In 2017 I fostered three mangy puppies from a reservation. At an adoption event, I saw their mama, Shasta. My husband was there with me, and I looked at him and said, “we need to foster her”. He proceeded to continue to say, “no way”. Well… I won! We brought Shasta home to foster and I networked her for a couple weeks for someone to adopt. Shortly after Christmas, I said we were adopting her. I have no idea where it came from, but it just happened. 

But it didn’t end there. I was always very curious about her background. Her puppies were in horrible shape when we fostered them, and she looked like the saddest dog in the world when we got her. I came to find out that she was living outside with her six puppies on a reservation and was a stray that no one claimed. I saw the picture of her and her puppies on the mattress and that was the beginning of what eventually started Rescue Network.

I couldn’t believe how much help was needed in these areas. I was eager to learn more and help. We started helping the Reservation where Shasta was from, and the need was huge. I was doing this with my own bank account, trying to raise money and it just wasn’t feasible. In late 2019, we started Rescue Network. We have since grown to help every Reservation in South Dakota as well as some in North Dakota and really grown to have a great partnership in helping the communities! 

I often tell Shasta she is saving so many lives. Without her, I can’t say I would have had the motivation to start Rescue Network.

Kristen
Founder of Rescue Network