The Grit Factor Rescue

10/13/2026

💗 PARDON ME… HAVE YOU SEEN MY PINK TOENAILS?! 💅🐾

I don’t usually make a post about a single puppy, but y’all, this little girl stole my heart today. 🥹

I was at Hardin County Animal Services Tennessee, doing what I do. Taking pictures, making videos, evaluating dogs, and trying to get as many tagged for rescue as possible. And then I saw HER.

LOOK AT THOSE PINK TOENAILS!!! 💗💅

Oh. My. Goodness. I cannot handle it.

And guess what her name is? PARDON. 😂

As in, “Pardon me, could you paint my toenails pink?”

She’s approximately 9–10 weeks old, weighs a whopping 11 pounds, and is absolutely precious.

But those little pink toenails tell a story, too. Somewhere, a little girl may be missing her little friend. Because somebody loved this puppy enough to sit down and paint those tiny toenails.

And I’d be willing to bet that if a little girl was involved, whether this puppy was lost, dumped, or ended up at the shelter some other way, it wasn’t her decision. We don’t know what happened or how Pardon got here, but something tells me those little pink toenails were painted with love. 💗 And that part breaks my heart.

Unfortunately, it’s something we see every single day in rescue. Behind so many of these dogs is a story we’ll never know.

Anyway, little Miss Pardon needs a rescue commitment, and I just had to share her.

So, to my rescue friends… does anybody need a little girl with pink toenails in their life?

Because I sure do. 🥹💗

And I’m telling y’all, those toenails are EVERYTHING. 💅🐾

10/11/2026

🎃🐾 THREE BAGS. OVER 100 DOGS. COME ON, Y’ALL! 🐾🎃

We’ve been asking for Halloween treats for our dogs at Hardin County Animal Services Tennessee, and so far, this is what we’ve collected.

THREE bags. That’s it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We are incredibly thankful for those three bags! ❤️ But there are over 100 dogs in that shelter on any given day, and these three bags might make ONE round of treats. MAYBE.

Here’s how I look at it…

We spend HUNDREDS of dollars every Halloween buying candy. We decorate our houses, fill buckets with candy, and make sure everybody gets a little something.

Surely we can spare $10 for a bag of dog treats.

These dogs don’t get to dress up and go trick-or-treating. They don’t get to go home to a warm bed after a fun night. They’re spending Halloween in a shelter, waiting for somebody to choose them.

But we CAN make their day a little better. ❤️

🐾 HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

🎃 Amazon Wish List: The link will be in the FIRST COMMENT! You do NOT have to purchase those specific brands or treats. They’re just suggestions!

🎃 Shop anywhere you want! Walmart, Tractor Supply, Dollar General, Amazon… wherever! The dogs do not care about the brand. They just want a treat! Just please, NO rawhide.

🎃 Ship directly to Hardin County Animal Services or have your order delivered to us at The Grit Factor.

🎃 Drop off treats at the shelter or at 22 Fence Company.

🎃 Bring treats to our Trunk-or-Treat on October 30th, from 6–8 PM at 22 Fence Company!

📦 AMAZON WISH LIST IN THE FIRST COMMENT!

📍 Hardin County Animal Services
140 Legion Drive
Savannah, TN 38372

📍 The Grit Factor / 22 Fence Company
1025 Pickwick Street
Savannah, TN 38372

Everything we collect will be delivered to the shelter on Halloween, October 31st!

Y’all, we’re not asking for hundreds of dollars. We’re asking for a bag of treats. One bag. Ten bucks. Something so simple that can bring a little happiness to a dog spending Halloween behind kennel doors.

Let’s make sure EVERY SINGLE DOG at Hardin County Animal Services gets a little Halloween happiness. 🧡🐾

The Grit Factor 🇺🇸🐾

10/10/2026

CAN WE HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT COMMUNICATION IN RESCUE?

I want to open up a discussion today, especially among my fellow rescuers.

Over the past week, I’ve had two situations where I needed to reach outside of our normal rescue network for help with dogs.

These are GOOD dogs. They’re just dogs that, for whatever reason, I cannot get committed through our existing rescue partners. And lately, getting dogs tagged for rescue has become harder and harder.

So, I did exactly what I tell everybody else to do.

I Googled. I researched. I reached out.

Breed-specific rescues. All-breed rescues. Rescues in surrounding states. I found organizations that appeared to be a good fit and contacted them directly.

For one particular dog, I’ve reached out to FOUR different rescues.

I explained his story. I provided his information. I explained that he is fully vetted, and that The Grit Factor Rescue has paid for all of his vetting. He’s a good dog who needs a place to land.

And do you know how many responses I’ve received?

ZERO.

Not a “Sorry, we’re full.”

Not a “We received your message, but we can’t help.”

Not a “Let me check and get back to you.”

Not even an acknowledgment that my message was received.

Nothing.

And here’s where I want to have a conversation.

I AM A RESCUE. A legitimate, registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue reaching out to other nonprofit rescues for help.

I’m not trying to surrender my personal dog. I’m not trying to dump a problem in somebody else’s lap. I’m trying to help a dog that The Grit Factor Rescue has already invested its time, money, and resources into helping.

And I cannot even get a NO.

Now, before somebody jumps in with “Rescues are overwhelmed,” let me stop you right there.

I KNOW. I AM ONE.

I know what it’s like to receive messages every single day. I know what it’s like to have more requests than resources. I know what it’s like to have to tell somebody no when you desperately wish you could say yes.

And I know what it’s like to have somebody get angry because you can’t help them.

Suddenly, you’re the bad guy. You’re the reason their dog doesn’t have somewhere to go. You’re the rescue that supposedly doesn’t care.

I GET IT.

But here’s the thing.

Being overwhelmed does not make communication any less important.

Even if it’s an automated response that says, “We’re currently at capacity and unable to accept new dogs,” at least that person knows.

At least they aren’t sitting there waiting, checking their messages, wondering whether somebody is considering helping.

At least they can move on to the next possibility.

And that’s really my point here.

If you tell me NO, that’s fine! I GET IT. I’m a rescue, too! I understand being full. I understand not having fosters. I understand not having the resources to take on another dog.

But now I know, and I can move on to the next rescue.

If you tell me, “Hey, I got your message, but I can’t look at this today. Let me get back to you Monday,” GREAT! At least I know you’re considering it and when I might hear back.

“We don’t work on weekends.” Okay, fine. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a rescue that doesn’t work weekends, but hey, whatever works for you! 😂

JUST COMMUNICATE.

Because when you don’t respond at all, I don’t know whether you’re considering the dog, whether you even received my message, or whether I should move on and contact somebody else.

And while I’m sitting here waiting for an answer that may never come, that dog is still waiting for help.

I’m not asking for a YES. I’m asking for enough communication to know what my next move needs to be.

And yes, I understand that some organizations are so overwhelmed they cannot possibly respond personally to every message. That’s exactly why automated responses exist.

I also want to be fair. This has NOT always been my experience. I’ve reached out to rescues in the past that have been incredibly responsive, helpful, and professional, even when they couldn’t take the dog.

But this past week has given me a pretty eye-opening reminder of what the general public experiences when they’re desperately trying to find help.

If this is what I’m experiencing as a fellow rescue, imagine how discouraging it is for somebody who doesn’t know anything about rescue.

We tell people to reach out. We tell them to contact breed-specific rescues. We tell them to do their research and find organizations that might be able to help.

And then sometimes, when they do exactly that, they’re met with silence.

I’m not asking rescues to take dogs they don’t have room for.

I’m not asking anybody to stretch themselves beyond their resources.

I’m not even asking for an explanation.

I’m asking for the courtesy of a response. Even if that response is NO.

Because silence doesn’t help the dog. It doesn’t help the person trying to help the dog. And it certainly doesn’t help build relationships within the rescue community.

We’re all fighting the same uphill battle.

A little professional courtesy toward one another, and toward the general public, shouldn’t be too much to ask.

So, fellow rescuers, I genuinely want to hear your thoughts.

How does your organization handle incoming requests when you’re full? Do you use automated responses? Do you try to acknowledge every message?

And for those of you who have reached out to rescues looking for help, have you experienced the same thing?

I’m not looking to bash individual organizations. I’m looking to have a conversation about something I think we could collectively do better.

Because sometimes a simple NO is a whole lot more helpful than absolutely nothing.

The Grit Factor
Grind. Rescue. Integrity. Transport.

10/09/2026

🎈🐕 MADE YOU LOOK! 🤣🤣

And you’re welcome. Because if I had to experience this level of stupidity, the least I can do is share it with the rest of you.

Y’all. I bought a Halloween costume.

A BALLOON DOG.

Seemed like a great idea at the time. Cute. Funny. Perfect for The Grit Factor.

WELL, THAT WAS BEFORE I TRIED TO PUT THE DAMN THING ON. 🤦‍♀️

First of all, I pulled it out of the package, and apparently I had purchased an inflatable octopus with a dog head.

There were approximately 15 legs, 12 arms, a tail, and not a single damn clue where MY two legs were supposed to go.

I spent the first ten minutes trying to figure out if I was putting it on or performing emergency surgery on a deflated parade float.

Finally located what I believed were the leg holes. At that point, I was committed. Possibly against my better judgment, but committed nonetheless.

THEN CAME THE FAN.

Because apparently this thing requires its own personal HVAC system.

I figured out how to turn it on BEFORE I got dressed.

PROBLEM WAS, ONCE I GOT INSIDE, I COULDN’T FIND THE LITTLE SUCKER AGAIN.

So now I’m standing in my house, trapped inside a giant red balloon, blindly feeling around for a battery-powered fan somewhere in the vicinity of my rear end.

At this point, I’m one wrong move away from needing the Savannah, TN Fire Department to cut me out of a balloon animal. 🚒🤣

And my dogs?

Let me tell you something.

These dogs have seen me do some questionable things over the years, but the looks I got from them today…

Pure disappointment.

Not fear. Not excitement.

Just four dogs staring at me like, “And THIS is the woman responsible for our medical decisions?” 🐾😂

I swear one of them looked at the other like, “Don’t make eye contact. Maybe she’ll go away.”

But eventually, I got the thing inflated.

And there I stood.

A grown woman, inside a giant red inflatable dog, wondering where exactly my life had taken a wrong turn.

AND I PAID MONEY FOR THIS EXPERIENCE. 💀🤣

Now, here’s where YOU come in!

🎃 22 Fence Company’s FIRST ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT! 🎃

📅 October 30th
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 1025 Pickwick Street
Savannah, TN 38372

The Grit Factor will be there, and so will this ridiculous balloon dog!

Will I be inside it?

THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

Because apparently this costume is ONE SIZE FITS MOST, and evidently I’m not MOST.

I can’t promise it’ll be me wearing it, but I can promise somebody’s getting stuffed into that red sausage casing and inflated for your entertainment.

So bring the kids, come get some candy, and meet The Grit Factor’s newest mascot!

And if you see the balloon dog lying flat in the parking lot, don’t panic.

Somebody probably just sat on the fan. 🤣🎈🐕

10/09/2026

🎀 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH — BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THEM, TOO. 🐾

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this one is personal for me.

Breast cancer runs on my mother’s side of the family. We have lost family members to this disease, so awareness, prevention, and early detection are things I take seriously.

But today, I want to talk about something you may not realize.

Dogs can get breast cancer, too.

In dogs, it’s called mammary cancer, and it’s a very real concern, especially for female dogs who have never been spayed.

According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the traditionally reported risk of developing mammary tumors is:

🎀 0.5% when spayed before the first heat cycle.

🎀 8% when spayed after the first heat cycle.

🎀 26% when spayed after the second heat cycle.

These are historical estimates, and individual risks vary, but the message is important.

Approximately HALF of mammary tumors in dogs are cancerous.

Now, let’s talk about something else.

Your female dog does NOT need to have a litter of puppies before being spayed.

Not one litter. Not just to experience motherhood. Not because someone told you it’s healthier.

There is no established health benefit to allowing her to have puppies before spaying her.

Spaying is about more than preventing unwanted litters. It can significantly reduce the risk of mammary tumors and prevent other serious reproductive diseases.

The appropriate age to spay depends on your dog’s breed, size, and individual health, so please have that conversation with your veterinarian.

And if your dog is already older or has had puppies, don’t assume it’s too late to care about her health. Check her mammary glands for lumps or changes, and have anything unusual examined by a veterinarian.

At The Grit Factor, we talk a lot about spaying and neutering because we see the consequences of uncontrolled breeding every single week.

But this October, I want to remind everyone that spaying isn’t just about preventing more puppies. It’s also about protecting the dog you already love.

🎀 In honor of the women we’ve lost, the women still fighting, the survivors, and the four-legged girls who depend on us to make responsible decisions for them.

Awareness matters. Prevention matters. Early detection matters.

🐾 The Grit Factor Rescue
Grind. Rescue. Integrity. Transport.

📚 VETERINARY SOURCES & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you’d like to learn more about mammary cancer in dogs, the risks, and the importance of spaying, here are two excellent veterinary resources:

🐾 American College of Veterinary Surgeons — Mammary Tumors

https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/mammary-tumors/

🐾 Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Mammary Cancer

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/mammary-cancer

10/09/2026

🎃🐾 TRICK OR TREAT… THE SHELTER DOGS WANT SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT! 🐾🎃

The Grit Factor has a little Halloween project, and we need YOUR help!

We’re collecting DOG TREATS for Hardin County Animal Services Tennessee, our local animal shelter right here in Savannah, Tennessee! ❤️

Our shelter has a revolving door of approximately 100 dogs, so they go through a LOT of treats, not just at Halloween, but all year long!

And while we can’t wave a magic wand and give every shelter dog a home, we can certainly make sure they get some TREATS! 🦴

🎃 HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP!

🐾 AMAZON WISH LIST: We’ve created an Amazon list of dog treats that will SHIP DIRECTLY TO HARDIN COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES! No need to drop anything off or make a special trip!

🛒 SHOP ANYWHERE YOU WANT! BUY WHATEVER DOG TREATS YOU WANT!

You do NOT have to purchase treats from our Amazon Wish List! The treats on that list are simply SUGGESTIONS! Run by Walmart, Dollar General, or wherever you like to shop! Pick up a bag, pick up five bags, whatever your heart and budget allow! ❤️

Prefer treats without dyes and ask that you avoid rawhide. Our biggest concern is making sure the treats are safe for the dogs to enjoy.

It doesn’t matter where you buy them or whether they’re on our list. Every bag counts, and every single one is going to our local shelter dogs! 🐾

🚐 DROP OFF OR SHIP TO THE GRIT FACTOR:

1025 Pickwick Street
Savannah, TN 38372

You can drop off treats anytime during October, or bring them to the 22 Fence Company First Annual Trunk-or-Treat on October 30th from 6–8 PM!

🐶 DROP OFF OR SHIP DIRECTLY TO THE SHELTER:

Hardin County Animal Services
140 Legion Drive
Savannah, TN 38372

🎃 ON HALLOWEEN DAY, OCTOBER 31ST, we’ll load up the G-WAGGIN with every bag of treats collected at The Grit Factor and deliver them to Hardin County Animal Services!

EVERY SINGLE BAG GOES TO OUR LOCAL SHELTER DOGS! ❤️

And listen, feel free to INDULGE! 😂 These dogs need treats year-round, so whatever doesn’t get gobbled up on Halloween will keep making tails wag long after the pumpkins are gone!

A shelter isn’t home. These dogs don’t have someone tucking them into bed at night or handing them a treat just because they’re loved.

But that doesn’t mean they should miss out on the little things.

We can’t pull off magic tricks and magically find every dog a home… but we can sure give them some TREATS! 🧡

Let’s give the dogs at Hardin County Animal Services their very own Halloween trick-or-treat!

🐾 THE KIDS GET CANDY. THE DOGS GET TREATS. EVERYBODY DESERVES A LITTLE HALLOWEEN MAGIC! 🎃

🛒 AMAZON WISH LIST: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1WOCTXKH3I7D4?ref_=wl_share

THE GRIT FACTOR
Grind. Rescue. Integrity. Transport.

10/09/2026

🐾 RICK & MORTY — TWO BRUHS LOOKING FOR RESCUE! 🐾

Let’s make one thing VERY clear. These boys are 100% German Shorthaired Pointer mixes, I don’t care what you say 🤎😂. What’s the other mix? Don’t know. Don’t care. 😂

These are two of the most beautiful boys I’ve ever seen.

Actually, scratch that. If Rick and Morty heard me call them beautiful, they’d probably be offended.

These dudes are COOL. They’re BRUHS. They’re the kind of boys who look like they’d call each other “bruh” 47 times in one conversation. 😂

And these two bruhs need RESCUE!

We get LOTS of requests to help dogs, and I don’t post them all. But sometimes it’s just so obvious that I can’t let it go. And apparently, I won’t be sleeping until I find these two a rescue commitment.

Here’s the rundown on our boys:

🐾 Rick & Morty

🐾 Brothers, approximately 5 months old

🐾 27 pounds each

🐾 One vaccine so far

🐾 100% GSP mixes, and 100% AWESOME!

Now, I’m a HUGE German Shorthaired Pointer fan, so maybe I’m a little biased. But COME ON. Look at these two! I don’t know how you get much closer to perfect.

SOOOOOO… ATTENTION RESCUE PARTNERS! 📣

Did you wake up this morning, stretch, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and think…

“Dang. You know what my rescue needs? A German Shorthaired Pointer puppy.”

WELL, HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU!

I HAVE TWO! 😂

Rick and Morty are currently safe and secure with our friends at Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter in Senatobia, Mississippi.

And we would be SUPER excited to help get these boys on transport next week!

We love GSPs. We know GSPs. And we know there’s a rescue out there that’s going to look at these two little dudes and say, “Yep. Those are our kind of bruhs.”

So, rescue partners, shoot us a message or drop a comment below!

Let’s get Rick and Morty out of the shelter and on the road to their next chapter.

Because every bruh deserves a home. And these two deserve one heck of a good one. ❤️🐾

The Grit Factor Rescue
Grind. Rescue. Integrity. Transport.

10/08/2026

⚠️ TRANSPORT- FAIR WARNING: THIS IS A LONG POST. BUT SO IS THE PROCESS. 😂🐾

And if you really want to understand what goes into getting a rescue dog from Point A to Point B, I encourage you to read the entire thing.

Because there is a whole lot that happens between “We’ll take that dog” and that dog actually getting where it’s supposed to go.

And I think the people making that happen deserve a little recognition. ❤️

🐾 LET’S TALK ABOUT TRANSPORT. BECAUSE IT’S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN LOADING DOGS IN A VAN AND DRIVING OFF. 🐾

There is an entire side of rescue that I don’t think people really understand unless they’ve actually been involved in it.

TRANSPORT.

And let me tell y’all something. Transport is NOT simply putting a dog in a kennel, loading it into a van, and heading down the highway.

It’s logistics. It’s planning. It’s coordinating. It’s paperwork. It’s veterinary care. It’s knowing the size and weight of dogs you’ve sometimes never even laid eyes on.

And it’s playing a whole lot of Tetris with kennels. 😂

You have to know what size kennel a dog can comfortably travel in. You have to know how many kennels of each size will fit in your vehicle. You have to consider how long those dogs will be traveling, how long they’ll be confined, and how to make that trip as safe and comfortable as possible.

And sometimes you’re making all those decisions about dogs you won’t actually meet until the day of transport.

Now, here’s where I want to introduce y’all to an organization that is absolutely invaluable to The Grit Factor.

❤️ Charlie’s Angels Saving Animals — CASA Transport, in Columbia, Tennessee.

We are insanely fortunate to have CASA as a transport partner.

CASA has been doing rescue for a long time, and they’ve figured out where they can make an incredible impact. One of those areas is transport.

Now, CASA does a whole lot more than transport. They have educational programs, including books, writers, and people who visit schools to teach children about animals and responsible pet ownership. They also offer low-cost spay/neuter services.

But the side of CASA we work most closely with is transport.

And let me introduce you to two ladies who are absolutely phenomenal at what they do.

Laura and Brittnie.

These ladies have this operation down to a science.

Let me explain how it works.

All week long, we are getting dogs “tagged” by receiving rescues. That means a rescue has committed to taking a particular dog.

The SECOND we get that commitment, we’re communicating with Laura.

Not four days later. Not five days later. Immediately.

We send her a picture, the dog’s weight, where the dog is going, and when it needs to leave.

Now, multiply that by all the other rescues across Tennessee that are doing the exact same thing.

And then add the receiving rescues who are also communicating with her about the dogs they’re expecting.

Laura has people coming at her from every direction, all week long, trying to coordinate space on that transport van.

And here’s the kicker.

SHE DOESN’T EVEN HAVE THE DOGS YET.

She’s figuring out kennel sizes, space, and how to safely accommodate everybody based on information and pictures.

Then Wednesday comes, and the dogs actually arrive.

Sometimes they’re bigger than expected. Sometimes they’re smaller. Sometimes a kennel size has to change.

And Laura adjusts.

I’ve been doing transport for two years, and I STILL cannot do what that woman does in her head when it comes to figuring out kennel configurations.

I can play kennel Tetris.

Laura might as well be the world champion. 😂

SO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS ON WEDNESDAYS?

Every single Wednesday, you’ll find me at CASA in Columbia.

And I mean every Wednesday.

Even if I didn’t have a single dog going on transport, I’d still be there.

Because I genuinely love volunteering there. I love the people. I love the process. And I love being part of something that makes such a difference for animals.

When we arrive with our dogs, we unload them and begin the health certificate process.

And this is another reason CASA is so valuable.

They have a veterinarian on-site.

Dr. Amy, who is absolutely fantastic, examines the animals and reviews their medical records.

Vaccination records are checked. Anything needed to meet transport requirements is addressed. Vaccines, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and other necessary care are handled as appropriate.

And we’re not just talking about dogs.

There are cats.

Lots of cats.

And occasionally, you might even find yourself helping with a sugar glider. 😂

We bring the animals through for their examinations, return them to their kennels, and move on to the next one.

Once everybody has been examined and the paperwork is completed, Dr. Amy signs the required health certificates and rabies documentation.

And those animals are one step closer to their next chapter.

Now, a lot of rescuers have to drop their animals off and leave.

But I stay and help.

I don’t just want to get OUR dogs through the process. I want to help get everybody through it.

Because that’s what rescue partnerships are supposed to look like.

AND THE WORK DOESN’T STOP WHEN WE LEAVE.

Wednesday afternoon, Laura is back checking on the animals, making sure everybody gets bathroom breaks, food, water, and whatever attention they need.

Thursday morning?

She’s back at it again.

Everybody gets checked on, cared for, and then loaded for the trip north.

Her final destination is Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Some receiving rescues meet the transport there to pick up their animals. Others have additional transportation ( Montgomery County PAWS CARE and their super sweet drivers…) arranged to get those animals farther along to their destinations.

And just like that, animals from Tennessee and Mississippi are making their way toward opportunities they may never have had otherwise.

But I want to tell y’all what OUR side of transport looked like yesterday.

3:30 A.M.

Alarm goes off.

Coffee. Because obviously. ☕😂

Let the foster dogs out to potty. Make sure everybody has water. Get everybody settled.

We generally try not to feed right before transport because nobody wants a van full of carsick dogs. They can eat once we get to CASA.

Of course, sometimes somebody has helped themselves to leftover dinner from the night before.

And sometimes you find out about that somewhere down the highway.

But listen, if cleaning up vomit and dog p**p bothers you, rescue is probably not your calling. 😂

Anyway…

Out the door.

Drive to Mississippi to pick up dogs at 5:30 a.m.

Drive back home.

Load my dogs.

Drive to Nicole’s house.

Load her dog.

Head to the shelter.

Pick up more dogs.

Then head to Columbia.

And THEN we get to start the entire process I just described.

Unloading. Veterinary examinations. Vaccines. Paperwork. Health certificates. Helping with everybody else’s animals.

That’s one Wednesday.

And that’s just OUR portion of transport.

Now imagine coordinating all of that for an entire van full of animals coming from multiple different rescues, going to multiple different receiving organizations.

THAT is what CASA does.

And they do it week after week.

Sometimes The Grit Factor has more committed dogs than CASA has room for, and we make the drive directly to Mount Vernon ourselves.

But those trips cost money.

Fuel costs money. Vehicle maintenance costs money. Transport supplies cost money.

And like most small rescues, we don’t have an endless supply of it.

So we utilize CASA every chance we get.

And I cannot begin to explain how much that partnership means to us.

We absolutely could not do what we do on the scale we do it without CASA.

They are a HUGE part of our ability to move animals out of our area and into receiving rescues where they have opportunities for a better future.

And something else I want people to understand…

Not every animal traveling on that van came from an abusive or neglectful situation.

Some did.

Some came from overcrowded shelters.

Some came from owners who simply couldn’t keep them anymore.

Some came from desperate situations where people were trying to do the right thing but didn’t have the resources or options they needed.

Every animal has a different story.

But on transport day, they’re all moving toward the next chapter of that story.

❤️ NOW HERE’S SOMETHING REALLY COOL.

CASA has recently started livestreaming their Wednesday transport process!

And I absolutely LOVE this because it gives people an opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes.

I’m sharing one of those videos here.

It’s about an hour long.

You’ll see dogs. You’ll see cats. You’ll see veterinary examinations. You’ll see some animals with unusual physical characteristics, genetic conditions, underbites, overbites, and all kinds of things you might not see every day.

You’ll see vaccinations, medical care, and a whole lot of people working together to get animals ready for transport.

But more importantly, you’ll see animals that rescue organizations are working together to help.

Animals that have a chance because somebody said yes.

Somebody committed.

Somebody coordinated.

Somebody drove.

Somebody examined.

Somebody loaded.

And somebody made sure they got where they needed to go.

That’s rescue.

Not one person. Not one organization.

A whole lot of people doing their part.

So if you’ve got an hour, grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and watch.

I know I can’t sit still for an hour, but maybe some of y’all can. 😂☕

I think you’ll have a whole new appreciation for what goes into getting these animals from one place to another.

❤️ AND ONE MORE THING ABOUT CASA THAT I REALLY WANT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO KNOW.

If you’re looking for another rescue organization to support, especially one that directly helps dogs from Hardin County, Tennessee, please consider CASA!

And transport isn’t the only way they serve animals and their communities.

🐾 Looking for educational resources for your elementary school? CASA has educational programs and resources designed to teach children about animals, compassion, and responsible pet ownership.

🐾 Looking for affordable spay and neuter services? CASA also offers a low-cost spay/neuter program!

🐾 Want to support an organization that helps Hardin County dogs get to rescue? CASA is a huge part of making that happen!

And here’s the best part.

They’re only about an hour and a half away from us in Columbia, Tennessee!

You don’t have to look across the country to find organizations doing incredible things for animals right here in our own backyard.

CASA is one of them.

Please take a minute to visit their page, learn about their programs, and consider supporting the work they do.

Because when you support CASA, you’re also supporting the transportation network that helps get dogs from Hardin County and surrounding communities to their next chapters.

To Laura, Brittany, Dr. Amy, and everybody involved with CASA — THANK YOU.

Thank you for answering the messages. Thank you for finding room. Thank you for adjusting kennels. Thank you for caring for these animals. Thank you for the early mornings, the long days, and all the work most people never see.

And thank you for being the kind of rescue partner that makes this whole crazy operation work.

From all of us at The Grit Factor, we are beyond grateful for you.

Because at the end of the day, rescue doesn’t end when somebody says, “We’ll take that dog.”

Somebody still has to figure out how to get that dog there.

And thank goodness for the people who do. ❤️🐾

GRIND. RESCUE. INTEGRITY. TRANSPORT.

— The Grit Factor Rescue

For more information, please visit Casatransport.org or to donate t...