The Story of Small Dog Rescue

Small Dog Rescue began with a single, unforgettable dog named Teddy, and a woman with a heart too big to ignore his story.

It started when Ms. Molly, the mother of one of our founders, received a call from a longtime friend. An elderly gentleman had just passed away at the age of 85, leaving behind his deeply loved companion—Teddy, a senior dog with nowhere to go.

Before he passed, Teddy’s owner had made one last request to his groomer: “If anything ever happens to me and you can’t take him, please help find him a good home.” That request stayed with her. When she realized she couldn’t care for Teddy herself, she reached out to her network in hopes someone could help. That’s when Teddy’s photo made its way to Facebook.

In the photo, Teddy had been dyed in Dallas Cowboys blue and silver, complete with bows and ribbons in his fur. To anyone else, it might’ve seemed unusual. But to Molly—a lifelong Cowboys fan and proud Dallas native—it was fate. She felt an instant connection.

Molly took Teddy in without hesitation. He wasn’t just a pet—he was a piece of someone’s life, now unmoored. In caring for him, she began to see something deeper: Teddy’s story wasn’t unique. It was one of many.

Over the following months, Teddy’s story opened a door. Molly began receiving calls—first from friends, then from friends-of-friends—about other small dogs in need of homes. The pattern was both touching and troubling: elderly people, often alone, whose lives had changed due to illness, assisted living, or passing away—leaving behind dogs that had been their loyal companions for years. Simultaneously, many seniors were quietly yearning for the company of a dog, but were hesitant to adopt a young one, fearing it would outlive them or be too much to handle.

It became clear: there was a huge and unmet need in the world of animal rescue.

What began with one small dog named Teddy soon became a mission. Small Dog Rescue was created to:

• Place older, calm, and loving dogs with senior citizens who crave companionship without the demands of raising a puppy.

• Help families rehome dogs when aging, illness, or housing transitions make it difficult to keep them.

• Honor the bond between humans and dogs, especially in life's later chapters, by ensuring no senior dog is forgotten and no senior human is alone.

All of it began with a blue-and-silver dog named Teddy and one lady’s final wish: that his best friend would still find love, even after he was gone.