Dawn Mitchell is a registered nurse, a lifelong advocate for those who need someone to stand up for them, and the founder of Doggone Happy Animal Rescue.

What began as one woman helping one dog grew into a rescue dedicated to giving animals—especially those who are sick, injured, overlooked, or simply out of options—a second chance.

Dawn has always had a particular soft spot for the animals others might consider too difficult.

The ones with medical problems.

The ones who need expensive surgeries.

The ones who have been neglected.

The ones who have been passed over.

The ones who just need someone to say:

“We'll take it from here.”

And that has become the heart of DHAR.

We Do't Give Up Because It's Hard.

We Keep Going Because They Deserve It.

Doggone Happy Animal Rescue is more than a place for animals to wait for adoption.

We are a medical-focused, foster-based rescue committed to helping animals heal—physically and emotionally—and preparing them for the lives they deserve.

Some DHARlings arrive needing little more than a safe place to land.

Others arrive needing surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, specialty veterinary care, months of recovery, or simply time to learn that people can be trusted.

We say yes to the hard cases.

We say yes when the answer isn't easy.

And when a dog has nowhere else to go, we believe that shouldn't mean they have nowhere to go.

From One Dog to a Rescue Family

Over the years, DHAR has grown from Dawn's one-dog-at-a-time mission into a community of foster families, volunteers, veterinarians, supporters, transport partners, and adopters who all believe in the same thing:

Every animal deserves a chance.

Our foster families open their homes.

Our veterinary partners help heal broken bodies.

Our volunteers give their time.

Our donors make lifesaving care possible.

And our adopters give our DHARlings the part we've been working toward all along:

Forever.

Because rescue doesn't end when a dog leaves our care.

That's when the happily-ever-after begins.