Rocket City Rescue

I want to tell you about Harley. ❤️

Not because he's new to the rescue. Actually, it's the complete opposite.

Harley has been with Rocket City Rescue since September of 2024.

Two years.

And for more than a year of that time, Harley has been living in boarding.

I think that's the part that gets me.

He comes to adoption events. He gets in the car and rides like a champ. He shows up with his big ol' smile, ready to go, and then the event ends and Harley goes back to boarding.

Again.

And again.

And again.

There used to be five dogs we would pick up from boarding for adoption events. Over time, one by one, four of those dogs found their homes.

Now there's just Harley.

He's the last one.

He still gets picked up. He still gets excited to go. He still shows up with that big ol' smile, ready for someone to notice him.

And when the event is over, he's the one we take back.

Meanwhile, dogs have come into the rescue after him and found their families. Even the dog Harley originally came in with has been adopted.

But Harley is still waiting.

And I really don't understand how nobody has chosen him yet.

Harley is a 3-year-old, 70-pound pitty mix with the biggest, squishiest head and is really just a sweet, laid-back guy. He's not some crazy, high-energy dog who needs you to run five miles a day. Harley would be perfectly happy being your couch potato and hanging out with his person.

He's potty trained, crate trained, rides great in the car, and when he knows and trusts you, he is just the sweetest boy.

Is Harley the dog for every home? No.

He needs a home without children or cats. He's also unsure of some men, so he needs someone who understands that trust may take a little time. But we've also watched Harley build really special relationships with men too.

One of those people was Woody, an RCR volunteer we recently lost. Harley loved Woody, and Woody loved Harley. He took the time to earn Harley's trust, and Harley let him into his world. ❤️

He's also built trust with some of the men who care for him at boarding. Harley may not trust every person right away, but we've seen what happens when he's given the time to get there.

Harley also came to us heartworm positive. He made it through that chapter too and is doing well.

And maybe I'm a little emotional about this one, but I don't want to be writing another post a year from now saying Harley is still living in boarding.

I want somebody to finally look at him and see past the things that make his adoption pool a little smaller.

See the big goofy smile.

See the couch potato.

See the sweet, 70-pound guy who just wants his person.

See a dog who has spent two years watching other dogs get their turn and is still waiting for his.

There is a home out there for Harley. I genuinely believe that. It may look a little different than the home we're looking for with some of our other dogs, and that's okay.

He doesn't need everyone to want him.

He just needs one person to finally choose him.

Please share Harley.

I hope someday soon that big smile is because he's leaving boarding for the very last time. ❤️

To apply for Harley, please visit www.rocketcityrescue.org

Gracie was recently adopted and returned…please read below her fosters thoughts…this is a heartbreaking part of rescue 💔

“I think one of the hardest things about rescue is watching a dog get adopted, thinking they finally found their home, and then watching them come back.

And sometimes I really wish people would just give them more time.

We talk about the 3-3-3 rule all the time in rescue, and while every dog is different, the reason behind it is pretty simple. Dogs need time to adjust.

Gracie was given one week.

One week to leave the home she had gotten comfortable in, move in with people she didn't know, learn a completely different routine, walk in a new neighborhood and figure out what was expected of her.

That's just not a lot of time.

Her adopters had concerns about some of the behaviors they were seeing, and I'm not taking that away from them. Sometimes an adoption really isn't the right fit.

But I also don't think one week tells you everything you need to know about a dog.

Gracie came back into my home and settled right back in. She's comfortable. She's back to her normal routine. She's the same Gracie I knew before she left.

And honestly, that's the part that makes me sad.

She didn't know she had been adopted. She didn't know those were supposed to be her people or that this new place was supposed to be home. As far as she knew, everything in her life had just changed again.

Now she's back in foster care and waiting again.

Hopefully next time she gets a little more time. Time to settle. Time to trust. Time to learn her people and her new routine. Time to actually show them who she is once everything doesn't feel so new.

Because adopting a dog isn't just about bringing them home.

It's giving them enough time to realize they're home. 🐾”

🐾 NAME YOUR OWN ADOPTION FEE! 🐾

Ready to fall in love with a new fur baby? Join us TODAY, Saturday, September 19, from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Wi******er Rd Baptist Church Craft Fair! 🍂

Shop all the vendors and meet adoptable dogs who are hoping to find their forever homes.

📋 Please note: Our process is still the same! Every adopter must still complete an application and speak with an adoption counselor. This helps us make sure each pet goes home to the best, most loving forever home. 💛

💻 Get a head start! Begin your application and browse all of our adoptable pets at www.rocketcityrescue.org

🚫🐱 We will not have cats at this event due to the heat.

📍 Wi******er Rd Baptist Church, 1262 Wi******er Rd

🕘 9 AM – 12 PM

📅 Saturday, September 19

Come for the crafts, leave with a best friend! 🐶

🐾 BEN & JERRY: BONDED CHIHUAHUA BROTHERS SEEKING THEIR FOREVER HOME 🐾

Meet Ben and Jerry — two irresistibly sweet chihuahua brothers, about 2 years old and just 12 pounds each. Adopt them together and we'll waive one adoption fee — it's a BOGO deal! We just can't bear to separate these two.

❤️Personality Plus❤️
These boys are gentle, well-mannered, and quiet companions who will spin in happy little circles when excited. They're pure delights with wagging tails and big smiles, always ready to snuggle on the couch or lounge in the yard by your side.

❤️Good to Know❤️
• Jerry isn't a fan of kittens
• Both like to chew when excited or anxious — chew toys, supervision, and crating together at night are recommended until they settle in
• Jerry's the mischief-maker of the pair, with a fondness for knocking over plants and digging in the dirt
• Still working on potty training, so they'll need a patient household to help finish the job
• Like any young dogs, they need regular exercise — walks or playtime in a fenced yard

❤️Health❤️
Heartworm negative, neutered, and up to date on rabies, DAPP, and fecal/deworming. Their wellness exam checked out great.

❤️Why Two Is Easier Than One❤️
Ben and Jerry keep each other entertained, making them a wonderfully low-maintenance pair. Adopt them as a duo and enjoy double the love with half the loneliness!

If you are interested in this pair of cuties, please fill out a generic application at www.rocketcityrescue.org

🐾🍭 POPSICLES & PUPS IS HAPPENING TODAY! 🍭🐾

We've teamed up with Remax Today for the best Saturday morning — and your future best friend might be waiting for you right now!

📍 The Park at Hays Farm

📅 TODAY — Saturday, September 12th

⏰ 10 AM – 12 PM

Here's the scoop:

🐶 Meet adorable adoptable pups (and other awesome animals!)

🍧 Cool off with free popsicles

🌮 Grab free tacos from the truck (cancelled)

🐕 Bring YOUR pup to help them pick out a new sibling!

🤑Special adoption fees for today event! And of course Harley will be there still looking for his family!

Check out all the available pets at our website at www.rocketcityrescue.org

🐹🐹 BREAKING NEWS: Two Handsome Bachelors Seeking Forever Home 🐹🐹

Meet Biscuit and Gravy — the ultimate package deal, because you can't have one without the other (literally, they're best friends and a bonded pair)!

These two gentlemen come with:
✅ Matching squeaks that will wake you up at 6am for breakfast
✅ A shared passion for lettuce, hay, and judging your life choices from across the room
✅ Zero interest in being separated (seriously, don't even ask)
✅ Enough personality to fill a house twice their size
✅ A price tag of $50 for the pair

Together they're a comedy duo, a snuggle squad, and the missing piece your home didn't know it needed.

🏠 Looking for: a home with love, veggies, and zero judgment about 2am squeaking concerts

Apply today at www.rocketcityrescue.org

🐾🍭 POPSICLES & PUPS IS BACK! 🍭🐾

We're teaming up with Remax Today to bring you a fun Saturday morning — and your future best friend might just be waiting for you!

📍 The Park at Hays Farm

📅 Saturday, September 12th

⏰ 10 AM – 12 PM

Here's the scoop:

🐶 Meet adorable adoptable pups

🍧 Cool off with free popsicles

🌮 Grab some free tacos from the truck

🐕 Bring YOUR pup to help them pick out a new buddy!

Scroll down to meet a few of our Saturday stars 👇 and see everyone up for adoption at www.rocketcityrescue.org

💛 Pro tip: Get your adoption application in NOW so you're pre-approved and ready to take home your new fur baby the same day!

See you there! 🐾

🐾 Happy Labor Day from all of us at Rocket City Rescue! 🐾

Today we're celebrating the good stuff — sunshine, family, friends, and yes, plenty of wagging tails and purring cuddles from our whole crew here at the rescue.

But if we're being honest, our hearts are a little full today thinking about all the pets still waiting for someone to call their own. So many of them just want what everyone here already has — a lap to curl up on, a family to celebrate with, a place to belong. You can meet all of our adoptable animals waiting for homes at www.rocketcityrescue.org 💕

Scroll down and you'll see some familiar faces — our long-timers. For a few of them, this isn't their first Labor Day with us. It's hard to think about them spending another holiday without a family of their own, and we'd love nothing more than for this to be their last one waiting. It’s especially sad that Harley has to spend another holiday alone in a boarding facility on a concrete floor instead of a soft couch 😭

This Labor Day, we're grateful for every volunteer, every foster, every adopter, and every donor who helps us get one step closer to giving every animal that "someone."

🎉 Big news: tomorrow we're posting our FULL September schedule, packed with adoption events all month long! Keep an eye on this page — there's going to be no shortage of chances to meet your new best friend.

From our two-legged team and our four-legged (and sometimes no-legged, we see you, scaly friends 🦎) family — have a safe, happy, and fun Labor Day! 🎊🐶🐱

🐾 WHY WE DON’T ADOPT OUT CATS TO OUTDOOR HOMES 🐾

We get this question a lot: “Why can’t my new kitten just go outside? My old cat did it for years and was fine.”

Here’s the honest truth — outdoor cats live, on average, HALF as long as indoor cats. That’s not a guilt trip, that’s just the math on risk.
Here’s what “just going outside” actually exposes them to:

🚗 Cars. Cats don’t understand traffic. Vehicle strikes are one of the leading causes of death in outdoor cats — and it’s rarely quick or painless.

🦠 Disease. FeLV, FIV, rabies, and parasites spread cat-to-cat through fights and mating. One bad encounter can mean a lifetime illness (or a short one).

🐕 Predators. Coyotes, dogs, hawks, and even other cats are a real threat, especially for a small or newly-adjusted kitten who doesn’t know the neighborhood yet.

☠️ Poisons & traps. Antifreeze, rodenticide, and well-meaning (or not) neighbors are more common dangers than people realize.

😨 They just… don’t come home. Cats can wander farther than you’d think, get spooked, get lost, or get picked up by someone who decides to keep them. Newly adopted cats especially — they don’t know this is home yet.

🥊 Fights = vet bills. Abscesses from cat fights are one of the most common (and expensive) emergency vet visits we see.
We’re not trying to be the fun police here — we just don’t want to hand you a cat and then get a call three months later that breaks both our hearts. 💔

The good news: indoor cats can have HUGE, enriched lives. Cat trees, window perches, puzzle feeders, a catio, harness training for supervised outdoor time — there are so many safe ways to give your cat “the outdoors” without the risk.

Your new best friend deserves a long, safe, happy life with you. Let’s keep them that way. 🐱💛

🐾 NAME YOUR PRICE ADOPTION EVENT 🐾

TODAY! 12PM–3PM

Our Adoption Center @ 920 Wi******er Rd NE

Our kennels are overflowing and we need YOUR help to make room! For one day only, YOU decide the adoption fee for select dogs and cats — every pet deserves a home, and every donation helps us save more lives.

🧡 All adoptable animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped

🧡 Meet dogs and cats of all ages and sizes

🧡 100% of proceeds go directly back into animal care

🧡 Free Fi collar and 6 months of service included

Our standard adoption process still applies — application, vet reference check, and adoption counseling — we just want to help these animals find loving homes, faster. A few animals may have a low minimum fee, but even then it’s well below our standard $200–$400 adoption fees. Special pricing does not include pre-adoptions.

🛍️ BONUS: Our thrift store next door is OPEN 11AM–3PM with the ENTIRE STORE 50% OFF! Grab a bargain while you’re here meeting your new best friend.

Get started on your adoption application at www.rocketcityrescue.org

Bring the whole family — let’s get these pets home TODAY! Share this post to help us spread the word. 🐶🐱