Marion, North Carolina 28752, United States
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adopt a dog
ADOPT A DOG, SAVE A LIFE
Please fill out an application if interested in meeting any of our adoptable dogs.
We require that all adopted dogs be kept up to date on vaccines, flea and tick and heart worm prevention. We will check vet and personal references to ensure that our dogs are going into secure and loving homes. Our adoption fee is $250 for puppies, $150 for adult dogs and $65 for seniors 6 and older, with an approved application. Please fill out the application completely with contact info for your current vet, if you have pets, and your references.
Little bear 1 year old Staffy/Lab mix
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
Meet Little Bear
Little Bear is a 1-year-old, 35-pound Staffy/Lab mix with the sweetest eyes and the softest heart.
This little girl has already had a harder start than any dog deserves. She came into the McDowell County shelter as a stray with a litter of puppies. She was barely more than a puppy herself, likely bred on her first heat, then left to survive on her own while trying to keep her babies safe.
Her puppies all got adopted. Now it’s Little Bear’s turn.
Despite everything she has been through, Little Bear is a very sweet, very nice dog. She loves other dogs and would do especially well in a home with a dog friend to help show her the ropes. When she is playing with another dog, she is happy and fun. When playtime is over, she settles into a nice medium-energy girl who can relax, chill out, and snuggle.
Little Bear is leash trained and is working on her house training. She is young, smart, and very ready to learn what it means to be part of a family. After spending her early life surviving, she deserves the chance to be loved, taught, and cared for the way she always should have been.
Little Bear is heartworm positive, but she is on the slow-kill treatment method, and Rusty’s Legacy will continue to provide her heartworm treatment until she is heartworm free.
At a Glance
- Age: 1 year
- Weight: 35 pounds
- Breed: mixed breed, Staffy/Lab
- Temperament: Sweet, loving, and affectionate
- House Training: Working on it
- Leash Training: Yes
- Dog Friendly: Yes
- Cat Friendly: Unknown
- Energy Level: Medium when not playing with dog friends
- Best Home: A loving home with another dog and ideally a fenced yard
Little Bear would love a foster or forever home where she can finally learn how good life can be. She has spent enough time being left behind. Now she needs someone to choose her.
This sweet young dog deserves better than the start she was given. She deserves a home, a family, and a future.ctive of her home and property, which was inconvenient for the family so they dropped her off at the county shelter and went home with a new dog. We pulled her from the shelter thinking that we could find her a home, but we didn’t realize the emotional damage they had caused.
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
🐾 Meet Rocky 🐾
If you're looking for a loyal adventure buddy, Rocky is your guy.
At around 2 years old, Rocky is a handsome mixed-breed boy with a big smile, a wagging tail, and plenty of love to give. We think he's a Boxer /Staffy mix with a few other breeds thrown in. He definitely got the best traits of each breed because he's a sweetheart of a dog!
He came to us from the county shelter, so we don't know much about his life before rescue—but what we do know is that he's a friendly, active dog who is ready for a fresh start.
Rocky enjoys being outside, exploring, and spending time with people. He's good on leash and would love a family that enjoys walks, hikes, yard time, or other outdoor activities. He's not the type of dog who wants to spend all day cooped up in a small apartment—he'll thrive with room to stretch his legs and burn off some energy.
🐾 About Rocky:
- Approximately 2 years old
- Male mixed breed
- Dog-friendly
- Medium energy
- Walks well on leash
- Loves being outdoors
- Happy boy who loves people
- Loves attention
Rocky would do best in an active home with a securely fenced yard or a family committed to giving him plenty of daily exercise and enrichment. In return, you'll get a loyal companion who's always ready for the next adventure.
He's already waited long enough for a family of his own. Could Rocky be the missing piece in yours?
💙 Apply to adopt Rocky today and come meet this handsome boy in person. He just might be your new best friend.
Angel 8 month old boxer mix
Rocky 2 year old mixed breed dog Boxer/Staffy mix
Poppy 4 MONTH OLD pitty mix
Meet Angel
Angel is a happy, playful 9-month-old, likely a Boxer mix with a big smile, a sweet disposition, and the kind of joyful puppy personality that makes everyone around her fall in love.
At about 35 pounds, Angel is a great size for an active family. She loves people, loves other dogs, and is always ready for fun. She has normal puppy energy and enjoys playing, but once she gets her excitement out, she is able to settle down and relax.
Angel would thrive in an active home where she can be part of the family’s daily adventures. She would love having another friendly dog around for companionship and playtime. A fenced yard would be a wonderful bonus, it’s not required—Angel could also thrive with regular walks, outdoor activities, and trips to the dog park. Since she is still young, she may also do well with cats when introduced slowly and appropriately.
Angel is leash trained and enjoys getting out for walks and adventures. She is somewhat house trained, but like many young dogs, she still needs consistency, patience, and a family willing to help her keep learning.
She is dog friendly with both male and female dogs and has the happy, social personality that makes her a wonderful candidate for a fun, loving home.
Angel at a Glance
Age: 9 months
Weight: 35 pounds
Breed: Boxer mix
Personality: Happy, playful, social, and affectionate
Energy level: Fun puppy energy, but able to settle down after playtime
Good with dogs: Yes — friendly with both males and females
Good with kids: Yes — she would do well in an active family home
Cats: Unknown, but she is young enough to be introduced carefully
Leash skills: Walks on leash
House training: Started, but still needs some consistency
Best fit: An active home, ideally with another friendly dog
Angel is sweet, silly, friendly, and full of life. She is looking for a family who will love her through puppyhood, give her the structure she needs, and help her grow into the wonderful adult dog she is meant to be.
If you’re looking for a fun, affectionate young dog with a happy spirit and so much love to give, Angel may be the perfect girl for you.
Poppy 4 MONTH OLD pitty mix
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
Poppy 4 MONTH OLD pitty mix
Meet Poppy 💛
Around 16 weeks old, ridiculously cute, and already showing signs of being a really smart little girl.
She is such a sweet baby, it's hard to believe that someone dumper her and she was found as a little baby, alone, fending for herself
Poppy is the perfect mix of playful puppy energy and easygoing companion. She LOVES other dogs, enjoys exploring the yard, and already sticks close to her people even though she’s still learning the whole leash thing.
And honestly? She’s doing amazing for a baby puppy:
✔️ Crate trained at night
✔️ Keeps her crate clean
✔️ Uses puppy pads for pee pee
✔️ Smart and eager to learn
✔️ Curious, confident, and social
✔️ Independent enough to entertain herself (not super clingy!)
✔️ Good with other dogs
✔️ She can be adopted into a home with cats
✔️ She will make a wonderful family dog and a loyal and loving playmate in a home with children
✔️ She will thrive in almost any home where her people love and care for her and will give her the life every dog deserves.
Like any teething puppy, she’s got a playful little “land shark” side in the evenings 😂 — chew sticks are her best friend right now.
Poppy would thrive in a home ready for puppy fun, puppy training, and lots of love. She’s the kind of dog that’s going to grow into an amazing companion.
And let’s be honest… that spotted nose is impossible to resist. 🖤
Smoky 8-10 year old chow mix
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
Meet Smoky
Weight: About 40 lbs
Sex: Female
House Trained: Appears to be
Leash Trained: Yes, she loves leash walks!
Dog Friendly: Yes, especially with calm male dogs
Cats: Unknown
Children: Adult home preferred
Energy Level: Low to Medium
Smoky's Story
Smoky's life has not been easy.
She came from a heartbreaking situation after a woman who bred Chow dogs lost her home and was living in a car with five dogs. When the car was repossessed, Animal Control stepped in and seized the dogs. They had been completely failed by the person responsible for their care.
Of all the dogs involved, Smoky was the only one who showed no human aggression.
Now this sweet senior girl is trying to make sense of a world that has changed overnight.
She lost the only life she knew and found herself in a rescue kennel at an age when most dogs should be spending their days napping on a couch and taking leisurely walks with someone they love.
About Smoky
Smoky is exactly what you would expect from an older Chow.
She is quiet, observant, and thoughtful. She isn't the dog who rushes up to greet strangers. Instead, she watches from a safe distance until she decides you can be trusted.
Once she feels safe, her gentle nature shines through.
She enjoys leash walks, gets along well with other dogs, and appears to be house trained. She's not looking for adventure or excitement. What Smoky wants most is consistency, kindness, and a peaceful place to call home.
Her Ideal Home
Smoky is looking for an adult home with someone who understands Chow temperament and breed traits.
Chows were originally bred as guardians and are naturally protective, independent, and wary of strangers. Those qualities don't make them difficult dogs—they simply require owners who understand and respect who they are.
Smoky would do best with:
🐾 Adults or older, respectful teenagers
🐾 A calm home environment
🐾 Someone familiar with Chows or similar guardian breeds
🐾 A patient adopter willing to let trust develop at her pace
🐾 A low-energy canine companion, preferably a male dog, or as an only dog
A Final Note
Smoky doesn't need saving from a shelter.
She needs saving from spending her final years without a family.
This scared, confused old girl has already lost everything once. What she needs now is a soft bed, gentle hands, quiet walks, and someone who will love her exactly as she is.
If you have experience with Chows and have room in your heart for a senior dog who deserves peace, comfort, and dignity in her golden years, Smoky may be the dog you've been waiting for.
Sometimes being a hero doesn't mean changing a dog's life. Sometimes it means giving them the life they should have had all along. ❤️🐾
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
on a home visit Eliza 10 years old aussie mix
Meet Eliza 💔
Eliza is a 10-year-old Aussie mix who has a HUGE heart, is full of love, and has been through more heartbreak than any dog should.
She spent most of her life with a family. They let her roam freely for most of her life. As she got older, she became protective of her home and property, which was inconvenient for the family so they dropped her off at the county shelter and went home with a new dog. We pulled her from the shelter thinking that we could find her a home, but we didn’t realize the emotional damage they had caused.
Since then, Eliza has spent the last 2 years living in an outdoor kennel at our rescue, waiting for someone to finally give her the stable, loving home she deserves.
Eliza is a special girl who needs a very special home.
Losing her family deeply affected her, and the trauma of that loss has caused severe anxiety We have been helping her work through that. But she needs more than we can give her.
Eliza forms extremely strong bonds with her people and now struggles significantly and becomes destructive when she's left alone in a crate or contained in a fenced yard or enclosure.
She loves to be in the company of humans and also forms bonds with male dogs. She has watched several of her kennel mates come and go, while she is ALWAYS left behind.
Eliza needs a VERY specific kind of home to be successful:
🏡 Someone retired, home often, or who works from home
🌾 A farm, acreage, or quiet rural property where she can roam safely and stay close to her people- OR someone that takes Eliza everywhere with them and walks her regularly. She does not like to be left alone.
🐾 An experienced, patient adopter who understands anxious or emotionally sensitive dogs
💛 A home where she can stay close to her people and feel safe, secure, and be included in everyday life
Eliza is not a dog who can be left alone for long periods or crated for hours every day. Eliza wants to be your everywhere, all the time dog.
She needs companionship, consistency, and someone who understands that her behaviors come from fear of being abandoned again.
But behind all of that is an incredibly loving dog.
Eliza is affectionate, loyal, and deeply devoted to the people she trusts. She still wants so badly to love and belong to someone, despite everything she has been through.
We know Eliza is not the right fit for every home. But we also know that somewhere out there is the right person for her—someone who understands that some dogs need a little extra patience because humans failed them first.
After 2 years in rescue, our biggest hope is that Eliza finally gets the chance to spend the rest of her life in a real home instead of a kennel.
If you think you might be the person Eliza has been waiting for, please reach out. Eliza is running out of options.
ON A HOME VISIT!!! Tito and Lincoln 6 and 4 a bonded pair of Aussies
ON A HOME VISIT!!! Tito and Lincoln 6 and 4 a bonded pair of Aussies
ON A HOME VISIT!!! Tito and Lincoln 6 and 4 a bonded pair of Aussies
Meet Tito & Lincoln: A Bonded Pair Looking for Their Second Chance
Tito and Lincoln are two beautiful Australian Shepherd boys who have lost the only home they've ever known.
Tito is 6 years old, and Lincoln is 4. Until recently, they were beloved family pets living comfortably in a home with their person. Then, their owner moved out of the country and had to leave them behind.
Through all of the changes and uncertainty, one thing has remained constant: each other.
Tito and Lincoln are a bonded pair and must be adopted together. After losing everything familiar, we won't separate the one source of comfort and security they still have.
The good news? These boys are absolutely wonderful dogs. And they were LOVED! They are the sweetest, most trusting, most well behaved dogs.
They are sweet, affectionate, and genuinely lovely companions. They enjoy being around people and are happiest simply being part of the family. They have lived in a home and know how to be house dogs.
Tito and Lincoln are:
• House trained
• Leash trained
• Good with other dogs
• Friendly and affectionate
• Well-mannered companions
• Bonded and devoted to one another
They don't need anything extravagant. They simply need a family willing to welcome both of them into their hearts and home.
If you've ever considered adopting a bonded pair, these boys will show you just how special that relationship can be. They play together, comfort each other, and navigate life's changes side by side. Watching their connection is truly something special.
Tito and Lincoln didn't choose to lose their home, but they deserve another chance at the life they once had: soft beds, familiar routines, and people who will love them for the rest of their lives.
Could that be with you?
If you're looking for two loyal, loving companions who have already mastered the art of being good dogs, Tito and Lincoln are waiting to meet you.
kaya and Achilles, our senior bonded pair
They Lost Everything Except Each Other
Kaya and Achilles don't understand what happened.
They don't understand why the man they loved never came home.
They don't understand why the comfortable house, the soft beds, the familiar routines, and the life they had for years suddenly disappeared.
All they know is that one day everything changed.
Their owner passed away.
The person who loved them, cared for them, and made them feel safe was gone.
His family tried, but his two adult sons are unable to care for them. And so these two senior dogs found themselves at our rescue, living in an outdoor kennel instead of the home they always knew.
At 10 and 11 years old, this is not where they should be.
This should be the season of life when they spend their days napping in sunbeams, sharing snacks, following their people from room to room, and sleeping peacefully on soft beds.
Instead, they wait.
And they wait together.
Because after losing everything else, they still have each other.
Kaya and Achilles are deeply bonded.
Not the kind of bonded that means they enjoy each other's company.
The kind of bonded that means they are each other's security blanket.
If one leaves the kennel, the other becomes distressed.
If one is out of sight, the other worries.
They have walked through loss together, and now they rely on one another to feel safe in a world that no longer makes sense.
They cannot be separated.
And honestly, after everything they've lost, we wouldn't want to separate them anyway.
Achilles is a wonderful little tripod who doesn't let missing a leg slow him down one bit. He gets around beautifully and still enjoys exploring, sniffing, and being wherever Kaya is.
Kaya is his constant companion, his best friend, and his family.
Together they are gentle, sweet, low-maintenance senior dogs who aren't asking for much.
Just a couch.
A bed.
A quiet home.
A person willing to open their heart to two dogs instead of one.
We know finding a home for a bonded senior pair isn't easy.
But we also know there is someone out there who understands what love looks like.
❤️ Because love is Kaya and Achilles sharing a bed.
❤️ Love is Kaya checking to make sure Achilles is okay.
❤️ Love is Achilles relaxing the moment Kaya is beside him.
❤️ Love is two old dogs who lost everything, holding onto the one thing they have left. Each other.
Please help us find the family willing to give Kaya and Achilles the happy ending they deserve.
A home where they can spend their golden years together.
A home where neither of them ever has to wonder where the other went.
A home where "forever" means forever.
❤️ Kaya & Achilles
🐾 Bonded pair
🐾 Ages 10 & 11
🐾 Around 40 lbs each
🐾 Dog-friendly
🐾 Sweet, gentle seniors
🐾 Achilles is a tripod and gets around great
🐾 Must be adopted together
They've already lost everything once.
Let's not make them lose each other too, they won't survive it. 💔🐾