“Not responding is a response.
We are equally responsible for what we don’t do.”
— Jonathan Safran Foer

The Bullpen Way Station and Sanctuary is dedicated to the safety, well-being, and advocacy of large dog breeds. By providing a safe refuge and educating the public on the proper care and ownership of the giant pups we love, the Bullpen is committed to housing and protecting our rescue dogs in a safe, comfortable environment.

    • Minimize the needless euthanasia of abandoned dogs at shelters/pounds, and rescue dogs in abusive, endangering and neglectful environments

    • Directly engage in and provide facilities for others to engage in the promotion of animal rescue

    • Provide food, shelter, rehabilitation, and necessary veterinary care including spaying and neutering of rescued animals

    • Facilitate and operate adoption programs to place rescued animals into suitable and loving permanent adoptive homes

    • Create public interest and awareness of abused and abandoned animals

    • Advise the general public/community on better care practices for their animals

    • Counsel and provide resources to low-income households to increase retention and general health and welfare of existing companion animals

    • Increase communication, partnerships, and resource sharing between existing rescue and shelter groups

    • Promote action and advocacy for all of the above


  • Nationally, approximately fifty percent of animals that enter animal control or shelter facilities are euthanized, with one-third euthanized due solely to lack of shelter space. In real world numbers, this translates into the horrifying reality that on every single day of last year, 2,500 healthy, adoptable animals lost their lives for no reason other than the facility they landed in was overcrowded.


    With regards to giant breed dogs, the euthanasia rate is even higher. Most shelters operate with a limited number of large kennel spaces.  Since the majority of shelter adopters are looking for a puppy or smaller dog, big dogs are less likely to be adopted. This means that giant breeds are an especially vulnerable population.

    Despite the growing number of independent animal welfare organizations, a 2010 study reported that although 25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebred, only 1% of all shelter dogs are transferred to breed-specific rescues.  This pitiable number is the result of two factors: 

     

    1. Shelters are not aware of breed-specific rescues working in their area or do not have the capacity to engage in rescue outreach.

    2. Breed-specific rescues are constantly operating over-capacity, with few resources and insufficient volunteer participation.  As a result, even when they are contacted by shelters, many rescues are forced to turn away dogs, especially harder-to-place dogs, like seniors and those requiring long-term rehabilitation.

     

    The Bullpen is striving to shift that paradigm.  By providing an innovative, multi-pronged program wherein we facilitate communication between rescues and shelters, provide high-quality alternatives to organizations and their rescued animals, and increase animal retention among current pet owners via education and outreach, we believe we can make a difference.

  • Anyone that has ever been involved in animal rescue can tell you that it's often like being in a leaky boat: every time you get a hole plugged, four more spring up. Drawing on our collective experience in the rescue world, we decided that rather than devoting our resources to filling holes and bailing water, it was time to get a new boat.  To that end, we designed a new kind of vessel for rescue, one that operates based on the following principles: 


    Dignity:  We believe that all living beings deserve to live and die with dignity and honor, and will provide a space to make this possible.

    Tranquility:  We believe that all living things deserve to exist in a peaceful, stable environment.  To this end, our rescue barn was specifically designed to minimize stress and maximize safety and comfort.   With regards to people, we strive for low-stress, drama-free interactions, and expect all volunteers, donors, rescue partners, and the people we serve to treat each other with utmost respect.  

    Responsibility:  We believe that each and every person and entity that participates in our rescue programs should hold themselves to the highest standards in their dealings with others.  It is crucial that rescuers are punctual, true to their word, aware of their financial obligations, and accountable to the animals that they to rescue. 

    Reciprocity: Defined by Merriam-Webster as “the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by organization to another,” we believe this is the key to achieving new levels of success in our efforts to end animal cruelty.  We are one hundred percent dedicated to fostering an environment where animal welfare advocates work together and support one another’s efforts by sharing information and resources.

     

    The facility

    For many rescue dogs, a warm bed and a loving hand is a comfort they've never known.  Whether our canine guests spend one night or the rest of their days with us, The Bullpen's six studios and six free-standing villas facilities provide the most nurturing and home-like environment possible: 

    • Soft-finished interiors with raised beds and anti-microbial composite deck flooring

    • No concrete and no chain link fencing

    • Climate controlled environment

    • Attached outdoor space for when nature calls

    • Acres of rolling green pasture, cross fenced so everyone can play or kick back and relax safely

    • Grain-free food, supplemented with homemade organic liver, brown rice & veggies

Sanctuary

The Bullpen helps dogs from shelters; abusive, endangering, or neglectful environments; and/or owner surrenders. We provide premium quality food, shelter, rehabilitation, and veterinary care, including mandatory spaying and neutering of rescued animals. In addition to our primary facility in Norwood, GA, we have an established national network of individuals who act as foster homes for our dogs. We are proud to operate an adoption program that has successfully placed nearly all of our rescued dogs into loving, permanent adoptive homes.

Inevitably, some dogs enter our program at the end of their lives. For those animals, we are honored to provide a place for them to spend their last days with peace and dignity. Any dog that crosses the Rainbow Bridge while under our care is buried on-site in a shady grove, so that they may know that they always have a place here with us.

In addition to dogs accepted directly into The Bullpen’s care, we also admit dogs from other approved giant breed rescue partners. If a rescue partner wishes to assist a dog, and has the ability to significantly contribute to the animal’s expenses but lacks the capacity to provide a high quality long-term placement, The Bullpen will act as a surrogate until foster or permanent placement can be found.

Advocacy

Humans first had the notion to domesticate wolves between 11 and 16 thousand years ago (and in our estimation, this is one of the best ideas we’ve had so far—definitely up there with the wheel and indoor plumbing). As we evolved together, the dog forfeited his wild nature in order to better suit his new surroundings, and man relinquished some bed space and the ability to wear clean black pants. Although the relationship is one of great mutual benefit, because it was man who chose the dog for his constant companion, it is ultimately our duty to protect them and provide for their needs.

We believe that beyond the fundamental requirements of food, water, and shelter, that every dog has the right to live free from pain and suffering, in a safe and secure environment. As a pet owner, this includes providing basic veterinary care and ensuring healthy, limited reproductive cycles. It is our unwavering opinion that all companion animals should be spayed or neutered, that breeders should be subject to greater scrutiny and regulation, and that adoption should always be the first option.

These tenets are the underpinning of our mission, and are the driving force behind every program we initiate. We see every interaction as an opportunity to change the way people care for their pets and their opinions and attitudes towards rescued animals.

Education

The Bullpen provides information aimed at improving the pet-ownership experience for both animals and the people who love them.  Through our website and social media platforms, as well as on a grassroots level, we address issues like better pet-ownership practices, the benefits of adoption, and alternatives to shelter surrender. 

  • For individuals and families that own or are considering adding a pet to their household, we supply information on topics like:

    • The importance of preventative medicine and vaccinations

    • The value of feeding high quality dog food

    • Alternative/natural remedies

    • Sources of low-cost veterinary supplies and services

  • For prospective pet-owners, we:

    • Discuss the pros and cons of adoption vs. puppy purchase, to help individuals make responsible and informed choices

    • Encourage individuals to gain a full understanding of traits, behaviors, and potential health issues of the breed that they are considering 

    • Provide contact and adoption information for local shelters and rescue groups that have available dogs

  • For current pet-owners who are considering relinquishing their animals due to behavioral issues, financial concerns, or any other reason, we:

    • Counsel individuals on behavior modification techniques

    • Encourage people to seek rescue placement rather than surrendering to shelters or advertising the dog on Craig's List

    • Provide information on sources of low-cost veterinary supplies and services

Outreach

We know that we can only effect long-term sustainable change by joining together with other animal advocates and the community as a whole.  That’s why we endeavor to increase partnerships and communication, as well as resource and information sharing, between veterinary clinics, local schools and universities, agricultural clubs, animal transport organizations, neighborhood associations, municipal shelters and animal control departments, independent animal welfare groups, and local businesses. By working together and drawing on the collective resources, knowledge, and wisdom of individuals and organizations, duplication of efforts can be minimized, resources can be more efficiently utilized, individual efforts can be strengthened, and solutions to common issues can be identified and readily implemented. 

We have started reaching out to rescue partners on the local, regional, and national level, including the American Bullmastiff Association Rescue Service, PawPrints Foundation, Delta Humane Society, and Save the Giants. If you or someone you know belongs to an organization that would like to join us in the fight to end needless euthanasia and improve the lives of companion animals everywhere, we’d love to hear from you!  You can contact us at bullpenrescue@gmail.com.