05/26/2026
Curious how The Landing came to be? 🏡
Read the origin story from our Founder below and join us on Saturday as we reveal exciting new programs at our Rally for Rescue: A Community Call for Action. Link to RSVP in comments.
“My Rainbow Bridge dream for Touch of Grey Rescue came true… just not in the way I expected. 🌈 ✨🏡
It’s a long story…one full of unexpected twists, hard conversations, heartbreak, but ultimately - a beautiful new beginning.
Over a year ago, an incredible supporter approached me and shared that she wanted to leave Touch of Grey Rescue a significant gift in her will to help build my dream of a Rainbow Bridge and intake center for senior dogs. But she decided she wanted to leave that gift now…and be a part of it 💕
At the time, life looked very different for me.
I had stepped back from the day-to-day of rescue after my husband and I adopted a special needs child who needed more support and stability. That brought us to upstate New York and me back into a full-time career so I could help financially support our family.
While I was in NY, our existing board was already carrying an enormous workload keeping operations moving forward. Taking on a physical property, and everything that comes with it, just wasn’t something we had the capacity to support at that moment.
So we kept exploring ideas, trying to find a solution that would benefit the dogs while also being sustainable for the people behind the scenes.
We started looking at land. The idea was that I could manage a land development project from anywhere, while the Board could continue the important daily work of saving dogs.
We even thought we had found the perfect property… until reality hit. Massive infrastructure costs. Years of environmental reviews. Endless hurdles that would require enormous amounts of time and money, all while dogs needed help right now.
Then came more unexpected change. Board members stepping down. Me trying to balance a full-time job, rescue, family. But if there’s one thing rescue has taught me, it’s that sometimes the hardest things lead you exactly where you were meant to go. 🪐
Around that same time, I picked up a blind senior dog named Doug from the shelter. I almost brought him directly to a foster home, but he didn’t appear to be a match with the resident dog. So I brought him home instead.
And for five short days, Doug experienced comfort, safety, love, good food, and peace. Then suddenly, his health declined and he began suffering multiple seizures. I had to make the difficult decision to lovingly help him to the Rainbow Bridge.
Doug reminded me why this vision mattered so much. Dogs coming from the shelter deserve a place to show us who they are, before we ask them to transition to a place that may not be appropriate for their needs.
That realization ultimately led us to The Landing.
The Landing is a donor-gifted transitional home where senior and special needs dogs can decompress, heal, be assessed, and begin again. A place that will also allow us to bring people together through education, community events, trainings, gatherings, and support for the mission we all care so deeply about.
And a place to build an absolutely spectacular rainbow bridge and Memorial Garden 🌈🪴
To (AKA our Rescue Sugar Mama 🤣) thank you from ALL of us for believing in this mission and helping make this next chapter possible. And thank you for standing beside us as we build what comes next. I’m incredibly grateful you thrive in chaos 😅.
I couldn’t be happier with our team or more excited about where we are headed.”
Old souls. New beginnings. 🩶🐾
Wendy Johnson
President & Founder
