Blackberry Point Haven

We’re committed to doing rescue across the U.S—always with compassion, integrity, and in full accordance with the law. With over 60 years of combined experience in veterinary medicine and competition in the horse and canine arenas, we bring a deep understanding and passion to animal care. We frequently receive calls from shelters and individuals in Wisconsin and Illinois who, after breeding their

pets, realize they are unable to care for the resulting litters. When we take in these puppies, we require owners to spay and neuter the parents as a condition of surrender, and we cover the costs to ensure the breeding cycle ends. This is our commitment to responsible rescue and population control. By intervening before puppies end up in shelters, we help protect them from exposure to illnesses like parvo and other diseases common in high-volume environments. However, given our small size and limited resources, we must be selective about the cases we take on. Even so, when we cannot bring puppies into our care, we often direct families to resources and cover spay/neuter costs to make an impact beyond our walls. We recognize that our adoption fees are sometimes higher than others, but this is intentional. These fees discourage resale and ensure adopters are committed to the process. We follow conversation-based adoptions as recommended by the National No Kill Advocacy Guidelines, prioritizing thoughtful matches between pets and families. While some may have differing views, we do this because the costs of rescue often exceed adoption fees, keeping us operating at a deficit. In addition to dogs, we also foster horses, which comes with substantial expenses of its own. In 2024 we became a 501(c)3 rescue. These are crucial steps in strengthening our ability to help animals responsibly. While our preference was to stay off social media, circumstances have made it necessary to share our story more broadly. It’s worth noting that many rescues operate without licenses, which can be verified by checking your state’s licensed dog sellers list online. While a 501(c)(3) is not mandatory, a license is required to place more than 25 dogs annually in states like Wisconsin. Rescue work is as complex as it is rewarding. The animal welfare community is vast, and everyone has their own approach. Our focus is on doing what works best for us and the animals we care for. We encourage you to explore, learn, and choose what aligns with your values—no judgment here. There are many ways to help—this is ours. We may each do things differently, but together, we all play a role in making a difference.