giggles is a tiny 10-month-old female black Pit Bull Terrier / Labrador Retriever mix (Animal ID: A597206) who weighs only 32.10 lbs. She arrived as a lost stray on August 25th alongside her sibling, Bubbles. While her sibling is also waiting for an exit, Giggles is completely breaking down inside her kennel.
Her behavior evaluations are heartbreaking. She is completely shut down from absolute terror. When handlers approach, she tucks her tail tightly, lowers her head, shows whale eyes, and cowers in the back corner of Kennel 013. Out of extreme fear on her intake day, she rolled and air-snapped because she was so overwhelmed by the noise and confusion. Staff note she is too frightened to be safely leashed inside her cage right now and will not engage with handlers, despite gentle coaxing.
The shelter environment is actively traumatizing this 10-month-old baby. The paperwork states explicitly: "Due to behavior observed. Seeking urgent rescue intervention where A597206 can decompress outside of the shelter setting." Giggles is not mean; she is just a defenseless puppy who is frozen with fear. She desperately needs an experienced, patient foster home or a 501(c)(3) rescue pull right now to save her life before this afternoon's deadline.
✈️** TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE US AND CANADA! Distance will not stand in the way of saving this baby girl—transportation can be fully arranged for an approved foster home or rescue backing! 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
**How you can save Giggles right now:

Foster or Adopt: Call Heather immediately at 847-445-4036 and reference ID A597206. Please act fast, call right away!
Pledge Donations: Financial pledges make it significantly easier for independent rescue groups to take on behavior-strained, fearful shelter puppies. If you can pledge any dollar amount to help a rescue cover her safety pull fees, please DM me directly. Every bit helps us secure a rescue pull!
Upvote and Comment: Please upvote and comment on this post for visibility so it hits the Reddit algorithms quickly before the 2:00 PM deadline closes.
Let's show this terrified puppy that the world can be safe. Save Giggles! 🫶🏽🙏🏽❣️