Dog Star Rescue (DSR) , a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid staff, was established in 2014 and is a dog rescue organization based out of the Hartford, CT area. DSR works closely with local animal control organizations, along with shelters in the south and other New England states to save the lives of loving and loyal dogs who have lost their way and find themselves on death row. Our team of more than 300 volunteers gets these adoptable dogs the medical and ... Read More
Dog Star Rescue (DSR) , a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid staff, was established in 2014 and is a dog rescue organization based out of the Hartford, CT area. DSR works closely with local animal control organizations, along with shelters in the south and other New England states to save the lives of loving and loyal dogs who have lost their way and find themselves on death row. Our team of more than 300 volunteers gets these adoptable dogs the medical and emotional care they need so they can transition into a loving forever home. To date DSR has placed over 7,500 dogs with new, forever families.
Dog Star Rescue strives to:
-Rescue as many dogs as possible, of all ages and breed mixes, with the volunteer and financial resources we have available
-Match qualified applicants with adoptable dogs, and educate adopters about the responsibility of providing a lifelong home to a rescue dog.
-Provide resources to meet the temporary housing, medical, behavioral, and emotional needs of the dogs in our care.
-Offer meaningful, rewarding volunteer opportunities and experiences in the communities we serve to support our mission of saving dogs' lives.
-Extend resources, services, or programs to our community that will enrich and transform the lives of companion animals and their owners.
Dog Star for Heroes:
Dog Star Rescue is proud to have a special adoption program for the everyday heroes among us: (1) Active duty military personnel and honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veterans (2) First responders including: Police officers, Firefighters, Emergency medical responders (3) Doctors and nurses. Our Dog Star Heroes team works closely with qualified adopters to find the perfect rescue dog based on lifestyle, home environment, and personality. We cannot guarantee any dog will be suitable as an emotional support animal, but our goal is to help bring healing, joy, and companionship to those who need it most. Companion Dogs for Heroes can improve mental well-being, motivate heroes to stay active and engaged with the world, support disabled veterans as they transition to civilian life, reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, provide daily companionship and unconditional love, help establish healthy routines and a sense of responsibility, offer comfort during times of stress
Community Programs:
In addition to these core rescue operations, Dog Star Rescue recognizes that there is an ever-present need to provide support (financial, medical, and educational) to pet owners in our local community. We believe that no dog should go to bed hungry. That’s the core mission of Full Bowls by Dog Star, our community and volunteer-powered pet pantry. This program supports low- and fixed-income families by providing a week’s worth of dog food, as well as the occasional treat, wet food, or toy, all completely free of charge.
Our goal is simple: to help keep dogs happy, healthy, and in their homes with the families who love them. Full Bowls Free Pet Pantry began on September 14, 2025, and Dog Star Rescue plans to continue the program indefinitely.
Research shows that Connecticut and national pet rescues, along with local animal control facilities and shelters, have seen a significant increase in the number of surrendered pets. Financial hardship is often a primary reason for these surrenders. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Best Friends Animal Society, financial issues are a leading cause of pet surrenders. The ASPCA has reported that individuals earning less than $50,000 a year are more likely to surrender their pets due to financial difficulties related to the rising costs of pet food, veterinary services, and other supplies, or because they have lost their jobs.
The Full Bowls Pet Pantry will initially serve around 20 low- and fixed-income individuals and families along with their dogs. As the program grows, Dog Star Rescue’s goal is to assist up to 3,000 individuals and families annually. The weekly food allowance is designed to provide the necessary support for participants to keep their dogs healthy and with their current families. Additionally, this program will help the overcrowded population in local animal control and shelter facilities by reducing the number of abandoned dogs due to owner surrender.
Dog Star Rescue volunteers have partnered with the Bloomfield Food Bank to learn how to develop and implement a food pantry program. They also work with local food pantries and food banks to promote the new Full Bowls program. The winning combination of our vast knowledge and experience in operating the state's most extensive dog rescue program and a strong team of passionate volunteers will help us successfully launch the Full Bowls program and offer the essential pet nutrition and financial assistance our community needs.
Low-Cost Veterinary Clinics:
In addition to the above-mentioned programs, Dog Star Rescue launched a low-cost veterinary clinic program in 2025 to help provide necessary medical care to the pets in our local community. The goal of these clinics is to provide much needed veterinary care at a low cost to dog and cat owners in our surrounding communities, and provide these owners with a positive, educational experience during their visit. We plan to continue this program in 2026 and beyond, given the success we had in 2025.
Expanding with the purchase of a new headquarters:
In late 2024, we purchased a new building, after outgrowing our current, leased space. The building is currently under renovation, and we are so excited to move into our new space in 2026! 20 Northwood Road, our new property, is an 8,000 square foot building that sits off the road on its own, tree-lined acre of land, located on a quiet, industrial road. We are currently renovating the property to build it out to our specifications, and we are thrilled to be able to stay in the community that’s supported us. It is centrally located for so many of our adopting families and our volunteers too. We will have more kennel space to help keep volunteers and dogs safe, more training areas, storage space, and more land to safely walk and exercise and care for our long-term dogs.
With a larger and more modern facility, we will be able to expand our outreach programs, organize educational workshops, and host adoption events more effectively. This will enable us to increase awareness about responsible pet ownership, support low/fixed income communities, promote adoption, and ultimately reduce the number of dogs in need.
Our new headquarters will feature larger exam rooms, grooming areas, and training spaces, enabling us to provide comprehensive medical care, grooming, and behavioral training—key factors in successful rehabilitation and adoption. The facility will also support community initiatives, including affordable vetting for underprivileged families, training for new dog owners, and workshops on responsible dog care.
The new kennel facilities will enable us to take in more at-risk dogs without requiring immediate foster placements. This includes accommodating emergency cases from our local community and supporting owner surrenders. From day one, these improvements will have a transformative impact on dogs’ lives.
We appreciate all the effort of our donors and volunteers and couldn’t exist without your generous support. We are grateful for and welcome all donations regardless of amount.
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