Breeders & Rescues
Partners In Shelter Prevention
Breeders + Rescues: Stronger Together
At Herzog’s Heroes, we believe that the key to solving the shelter crisis lies in uniting breeders and rescues, rather than remaining divided. The "Adopt Don’t Shop" slogan, while well-meaning, has contributed to a divide that overlooks the real solution: conscientious breeding and rescue efforts working together. Our goal is not to end all breeding; doing so would mean losing the incredible diversity of dog breeds that so many people love. Instead, we strive to prevent dogs from ending up in shelters by promoting education, breeding regulations, and partnerships between responsible breeders and rescue organizations.
We know that not all breeders are the problem, but together, we can help put an end to puppy mills and unscrupulous breeding practices. By working hand in hand with conscientious breeders, we can set higher standards, ensuring that only those who prioritize the health, well-being, and responsible care of their dogs continue to thrive.
Unification For Change
Both breeders and rescues share a common goal—ensuring that dogs find loving, permanent homes. By teaming up, conscientious breeders and rescues can form a stronger force in the fight against overpopulation and shelter overcrowding. While staying divided hasn’t solved the problem, working together can make a significant impact. We want to foster a new movement where breeders and rescues are not adversaries, but allies.
We’re launching a new approach to dog welfare: "Breeders & Rescues - Partners in Shelter Prevention." This is more than just a slogan—it’s the heart of our mission to reduce the number of dogs entering shelters and to ensure that all dogs, whether bred or rescued, have the best chance at a happy, healthy life.
Flexible Partnerships for a Unified Mission
We believe in creating a collaborative campaign that aligns with your organization’s unique goals and values. There are several ways we can demonstrate our unity, and we encourage you to choose the level of involvement that best suits your organization. From deeper engagement to lighter participation, your team can determine how you’d like to contribute to our shared mission.
Here are just a few examples of how we can work together to strengthen our collective impact.
1. Rescue Badge for Website and Social Media:
Display our a “Breeders & Rescues - Partners in Shelter Prevention” badge on your website and social media.
2. Involvement in a Rescue Committee:
Choose a member of your organization to represent you in our Herzog’s Heroes Rescue Committee. This committee will help shape rescue-related initiatives, providing input on new programs and working on projects that advance the mission of preventing shelter overcrowding.
3. Fundraising Partnerships (Selling Merchandise):
Purchase our “Breeders & Rescues: Partners in Shelter Prevention” t-shirts and merchandise at a reduced cost for sale at your events and online store. The profits are yours to keep for your organization and you’re promoting our joined cause. It’s win-win!
4. Joint Educational Webinars/Workshops:
Collaborate with us to co-host educational webinars, workshops, or live streams focused on topics like responsible pet ownership, rescue efforts, and breeding transparency.
5. Feature in Newsletters and Blog Posts:
Feature Herzog’s Heroes in your newsletters or blog posts, highlighting our the partnership and shared goals and we’ll do the same!
6. Rescue Involvement in Herzog’s Events:
Join us to have a presence at our Herzog’s Heroes events by setting up a booth.
7. Collaborative Social Media Campaigns:
Action: Launch social media campaigns where rescues and Herzog’s Heroes post coordinated messages or hashtags promoting responsible breeding, shelter prevention, and the shared mission.
Why it works: Social media campaigns can reach a broad audience and highlight unity by having both parties spread the same message across platforms, reinforcing the partnership in a public way.
8. Nominate a Rescue Worker for the Rescue Advocate Award
Nominate a rescue worker for the Herzog’s Hero Rescue Advocate Award. This award is reserved for someone who has passionately advocated for rescue dogs and supported efforts to keep dogs out of shelters. This award underscores the importance of rescue advocacy within the broader mission of responsible pet ownership. Learn more about our awards here.
