Kamloops Ruff Start Rescue is a non-profit society founded in 2019 and run entirely by a dedicated, dog-loving board of directors. We are 100% volunteer-driven. As a foster-home–based rescue, we do not have a physical facility. Instead, every dog who comes into our care is welcomed into a loving volunteer foster home, where they receive safety, comfort, nourishment, and the medical care they need while we search for their forever family.

Our foster volunteers open their hearts and homes to dogs in need, while others work tirelessly behind the scenes to raise the funds required for veterinary care. Through our mandatory spay and neuter policy, we help reduce pet overpopulation, and by ensuring our dogs are fully vaccinated and medically cared for, we give them the healthiest possible start in their new lives.

With the unwavering support of our volunteers, community partners, and supporters, we have helped more than 500 dogs find a second chance since our inception. 

Dogs come into our rescue for many reasons. Some are strays from the local pound. Others are surrendered by families facing life changes that make it impossible to keep their beloved pets. At times, dogs come to us after elderly owners pass away or move into care facilities and cannot bring their companions with them. We also rescue small dogs from high-kill shelters in the United States—dogs whose lives would otherwise end simply due to lack of space. By saving these dogs, we hope to reduce the demand for unethical, for-profit “backyard breeders” and promote adoption as the compassionate choice.