Urban Sanctuary & Adoption Center

We have finally reached our goal of an Urban Sanctuary and adoption center for dogs. Since our inception in 2001, Rocket Dog has saved over 7,300 dogs from euthanasia in overcrowded bay area shelters. We’ve done all of this without our own facility, relying instead on dedicated foster homes. With a location to safely house dogs now, we’ll be able to significantly increase the number of dogs rescued each year. The adoption center & Urban sanctuary will also act as a community center that will hold training classes, and other fun and educational events. We have found an amazing space in Oakland, California. Read more below: SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND, Calif., January 27, 2014 – Rocket Dog Rescue, San Francisco Bay Area’s leading non-profit animal rescue organization, today announced that it is opening its first urban sanctuary and adoption center for dogs it saves from high-kill shelters throughout Northern California. Located in Oakland, California, the sanctuary will enable the organization to provide care and temporary housing for homeless animals, as well as provide much needed animal care services to a largely unsupported community. The center will also serve as an interim animal housing location for pets of domestic violence victims who are unable to care for their pets, as well as a center for rescued animals who require specialized care. The news comes at a critical moment – As county and city animal shelters continue to struggle with overcrowding and budget shortfalls, thousands of owner-surrendered, abandoned, and stray dogs and cats are killed every day. Rocket Dog Rescue’s mission is to save the condemned animals from a cruel fate by providing them shelter through a network of temporary foster homes, until the animals are adopted permanently. Rocket Dog Rescue is operated entirely by a tight-knit group of volunteers and foster families who rehabilitate, train, and provide for the rescued animals. The group works alongside other social service organizations, including a community group for children with developmental disabilities. Until now, Rocket Dog Rescue operated exclusively through adoption events and fairs, social media networks, and word of mouth to find temporary and permanent homes for its animals. With public donations as the primary source of funding, the group chose to operate without a permanent space in order to spend its entire budget on saving animals. Recent donations and fundraising activities, and the generosity of the center’s landlord, Benjamin Marcus, made this endeavor possible. “We are thrilled to have this incredible opportunity to help more animals and people in need,” said Pali Boucher, founder of Rocket Dog Rescue. “We get to spread our wings and reach out to a new community in East Oakland. Having this new space will allow us to do community outreach in a new area, while continuing our tireless rescue and adoption efforts all over the Bay Area. The most exciting thing is that this will allow us to save more dogs’ lives, which is what we are all about!” In addition to providing a housing facility for rescued animals, Rocket Dog Rescue’s Urban Sanctuary and Adoption Center will provide animal welfare services and education to an underserved East Oakland community. The center will provide low cost vaccinations, mobile spay and neuter clinics, training guidance, and promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

How You Can Help

Rocket Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, network-based organization funded completely on donations. There are no salaries or administrative overhead – which guarantees that your gift will go directly toward saving lives. We are currently raising $10,000 to prepare the Urban Sanctuary and Adoption Center for maximum capacity and operations, and to do what we do best – save lives and find loving homes for deserving pets. Visit rocketdogrescue.org/donate to learn how you can help!

About Rocket Dog Rescue

Rocket Dog Rescue is a San Francisco Bay Area dog rescue organization run by a group of dedicated volunteers. We save dogs from death at overcrowded shelters and find them loving, happy forever homes. Now in our twelfth year, RDR is stronger than ever, and has saved the lives of over 6,000 animals. Are you looking to adopt a dog in the San Francisco Bay Area? Look no further – visit us online at www.rocketdogrescue.org.