What Warrior Dog Rescue does

Warrior Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dog rescue organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Savage, Minnesota, that rescues dogs from kill shelters, abuse, neglect, and abandonment and places them in permanent adoptive homes. The organization sources dogs primarily through a long-standing partnership with HASRA (Heart of Alabama Save, Rescue, Adopt) in Alabama, which provides boots-on-the-ground rescue support, and transports the animals to Minnesota for veterinary care, foster placement, and adoption. Operations are predominantly foster-home-based, supported by a central facility known as The Dog House in Savage, MN, and a suite of specialized programs including Little Fighters (for dogs with disabilities), the Unicorn Foster Squad, Co-Fostering, and Foster-to-Adopt.

The organization's service portfolio spans adoption placement, foster coordination, training and behavioral support, post-adoption education, and the Bentley Promise safety protocol. It does not develop proprietary technology; operational infrastructure consists of a data entry system for dog profiles and vet records plus standard SaaS tools (Zeffy for donations, Constant Contact for email, iGive for shopping-linked giving, and Amazon/Chewy/Target wishlists for in-kind supply donations).

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships (tiered from $500 to $5,000), fundraising events, adoption fees, and in-kind contributions; the organization has saved over 4,000 dogs since inception and serves adopters within approximately 60 miles of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via weekly adoption events at breweries, farmers markets, and community venues across the Twin Cities metro, supported by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X) and an extensive volunteer and foster community.

Name

Warrior Dog Rescue

Legal name

Warrior Dog Rescue

Website

https://warriordogrescue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Warrior Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Savage, Minnesota that partners with HASRA in Alabama to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abused and abandoned dogs in the Twin Cities, having saved over 4,000 dogs since 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue and Pet Adoption Services

NAICS

Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Dog rescue services
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Pet adoption programs
• Foster care services
• Dog rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Savage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Warrior Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds its operations entirely through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events. Revenue streams include general donations, corporate sponsorships, $5 Friday campaigns, Amazon Wishlist and Chewy wishlist contributions, Target gift registry, birthday fundraisers, and grant funding. All contributions go directly to supporting rescued dogs' veterinary care, food, shelter, and transport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Warrior Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues abandoned, abused, neglected, and homeless dogs—primarily pulling them from kill shelters in Alabama through its HASRA partnership—and transports them to Minnesota for veterinary care, rehabilitation, foster placement, and permanent adoption. The organization operates a foster-home-based model centered on its Savage, MN facility (The Dog House) and weekly adoption events across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

Product overview

Warrior Dog Rescue is a non-profit dog rescue organization (501(c)(3)) based in Savage, MN that offers a comprehensive suite of programs centered around dog rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption. Their core service portfolio includes dog adoption services, foster programs, and fundraising mechanisms. Key programs include the Foster-to-Adopt Program for dogs with medical needs, the Little Fighters Program for dogs with disabilities, the Unicorn Foster Squad for dogs requiring specialized homes, and the Co-Fostering Program for flexible scheduling. Support services include comprehensive foster support (supplies, vet care, training), donation processing through multiple channels (Zeffy, iGive, wishlists), corporate sponsorships, training resources, and vetting resources. The organization partners with HASRA in Alabama and has saved over 4,000 dogs since 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Fighters: A special program dedicated to celebrating and supporting dogs with disabilities, including those with mobility challenges, autoimmune diseases, vision/hearing impairments, amputations, neurological conditions, and chronic illnesses.

Products and services

• Dog Adoption Services Core dog rescue and adoption service for individual adopters in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area (within 60 miles). Includes adoption application, meet-and-greets, virtual home visits, reference checks, and post-adoption support for dogs saved from shelters, owner surrenders, abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
• Little Fighters Program Specialized program dedicated to dogs with disabilities, including mobility challenges, autoimmune diseases, vision/hearing impairments, amputations, neurological conditions, and chronic illnesses. Provides medical care, specialized equipment, therapy, and targeted fundraising.
• Foster-to-Adopt Program Allows approved adopters to foster dogs before finalizing adoption, particularly for heartworm-positive dogs undergoing treatment or adult dogs awaiting spay/neuter surgery. The rescue covers medical expenses related to foster-to-adopt status; adopters pay 50% of the adoption fee upfront.
• Co-Fostering Program Program for people with busy schedules (travel for work, cabin weekends, sports families) to share fostering responsibilities through connections on a private team page.
• Unicorn Foster Squad Special program for fosters who can provide homes for dogs with unique needs requiring no other dogs, no children, or quieter lifestyles. Includes private in-home assessment, professional trainer guidance, and ongoing training team support.
• Foster Support Services Comprehensive support for foster parents including collars, harnesses, leashes, toys, crates, food, blankets, beds, treats, gates, potty pads, veterinary care, and access to professional dog trainers and experienced foster mentors.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Corporate sponsorship opportunities with tiered pricing for events, transports, and organizational support. Tiers include Sponsor a Litter ($5,000), Adoption Event ($5,000), Transport ($3,000), Adoptable Dog of the Week ($1,000), and Sponsor of the Month ($500).
• Training Resources Educational materials including training tips, crate training guides, housetraining resources, loose leash walking, bark training, puppy training, and referrals to certified trainers (CCPDT, Fear Free, KPA CTP, IACP).
• Vetting Resources Comprehensive veterinary care access including low-cost vets (Access Veterinary Care, Animal Humane Society, Mission Animal Hospital), emergency poison control (ASPCA), pet insurance options (ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Petplan, Healthy Paws, Nationwide, Embrace, Pumpkin, Figo, Pets Best), and financial aid grants (Animal Care Foundation, Brown Dog Foundation, Frankie's Friends, Magic Bullet Fund, Paws 4 a Cure, RedRover).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 dogs rescued since 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HASRA (Heart of Alabama Save, Rescue, Adopt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHASRA is Warrior Dog Rescue's primary shelter partner in Alabama. HASRA's volunteers are the boots on the ground rescuing dogs from kill shelters, the streets, and situations of abuse and neglect. WDR provides transport, veterinary care, foster homes, and adoption services in Minnesota. The partnership is described as a profound friendship and symbiotic relationship at the heart of WDR's mission. WDR's founder Diana Bakken describes her heart as being on the front lines with HASRA.
• The RetrieversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Retrievers is a volunteer lost dog team that assists WDR in locating and retrieving lost Warrior Dogs. They provide resources for lost dog action plans and collaborated with WDR during the tragic incident involving Bentley that led to the creation of the Bentley Promise safety protocol.
• Aspen Woods & CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAspen Woods & Company is a Minnesota-based artist and maker of personalized pet bowls and custom dog leash holders. Founder Amy donates 20% of purchases made when customers mention Warrior Dog Rescue, providing a fundraising partnership. WDR promotes Aspen Woods products on its donate page.
• iGiveminorGTM or Marketing PartneriGive is a free shopping service where purchasing at any of 1,766 stores (including Kohls, Groupon, LL Bean, Macy's, Gap, Old Navy, Walmart, Travelocity, Overstock) results in a donation to WDR. WDR receives a $5 bonus when a new member makes their first purchase within 30 days.
• Friends of Warrior Dog Rescue (Corporate Partners)minorOthersA broad group of local and regional businesses and organizations that support WDR through donations, sponsorships, and event partnerships. Includes: HASRA, EQGH, Southview, Vikings, BPF, Caribou Coffee, Nova, OnTime, SMSC (Shakopee Sioux Community), Northwestern Mutual, Highmark COS, Lakeville Brewing Co., Scenthound, Sonic Mix Media, Lil Dipper, Drymate, Deluxe, Greater Gains, TSR, Paws and Sniff, Veg, Stone Creek Dental, and others. Most appear as logos on the Friends page with no further disclosed partnership terms.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Secondhand Hounds: Minnesota-based foster-based dog rescue that pulls dogs from southern kill shelters and rehomes them in the Twin Cities, sharing Warrior Dog Rescue's foster-network, Alabama-supply, and community-fundraising model.
• Coco's Heart Dog Rescue: Minnesota nonprofit dog rescue focused on saving dogs from high-kill shelters, operating an adoption-event-driven and foster-based model directly comparable to Warrior Dog Rescue's Minneapolis/St. Paul footprint.
• Pet Haven of Minnesota: Twin Cities foster-based dog and cat rescue with adoption events and a similar community fundraising approach, making it a close functional peer serving the same geographic market.
• The Bond Between: Minnesota pet rescue and rehoming organization that uses a foster network and adoption events in the Twin Cities, comparable in mission, model, and target adopters to Warrior Dog Rescue.
• Rescued! Pet Services: Minnesota rescue that, like Warrior Dog Rescue, prioritizes pulling dogs from shelters and rehoming them in the Twin Cities via adoption events and a foster community.

Broad incumbents

• Animal Humane Society: Large Minnesota-based animal welfare organization with multiple shelter locations offering adoption, surrender, and veterinary services; competes for the same adopter pool as Warrior Dog Rescue but at much larger scale and with owned facilities.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare leader running sanctuary, adoption, and community programs across the U.S., with a comparable mission to end shelter killing and a far larger donor and operational footprint.
• ASPCA: Nationally recognized animal welfare nonprofit with adoption, rescue, veterinary, and humane-law-enforcement programs, operating at a vastly larger scale than Warrior Dog Rescue while addressing overlap in donor mindshare and adoption messaging.
• Humane Society of the United States: Large national advocacy and animal-rescue nonprofit with comparable mission areas (rescue, adoption advocacy) and competing for corporate and individual donor dollars in the same animal-welfare category.

Regional players

• Operation Kindness: Texas-based dog and cat rescue and adoption organization running adoption events and a foster-style placement program; comparable operational model but operates primarily outside Warrior Dog Rescue's Minnesota/Alabama footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/warriordogmn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@warriordogrescuemn?si=V0M2AOnMZhXskKrm
• Facebookfacebook.com/warriordogrescue
• Instagraminstagram.com/warriordogrescue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/warrior-dog-rescue-mn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Warrior Dog Rescue