Rescued Rascals, a non-profit dog rescue in Oswego, Illinois, is dedicated to saving dogs from shelters, providing them with the care they need, and finding the best possible forever home for each and every one of them.

The organization was founded in 2019 by two women who had fostered dogs and volunteered for rescues for many years. Together, they saw an opportunity to start a rescue that was honest and transparent with fosters, adopters, and stakeholders—something they saw was much needed. 

Their dream was to run a rescue where strong ethical and moral beliefs were at the forefront of how the business was conducted. They created just that, and in the past five years, the pair has successfully grown their team to twelve volunteers who dedicate their free time to running the rescue and doing everything they can for the dogs in their community. 

Rescued Rascals is passionate about its mission: to save unwanted, abandoned, abused, and neglected dogs by finding them immediate, safe and comforting, short-term housing while working diligently to find them their best-fit forever homes. 

They save dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, but one of their main goals is to save dogs that are most overlooked, such as older dogs, dogs that need medical care for conditions like heartworm, bully breeds, and dogs who have been at a shelter for a very long time. Everyone at Rescued Rascals believes these dogs deserve homes just as much as other dogs.

Of note, the organization is 100 percent volunteer-based. This means every dollar donated goes directly to the care of the dogs. Donations are essential for covering the cost of their veterinary care, food, and other necessities. It also means volunteers play a vital role in the rescue's operations—they do everything from fostering dogs to helping with events and fundraising. 

Rescued Rascals is also 100 percent foster-based, which means that all the dogs in their care stay in selected foster homes. One of the main benefits of a foster-based rescue is that it ensures the dogs receive individualized care and attention. Living in these true, home-like environments reduces a dog’s stress and helps them adjust to a domestic setting, and because  foster families have the opportunity to observe the dogs' behavior and personality, that helps the rescue’s adoption coordinator make good matches between adopters and dogs.

Rescued Rascals’s programs include:

Rescued Rascals recognizes that running a dog rescue is just as much about the people involved in the community as it is about the dogs. It takes incredibly special humans to foster a dog in need. The organization says it would not exist if it weren’t for the fantastic humans who selflessly choose to foster and work with their staff, as well as all of the amazing families who have adopted a dog from them over the years. 

A recent happy “tail” is about a dog named Harper and two amazing humans, Lori and PJ. In early 2021, Lori and PJ adopted a dog from Rescued Rascals, and since then, they have fostered sixteen other dogs! Lori and PJ demonstrate the incredible patience, love, and commitment needed in helping find the dogs they are fostering the best homes possible. Most recently, they took in Harper, who had lived in a shelter for over a year, starting from when she was only six months old. Harper desperately needed surgery to remove a diseased eye. Lori and PJ took great care of her during her recovery, and soon after, they officially adopted her! 

If you are interested in getting involved with Rescued Rascals, there are several ways you can help. One of the most impactful is to become a foster parent or an adopter. By providing a temporary or permanent home for a dog in need, you can directly contribute to the rescue's mission. Applications to foster or adopt a dog are available on the Rescued Rascals website.

If you're unable to foster or adopt, you can still make a difference by donating. Rescued Rascals relies on monetary and in-kind donations—to not only provide necessary care for the dogs in their care, but to also fund their operations. Regarding in-kind donations, common items they often need include leashes and collars, dog and puppy food, blankets, towels, and dog toys. Concerning monetary donations, no amount is too small. Every contribution makes a difference.

You can also volunteer at their events, help with fundraising, follow them on social media—Rescued Rascals on Facebook or @rescuedrascalsil on Instagram—to stay up-to-date on their latest news and events, and spread the word about the rescue's work.  

It’s the hope and vision of all at Rescued Rascals that one day, there will no longer be a need for their rescue efforts because all dogs will be in loving homes. But until that day, with the help of generous and loving volunteers and donations, Rescued Rascals will continue to make a positive impact in the lives of the dogs they touch and on the people in their community.