Nordic Retreat + Rescue

Nordic Retreat + Rescue Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Nordic Retreat + Rescue, Animal Rescue Service, Minneapolis, MN.

Established in August 2025, Nordic Retreat + Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to rescue and [re]socialize dogs of Nordic descent, get them adopted, and provide classes and therapeutic experiences to the humans who love them! Nordic Retreat + Rescue is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to rescue and [re]socialize dogs of Nordic descent, get them adopted, and provide classes and therapeutic experiences to the humans who love them!

09/03/2026

As much as we love seeing Samoyeds in the spotlight, we're still recovering from the Game of Thrones Husky era in rescue, so we're a little nervous.

A dog is a lifetime commitment, and this special breed takes extra work - enrichment, grooming, training, and more. Before you take the leap, make sure you have the capacity and a full understanding of what it takes to be a successful working dog owner!

Find RESPONSIBLE breeders who care more about the breed than making money by selling puppies.

Need help? We're here to guide you if you have questions about what to look for in a breeder, what to expect with the breed, avoiding mills and irresponsible breeders, and everything in between!

❄ IT'S SNOWING ADOPTIONS ❄Winnie was adopted in June! Here's what her parents Kayla and Zach say about her:Winter (aka w...
09/02/2026

❄ IT'S SNOWING ADOPTIONS ❄

Winnie was adopted in June! Here's what her parents Kayla and Zach say about her:

Winter (aka winnie aka win-win) is the sweetest little goof. She loves snacks, running, a good sploot, chew toys, her platypus stuffy, using her extra-long neck to look upside down at things, playing with her sister peaches, and getting pets from her pawrents. She has settled in great! She already knows sit, down, shake, spin, and wait and is happy and great in her crate at night and when her humans run errands. She is so well behaved (even when her puppy attention span makes it hard!), is a chatty little girl, and has boundless energy (in between really good naps). She is determined to befriend her new cat sister (despite the cat's skepticism of this new wiggly creature).

We love her silliness, her wiggles, her snuggles, how happily she settled into her new home, the hilarity of watching her figure out how to use her dog bed, watching her get compliments from everyone we pass on walks, her excitement every time she sees us, the way she looks like a little seal when she puts her ears down when shes excited, her little fox-jumps into her bed, and her sweet happy personality. She is the best pup in the world and we love her so much!

Congrats Winnie + Fam - we couldn't be happier for you all!

Today we're celebrating Ollie! 💚Sweet Ollie was one of the adult Samoyeds from the Iowa hoarding case earlier this year....
09/01/2026

Today we're celebrating Ollie! 💚

Sweet Ollie was one of the adult Samoyeds from the Iowa hoarding case earlier this year. Everything is new for him, but he is such a good, resilient boy! Here's what his mom says about him:

Ollie’s life as a puppy was not like most dog’s first year. He didn’t know anything else, so he merely survived the best he could. When he arrived at his new home in Burnsville, he had no idea how to act. The house was warm and the kennel had a soft cushion that felt good under his skinny body. He no longer had the tight collar on his neck. Ollie cautiously went outside, but the sights and sounds were so foreign that he would run right back to the safety of his fresh kennel. He seemed to be enjoying this brand-new way of life, but he still kept his guard up. Even though he lacked trust, Ollie’s totally laid-back personality was clearly showing with each passing day. He thoroughly enjoyed just chilling in his kennel, relaxing and sleeping. He barked a couple of times, maybe to just let the world know he had a voice, but Ollie loved to sit back and unwind in his new world.

After 10 weeks of adjusting to his new surroundings, Ollie finally met his soon-to-be life-long friends, Bella and Lily. Bella and Lily are purebred Samoyeds who immediately welcomed him into their backyard. Finally, Ollie was part of a new pack, running, playing, and having fun like any normal dog. Ollie’s 3-month foster status changed to “adopted” when he became part of the Bella & Lily pack.

Ollie is still learning how to be a family dog. He is discovering how to go for walks without being afraid, and he loves going for car rides. Ollie is the sweetest boy and so easy to live with. But his favorite “activity” is still chilling and relaxing in his forever home!

We couldn't be happier for Ollie and his mom Miriam! This special boy is the perfect example of how a little patience and love can change lives!

08/31/2026

There are SO MANY reasons to foster a dog - here are just a few!

Never fostered before? No problem! We give you everything you need to succeed - we have a foster handbook with lots of information and resources, and our team is here to help anytime.

Fostering is a great way to see if a dog is the right fit for you and your home before committing to adoption. We want what's best for you AND the dog.

There are short- and long-term foster opportunities. Ready to jump in? Great! Not so sure? Start with covering for a foster family who's going on a weekend trip. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Learn more at www.nordicretreatandrescue.org/applications!

Happy 🥛Milk Drunk Monday🥛 to all who celebrate! (We definitely do 😆).
08/31/2026

Happy 🥛Milk Drunk Monday🥛 to all who celebrate! (We definitely do 😆).

🍑 LET'S CELEBRATE PEACHES! 🍑Peaches was adopted in June - here's what her mom and dad say about her:We are so lucky to h...
08/30/2026

🍑 LET'S CELEBRATE PEACHES! 🍑

Peaches was adopted in June - here's what her mom and dad say about her:

We are so lucky to have found Peaches - each morning she greets us with the softest licks and her little jetplane ears. She is such a gentle girl who loves a good snuggle (and perhaps even more, she loves a good play with her sister Winnie, or a dig in the backyard).

She's graduated from small under the bed zoomies to big yard zoomies with her (adopted) sister Poppy. Her other (adopted) sister (miss old lady Bailey) is teaching Peaches the art of napping (though she seems to have it down quite well). Bailey has mastered finding the most comfy spots on the couch and making use of the blankets and pillows - I'm sure she'll teach Peaches well.

Our pre-crate bedtime snuggles, where Peaches stretches on on the bed while we read or doomscroll, are the highlight of my day. Perhaps not hers - I think that is breakfast and dinner. We'll strive to be as exciting as her food. :)

She is our little shadow as we move around the house, and we adore her. I can't imagine not having her around. It's been so fun watching Peaches grow more confident, I can't wait for all the adventures we'll have together. She already holds our hearts, we love her to pieces. 💚

Congrats, Peaches + family!

, we're so sorry that we've been MIA lately...but we have 6 little puppy-sized reasons for it!When we first rescued Her...
08/28/2026

, we're so sorry that we've been MIA lately...but we have 6 little puppy-sized reasons for it!

When we first rescued Hera and her 5 older pups, we had a hunch that she was pregnant...and she was! She recently gave birth to 6 beautiful puppies - 1 girl and 5 boys. We'll share more about them over the next few weeks, but first...

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Our supplies need to be replenished and we need to prepare for these rapidly-growing babies.

NR+R PUPPY WISH LIST
https://a.co/061Tpl4i

NR+R RESCUE SUPPLY WISH LIST
https://a.co/0hiHaHeC

GENERAL DONATIONS
https://www.nordicretreatandrescue.org/giving-page-1-1

Perfect boy Polo (saved from euthanasia 2 weeks ago) is making himself comfortable at our HQ!He would like to cuddle or ...
08/16/2026

Perfect boy Polo (saved from euthanasia 2 weeks ago) is making himself comfortable at our HQ!

He would like to cuddle or at the very least be near you all the time, but he has also embraced having some crate time! Separation anxiety? We don’t know her.

He is such an amazing dog! Just look at that happy face 💚

Koho DeVaal Knutson🌈 November 5, 2010 - August 10, 2026 🌈Nordic Nation grieves again. Resident dog Koho, our founder's f...
08/11/2026

Koho DeVaal Knutson
🌈 November 5, 2010 - August 10, 2026 🌈

Nordic Nation grieves again.

Resident dog Koho, our founder's first dog, first Nordic breed, and first true love, crossed over the rainbow bridge after almost 16 years. He went peacefully in his sleep, on cozy blankets, laying right next to his mom, and on his own terms.

Though our sadness is overwhelming, we are reminded of why we do this work: to prioritize the animal-human connection, and to improve the lives of not just dogs, but the people who love them.

Give those fur babies an extra squish from us today - the days can be long, but the years are so short. 💔

Nordic Nation, we are absolutely gutted to share that one of the Samoyeds we rescued from a hoarding case in Iowa earlie...
08/07/2026

Nordic Nation, we are absolutely gutted to share that one of the Samoyeds we rescued from a hoarding case in Iowa earlier this year crossed over the 🌈 rainbow bridge 🌈 this morning after a short battle with cancer.

Sampson was the dog we didn't have a place for on transport day, but we refused to leave him behind. When we pulled up to Silent Run Adventures, Jack and Kris didn't even hesitate - they took one look at him and said they'd foster him in addition to the other 2 they had already committed to taking.

Sampson was a sweetheart from the very beginning, and was an absolute joy to interact with. We think to Kris, he was something of a soul dog...one that really just gets you and connects with you in an almost inexplicable way.

Sampson was recently diagnosed with soft-tissue sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. A malignant tumor appeared and despite the efforts of multiple vets, it was aggressive, had no great options for treatment, and he deteriorated quickly. He passed this morning, peacefully, head in his mom's lap. If there was ever a good way to go, we think that was it for Sampson.

Within the heartbreak, we are so grateful that Sampson had almost 5 months with Jack and Kris. He got to experience a whole world he'd never seen before - the comfort of a house, the variety of the farm animals and other furry siblings he gained, and the love and devotion of some of the most dedicated dog lovers we've ever met.

Jack and Kris, thank you for taking a chance on this boy and raising your hands to take on more than you needed to. The care, compassion, and love that you show to every single animal is truly amazing and we couldn't have imagined a better home for Sampson in what ended up being his last months.

Thank you for being a prime example of why rescue is important.



📸: Silent Run Adventures, LLC

Address

Minneapolis, MN

Telephone

+16515097515

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