Rescues & Shelters

All Paws In

United for Shelter Prevention

All Paws In is a movement built to bring together breeders, rescues, shelters, dog lovers, and animal welfare professionals around one powerful, shared goal:

Prevent dogs from ever needing to be rescued in the first place.

We know that in the animal world, breeders and rescuers have often existed on opposite sides of a tense divide. But we believe the time has come to change that. Because the truth is — we’re not enemies. We’re allies who’ve just never had a clear path to work together.

All Paws In is that path.

It’s not just a slogan. It’s a campaign, a coalition, and a call to action.

Why This Work Matters

Every year, countless dogs enter shelters for reasons that could have been prevented much earlier. Some come from breeding situations where there was little planning, little education, poor placement, or no long-term support once the dog left the breeder.

Rescues and shelters see the consequences of this every day. You are often the ones asked to step in when systems fail, when owners are overwhelmed, when breeders disappear, or when dogs have nowhere else to go.

We also understand why many people in rescue feel hesitant about working with breeders. That hesitation is earned. Too often, rescue organizations are left cleaning up the damage caused by irresponsible breeding, careless placement, and a lack of lifetime responsibility.

But the current system is not working well enough for dogs, rescues, shelters, families, or the conscientious breeders who are trying to do things right.

In other parts of the world, breeding is often treated more seriously as a responsibility and, at its best, as an honorable profession. Breeders are expected to be educated, supported, transparent, and accountable to higher standards. That kind of culture attracts people who understand that their responsibility does not end when a puppy goes home. It encourages breeders to plan carefully, place thoughtfully, support families, and remain connected to the dogs they produce.

That is the kind of shift we believe is possible here.

Not through blame. Not through division. Not by asking rescue and breeders to ignore the harm that has been done.

But by creating a better path forward — one where conscientious breeders are supported, puppy buyers are better educated, and fewer dogs are left without support when problems arise.

Why Rescues and Shelters Matter

Rescues and shelters bring a perspective that cannot be replaced.

You see where dogs are coming from. You see the patterns. You understand the gaps in owner education, placement decisions, breeder responsibility, and public awareness. Your experience is essential to building solutions that actually address the problems dogs face before they enter the shelter system.

Herzog’s Heroes believes prevention must include the rescue and shelter community, not as an afterthought, but as a vital voice in shaping better outcomes.

Our goal is not to ask rescues to “support breeders” without question. Our goal is to create space for honest conversation, shared standards, and practical programs that help reduce the number of dogs who need rescue in the first place.

What We’re Working Toward

We are focused on prevention-first programs that help raise the standard for breeding while supporting the people and organizations working on the front lines of canine welfare.

Our work includes:

Breeder education and HCBA Certification
Helping breeders build programs rooted in health, transparency, buyer education, proper placement, and lifelong responsibility.

BreedScore
A coming platform designed to help families identify breeders they can trust by creating more transparency around breeding practices, health testing, buyer support, and long-term accountability.

Conscientious Breeder County Pilot Program
A voluntary, education-first county program designed to help communities support better breeder education, buyer awareness, and prevention-focused shelter outcomes.

Public education
Helping families understand how to choose a breeder, what responsibility looks like, and why early decisions matter long before a dog is ever at risk.

A Shared Goal

Rescue and responsible breeding should not have to stand on opposite sides.

Both should be working toward the same outcome: fewer dogs suffering, fewer dogs displaced, and more dogs placed into homes that are prepared, supported, and committed for life.

Herzog’s Heroes exists to help build that bridge — carefully, honestly, and with respect for the work rescues and shelters have carried for far too long.