Leverett Rescue Saves Over 2,000 Dogs in Five Years Amid National Crisis
Better Together Dog Rescue in Leverett, Massachusetts, has made headlines for successfully rehoming more than 2,000 dogs since opening five years ago as the nation faces a growing homeless pet crisis. Founder Jenny Franz says this achievement is especially notable given the rescue operates with only three paid employees and a vast network of volunteers.
Today, the rescue has about 30 dogs in foster care spread across western Massachusetts, all ready to be placed in loving homes. Many dogs come from places where shelters are overwhelmed, including Cleveland, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, identified by Franz as key hotspots for stray dog overpopulation.
Boots on the Ground in Texas and Tennessee
Twice a year, the rescue’s volunteers travel south to Texas to deliver food, supplies, and medical care under the Forgotten Animals of Cleveland Texas program. Dogs are first seen by veterinarians locally in those areas, then transported north to Massachusetts. Each dog undergoes a state-mandated 48-hour isolation before moving into foster or adoption placement.
“It’s a volunteer-favorite shift because they get to see the journey of these dogs coming through and going into their second chances,” Jenny Franz explained.
Locally, Better Together works closely with veterinary hospitals in Springfield, West Springfield, and Deerfield to take in dogs from emergency situations. This broader collaboration anchors the rescue’s ability to respond quickly and save more lives.
Volunteers Drive Rescue’s Impact Across Communities
Volunteer foster families like Austin Urkiel and his wife highlight the emotional and practical importance of their work. Having fostered 22 dogs and adopted two, Urkiel says fostering “saves two lives” by opening shelter space for more animals while providing temporary homes.
Foster and volunteer coordinator Kayla Blair shares the emotional transformations she witnesses.
“You see the difference in dogs’ personalities when they leave the kennel and start walking outside—sometimes the stress literally falls off,” Blair said.
This hands-on approach fuels the rescue’s mission amid staffing limitations, with much work accomplished through dedicated unpaid labor.
Community Embraces Rescue’s Mission, Spurring Growth
Since its founding by Franz in 2021, Better Together has received overwhelmingly positive community support across western Massachusetts. Outreach efforts include partnerships with local businesses such as breweries, farmers markets, and pet stores in Springfield and Amherst, boosting the visibility of dogs awaiting adoption.
Sydne Didier, who helps match adopters with dogs, notes the rescue is now broadly “seen as helpers” in the region, reflecting a shift toward community-wide involvement. She emphasizes how the work uplifts not just dogs but the humans who foster and adopt them.
“Maybe I couldn’t make a huge difference in life, but I can help this one dog get from a bad situation into a loving caring home,” Didier said.
Why Montana and National Readers Should Care
The plight of homeless dogs is not isolated to Leverett or Massachusetts—it’s a national challenge reflected in overcrowded shelters from Texas to Tennessee to New England. Montana readers and the wider US public can draw inspiration from this small rescue’s outsized impact achieved through passion, community effort, and strategic outreach. It highlights the critical importance of fostering, volunteering, and supporting local rescues to address the nationwide animal welfare crisis.
As Better Together Dog Rescue continues efforts to expand foster networks and adoption events, the rescue’s model provides a blueprint for how small organizations can mobilize quickly and save thousands of lives.
Next Steps for Better Together and Dog Advocates
Better Together plans additional outreach to bring awareness and support for fostering and adoption, especially across areas burdened by rising stray populations. Volunteers and foster homes remain vital to their continued success.
Montana residents seeking to support similar causes can connect with local rescues and shelters, emulating the dedication seen in Leverett to make a tangible difference in pets’ lives nationwide.
