Purebred Shelter Provides Adoption & Breed Education
Jack (left) and Charlee (right) are both Australian Shepherds. Photo Credit: Roscoe Rescues
Roscoe Rescues helps dogs & empowers communities through instruction and guidance
I first became aware of Roscoe Rescues through an outing with Walk Adoptable Dogs Nashville. Two of the three dogs we took out that day, Jack and Charlee, were from the shelter. They were some of the sweetest dogs I ever met.
I knew I wanted to do a story on Roscoe Rescues, so I recently spoke to them about their amazing organization and all they do for dogs and breed education.
Who is Roscoe Rescues?
Roscoe Rescues is a 501c3 non profit animal rescue established in 2019 by three women with the mission to change the face of rescue. In 2011, one of the founders, Crisee Estrada, adopted her purebred Rottweiler, Roscoe, from an abusive situation. Roscoe was by all accounts Crisee’s dream dog. It was then that it came to her attention that there are many purebreds in rescue, so many dream dogs out there, and yet people were still going to breeders. So Crisee & Roscoe dove deep into rescue with the goal of bringing awareness to purebreds in rescue. In 2019, she met Amy Vick & Jaimie Flores, animal advocates, and they began to work together, backing up the mission Roscoe himself had started. Before Roscoe passed in 2020, he aided in rescuing over 20 dogs. Roscoe Rescues - it’s a verb because it’s just what he did.
As a purebred rescue, we pride ourselves on breed education. We believe in catering to a breeds needs, understanding who they are, where they came from, and how they can integrate into the lives of their guardians where both human and dog can thrive! We work with applicants to ensure they are educated on their breeds needs and on how to be the best pet guardian they can be. We are, if you will, match makers!
What is your mission and where are you located?
Our mission is to be dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of purebred dogs and cats and empowering communities through education to proudly and responsibly adopt their purebred animals.
We are located in Nashville, TN with a network that spans the lower 48. Our end goal is a network that spans the planet.
Hello FrappuChino Vanilla Bean, a Miniature Bull Terrier! Photo Credit: Roscoe Rescues
Where do Roscoe Rescues animals come from?
Our animals come from animal shelters across the country, other animal rescue organizations and individuals who must surrender their pet. We will not pay an individual or breeder for their animals.
What makes a Roscoe Rescues dog a Purebred?
People pick animals based on the way they look, whether they’re into a floppy eared short snouted mutt or a traditional looking purebred. Looks are where the search for an animal starts. All Roscoe Rescues animals fit a certain look: they are what people are looking for in a purebred animal. Some of our animals come with papers. Often owner surrenders have papers, however, we have many animals that come to us without papers. As long as they fit a certain criteria of physical appearance, we consider them a purebred.
Ranger, one of Roscoe Rescues’ Magnificent Mutts. Photo credit: Roscoe Rescues
Can you adopt a mutt from Roscoe Rescues?
We LOVE mutts. We like to think of our services as a form of match-making. If you've got a mutt on your mind, let us know! When you're ready to adopt, fill out an application as an ISO (in search of) and let us know what magnificent mutt you're in the market for!
What separates you from other shelters in Middle Tennessee?
Roscoe Rescues is a network, all of our animals live in homes, we do not have a shelter facility. Our reach is currently contiguous. We can pull, transport, foster, and adopt out to any qualified candidate across the 48 states, this is unique from any rescue organization we are currently aware of.
Sweet Arya, a Harlequin Great Dane. Photo credit: Roscoe Rescues
Besides rescuing dogs, what other services do you provide?
We don’t just rescue dogs, we are with our dogs from before they come into our care till forever as possible. All of our volunteers are thoroughly screened regardless of what position they are volunteering for. We prep them for potential dogs and for the work that goes along with them. When a dogs ownership is transferred to Roscoe Rescues, we coordinate their transport to their foster home where the dog lives for a minimum of 30 days, giving us ample time to properly evaluate the dog as an individual so we can ‘match make’ them to their forever home. We then arrange and execute transport to their screened and approved adoptive home. Our incredible transport team has accumulated over 5,800 miles, with a scheduled transport of over 650 miles coming up.
After adoption, our dogs are always a part of the Roscoe Rescues family and we keep in touch as much as possible.
We utilize our website, blog, Instagram and Facebook pages as sources of knowledge: offering common exercise needs, personality traits, common medical issues, etc. of popular and rare breeds.
Sebastian, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, lives in a foster to adopt home. Photo credit: Roscoe Rescues
How do rescue dogs promote mental health?
Studies show that dogs have all sorts of positive effects on their human guardians. From deep pressure therapy to facilitating social interactions, to disrupting emotional overload, dogs promote mental health. They also have a benefit on physical health, proven to lower a person's heart rate, to elevate their serotonin levels and even boost self esteem. Rescue dogs in particular are the ever grateful, ever positive, ever resilient unconditional love in the life of millions of people who suffer from poor mental health.
The attitude and demeanor of rescue dogs is no joke. Adult dogs that have been rescued, know. They understand the second chance they have been given and recognize the people who gave it to them. When a person who has struggled with poor mental health rescues a dog, they have found a companion who has had it tough too, it is relatable and the dogs know it. There is a bond between rescue dogs and their rescuers that promotes positivity, love, and resilience in a person.
Maggie, a Black Labrador Retriever, from Roscoe Rescues. Photo credit: Roscoe Rescues
Do you have volunteers? If so, how do they contribute?
Roscoe Rescues would not be possible without the volunteers! We work through a network of dedicated volunteers across the country filling positions from adoption representatives, a team of coordinators, transporters, fosters, and more. Roscoe Rescues is still growing and is constantly trying to come up with events in the community to get their name out and to showcase the dogs that need to be adopted. As we grow, we always need more volunteers to help!
Volunteering is easy! Whether you only have a few minutes a week, or want to open your home to an animal, or anywhere in between, there are many ways you can help be part of the change!
Where can people contact you to get a rescue dog, donate to your facility or volunteer?
RoscoeRescues.org is the place to apply for everything, from adoption to volunteering. It is also where you can find out how to donate. As we do not have a facility, donations are currently being taken on our website, as well as our Facebook page. Anyone can reach out through our Instagram or Facebook pages or they can email us at info@RoscoeRescues.org if they have questions.
