According to Best Friends Animal Society, the number of dogs and cat euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has dropped by nearly 80%, from approximately 2.6 million in 2011 to around 378,000 in 2022. This could not have been achieved without the constant labor of love from pet volunteers, animal shelters, humane societies and foster homes – which is why this month in particular is so important.
October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, and Camp Bow Wow is deeply involved – in several ways – with this initiative to get more rescue dogs out of shelters and into loving homes with loving families.
As one of our most beloved examples: meet Lenny.
Lenny’s Story
A year ago this month – in October of 2024 – at the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley in Littleton, Colorado, there was a pitbull named Lenny. He was a lanky and long boy who, after surviving parvovirus as a puppy, was still recovering from muscular atrophy, lack of coordination and a low body weight – but that couldn’t stop his eagerness toward the world.
The Greatest Adventure, an organization that travels around the United States to share the stories of dogs who can’t speak for themselves through the power of photography and videography, chose Lenny as the dog they would feature from the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley. In the video they shared of Lenny, his personality shined: he was curious, a bit ditzy and yet oh-so loveable and easy to make friends with, whether humans or dogs. After the team at The Greatest Adventure took Lenny to frolic around Breckenridge during the peak of fall, Lenny went to Camp!
At the Camp Bow Wow in Westminster, Colorado, Lenny got to spend a whole day engaging his young canine mind in a host of enrichment activities, like digging for treats in the ballpit, chasing after bubbles and painting himself a picture (with a little help and incentive from some peanut butter!). At the end of a day, he freshened up for his hopeful future family with a warm and thorough bath.
“It really touched my heart how incredibly kind and thoughtful the Camp Bow Wow team was, by giving Lenny such an unforgettable day that was so curated, especially for him,” said Kaylee Greer, international award-winning ‘dogtographer’ and owner of Dog Breath Photography.
“The people at Camp Bow Wow wanted him to come have a special day where he can be treated like a special dog – and he was,” Sam Haddix recounts, who is also a photographer with Dog Breath Photography and on The Greatest Adventure team. “He had an incredible day full of so many fun activities and enrichments, things he’s never done. He got to have that day where he was special.”
Shortly after Lenny’s “greatest adventure” with Camp Bow Wow, he got adopted into a forever home – and Lenny still visits Camp Bow Wow to this very day. He is now happy and healthier than ever with his new family.
Lenny is just one example of many that Camp Bow Wow has had a hand (or paw) in helping find a home. Humane societies and animal shelters often rely heavily on their committed group of volunteers to keep things running – the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley being one example. Dog enrichment is critical in both the quality of life of foster pets and helping them assimilate well to the world before adoption when resources are often spread thin. Camp Bow Wow is committed to the mission of helping improve the quality of life for foster dogs – and bringing these dogs in front of people in the communities they’re in.
Camp Bow Wow’s Commitment to Foster Dogs
Camp Bow Wow locations all over the country often host foster programs to help them get to have their days of play, just like the Greatest Adventure did for Lenny. These adoptable dogs are open for adoption, and having them romp with other dogs at Camp gives them visibility they may not have otherwise.
Here are some stories:
Burt was a foster at Camp Bow Wow Rockaway who was rehomed due to his owner dealing with a health issue. He was adopted by a staff member at Camp!
Judd came to Camp Bow Wow Sugar Land as a foster during a freeze that hit Houston. He had been at the shelter for over one year before he came to Camp, and it was there that one of the Camp’s pet parents adopted him – because he reminded them of their own pup with an underbite. He is now loving life with his sister Maizie at his forever home.
Pretzel was fostered through Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue in Milwaukee and stayed at Camp Bow Wow Waukesha on and off after recovering from an esophagus surgery. He thrived in his time at Camp and even made a best friend there with a golden retriever puppy named Duke. He has since found his new home at K9 Conservationists, where he will live and work as a conservation dog to help gather important information about wolves’ diets!
Zapps came to Camp Bow Wow Covington as a foster when he was four months old. Camp fostered him for several months, where the Covington team fell in love with him – and eventually, a longtime employee adopted him.
Most of these dogs still attend Camp to this day – and as you can see, the staff at Camp Bow Wow has a soft spot for our foster dogs, because we just care about our mission and what we do, especially in each of our own communities. In Judd and Pretzel’s cases, getting them out in front of the locals in their areas was what ended up getting them adopted.
By hosting these foster dogs at Camp Bow Wow, we’re giving them safe and supervised socialization in a way they may not have been able to experience otherwise, making the transition from foster care to forever home much easier. We also have a hand in helping them learn and grow through our many canine enrichment offerings – and while the benefit to these dogs is immeasurable, the fulfillment that we get from helping our foster Campers is, too. These highlights are why these dogs often return to Camp: because we care about our pack, and your dog knows it and feels it, too. If you’ve been interested in potentially adding a furry friend to your family, ask your local Camp Bow Wow if they’re hosting any foster dogs – if not, they can connect you with other locations that might.
But why stop there?
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation’s Foster Grantees
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to helping sick or injured dogs get the care they need without the concern of cost by funding veterinary care and other urgent, desperately needed medical care. We believe every dog deserves a shot at having the best quality life since they add so much to ours – and Bow Wow Buddies Foundation seeks to return the favor.
Shelters can apply for grants from the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, and so far in 2025, 54 shelter dogs have been helped. Among these dogs, $60,500 has been distributed to cover their much needed medical care.
These are some of their stories.
Elena was a foster pup with Tiny N Tall rescue in St. Charles, Illinois when she was diagnosed with valvular pulmonic. As scary as this was, they found she could live a full life with this condition with routine check-ups and a healthy lifestyle. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation was able to provide a medical grant to help offset some of the expense of her initial medical care. Luckily, Elena now has a positive prognosis and was later adopted by her forever family.
Ram is a young homeless dog in Corinth, Mississippi with severe hip dysplasia, which causes major discomfort and will only get worse as time goes on. After being approved as a good candidate for surgery to correct this issue, his pain will be alleviated and vastly improve his quality of life. Several surgeries are involved, which add up quickly. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation was happy to provide the Midsouth Animal Welfare Foundation with a medical grant while they are sheltering Ram and taking care of him during this time. He is expected to make a full recovery and has the chance to be adopted into a loving, caring forever home.Tennessee was hit by a car and then left stranded by his family. After his accident, Tennessee has suffered an injury to one of his back legs and was never the same. He had to get his leg amputated after being picked up by the Dyersburg Dyer County Humane Society in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The shelter needed funding to help him not only be in pain anymore but also to have a better chance of adoption. That’s when the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation stepped in with a medical grant. Tennessee championed through surgery and can now run and play with other dogs. Since his operation, Tennessee has found his forever home with a great family in Memphis.
Bow Wow Buddies Foundation would not be able to give these dogs new life without the support of our generous donors. These grants could mean the difference for many between keeping their best friend and surrendering them because of a lack of means. By keeping this cause alive, together we could help so many more dogs to come.
We care deeply about all dogs, and we know you do too – so if you’re looking for a way to give back with the holiday season coming up, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a great way to give to a truly amazing cause.
There are a few giving initiatives on the horizon, if you’re looking for an excuse to give:
4th Annual “Ultimutt” Online Auction (October 14 - 21): Our Ultimutt Auction kicks off our fall fundraising season. Featuring an exciting and diverse collection of donated items, experiences and services, the auction is a wonderful opportunity for the community to acquire unique goods while directly contributing to our grant program. The auction's success is a key contributor to our annual fundraising efforts to ensure we have the resources available for the busiest times of year.
Holiday Apparel Online Storefront Fundraiser (November 1 - 10[?]): As the holidays approach, our Holiday Apparel online storefront offers a fun and festive way to support our mission. For a limited time we offer exclusive, cozy apparel and accessories. This initiative allows our supporters to wear their passion for animal welfare proudly, knowing that a portion of every purchase goes directly toward helping a dog receive essential medical care.
Giving Tuesday (December 2): Giving Tuesday, held annually the week following Thanksgiving, is a global day of charitable giving that serves as one of our most important fundraising milestones. This initiative is a focused appeal to individuals to make a direct impact for dogs in need. The donations received on this single day are foundational in refilling our grant fund, allowing us to continue distributing grants through the winter and beyond. It’s a powerful moment for our community to join together and affirm that every dog deserves the chance to live a healthy, pain-free life.
So between Lenny and all the other dogs mentioned here who have been helped through our mission: Thank you. We couldn’t change the lives of these dogs without all of the collective support from our own pack.
There are always dogs who need help in your community, so if you feel like something (or someone) is missing from your life: consider adoption and fostering. Our dogs add so much to our lives, and you can add to theirs by being their home. You know it, and they deserve it.
Otherwise, whether it’s giving to the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, fostering a dog near you or even simply volunteering at your local animal shelter or humane society: get involved. Not just to contribute to the cause, but to experience the immense fulfillment that comes with knowing you supported one of our four-legged best friends.
All dogs deserve our love, so let’s give it to them together – not just this month, but always. Let’s defy the odds and be there for them. They all deserve to feel like Happy Campers™.
