Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like at our rescue? Let’s talk about it!
7:00 AM – Good Morning!
The day begins bright and early as our incredible team of 25 dedicated employees arrives. Before anything else, we open the doors and let all the dogs who sleep inside the house run outside into the yards. There are zoomies, happy tails, morning stretches, and lots of excited barking. It’s the best alarm clock anyone could ask for!
Then our staff heads to their assigned stations and the day’s work begins.
Our kitchen comes to life as one team member prepares rice with chicken and liver for our sick dogs and those who need extra nutrition. Made fresh, each and every day.
Another team member whose love language is laundry begins washing blankets so every dog has a clean, cozy place to sleep. Once washed, they’re hung outside to dry in the fresh, sea-soaked air.
Meanwhile, breakfast is prepared for more than 450 hungry dogs! Every bowl is filled with love. After every meal, each dish is washed and sanitized for the next feeding. Fresh, clean water is always available throughout the day. We are eternally grateful to our water delivery man, Pipa, who fills our cisterns every morning.
Dogs receiving medical treatment get their medications, secretly hidden in the dog’s favorite snack: cream cheese!
Next, we fire up the Barb’s Dog Rescue bus and prepare for our daily trip to our trusted veterinarians at Servicios Medicos Veterinarios. Dr. Leon, Dr. Wong, and the rest of the team see to it that there is plenty of time in their daily schedules to tend to the Barb’s Dog Rescue dogs. On any given day, they see dozens of our dogs for a wide variety of medical needs. They examine, diagnose, do X-rays, and perform surgeries to repair everything from cherry eyes and hernias to broken bones and other intricate orthopedic procedures. They are heroes to the dogs!
What About the Dogs Who Live Outside?
We wish we had a big ole house so that all our dogs could live indoors, but we do a darn good job of creating cozy, cool, shaded outdoor spaces for the dogs who just don’t fit inside the house. Every single day, outdoor yards are thoroughly cleaned and watered down to help keep the ground cool during the hot Sonoran days. Fresh water is always available, kennels are squeaky clean, everyone has their own wading pool and doghouse, and we see to it that there are plenty of toys, both old and new, to keep things entertaining. We believe that all dogs need other dog companions, and our congregate living concept ensures that our dogs always have each other. Barb’s Dog Rescue dogs eat, sleep, and play together. It’s a beautiful thing.
We have two dedicated team members whose job is to walk and socialize our dogs. Some of our dogs come to us from cases of severe mistreatment and neglect at the hands of humans, and we work tirelessly to show them that human hands are kind. Our “socializers” patiently teach dogs how to walk on a leash, practice basic commands, and build the confidence they’ll need to succeed in a forever home.
11:30 AM – Time to Beat the Heat
As the Sonoran sun reaches its hottest hours, all the dogs that live indoors head back inside to relax in the cool air conditioning. Comfort and safety always come first.
Our sick, elderly, or underweight dogs receive an extra meal because some of our special friends need a little more help gaining strength.
2:00 PM – Back Outside!
Once the temperatures begin to ease, it’s time for another round of playtime, stretching legs, making new friends, and enjoying life.
4:00 PM – Dinner Time!
Dinner is served, tails wag, and of course, they dig into their meals with absolute joy!
As evening approaches, we prepare every dog for a comfortable night. They settle into clean kennels with air conditioning, fresh blankets, clean water, and a favorite toy to keep them company until morning.
The Most Important Part of Every Day
With more than 450 dogs to care for, our days are incredibly busy. There are meals to prepare, medications to give, kennels to clean, laundry to wash, veterinary appointments to attend, and dogs to exercise.
But somehow, in the middle of all that work, we always make time for what matters most…
A belly rub. A cuddle. A game of fetch. Soft, kind words. Maybe even a little song.
We give extra love to the frightened ones, who simply need someone to sit beside them and give them comfort.
Because no matter how busy we are, every dog deserves to feel loved.
In between the chores, we enthusiastically greet our visitors. Some come to visit the dogs, some bring donations, and some come to pick a new family member to bring home! A Mexico dog is the ultimate vacation souvenir!
7:00 PM – One Last Stop
Before we head home to rest, there’s one more tradition we never miss.
Several neighborhood dogs know our schedule by heart. Every evening, they stop by hoping for a meal…and of course, no one leaves hungry. We also have an outdoor cat feeding station. The cats stop by to eat and give our dogs a good tease.
Then, finally, we close our gates, go home, get a little sleep… and wake up ready to do it all over again the next morning.
People often ask us what rescue is. Rescue isn’t just saving dogs.
It’s hard work. It’s messy. It’s exhausting. And we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
Thank you to everyone who supports Barb’s Dog Rescue. Because of you, more than 450 dogs wake up every day knowing they’re safe, well-fed, healthy, comfortable, and deeply loved.
We are located west of Highway 8, just 8 miles north of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. Follow the yellow Barb’s Dog Rescue signs. Come see the action in person…we’d love to meet you!
PHOTO CAPTION: Katie joined us in 2018, very middle-aged, and very pregnant. She gave birth to a beautiful litter of babies who were quickly adopted, but Katie is still waiting. She’s 15 years old now, but with the help of a monthly injection for her joints, she’s healthy and among the most deserving dogs at Barb’s Dog Rescue. What a gift it would be if Katie could live out the rest of her days in a loving home.
