Ruff Draft Inc. Dog Rescue NFP

08/19/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: The Arizona Litter 🩵… FROM ALABAMA. 🐾

Nope, they’ve never been to Arizona. 😂 They just needed names, and apparently we were feeling a little Southwest that day.

Meet Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Prescott, Gilbert, Sedona, Yuma & Tucson — eight babies who made their way to us from Alabama when they were just 8 weeks old.

🏈 THE BOYS: Phoenix • Glendale • Chandler • Prescott • Gilbert
🎀 THE GIRLS: Sedona • Yuma • Tucson

Most of the crew has beautiful tan, brown and rusty-colored coats, while a few clearly decided they needed to stand out from their siblings.

When these babies arrived, they were labeled as Pit mixes, and that's what we've continued to call them. We try really hard not to slap a more "adoptable" breed label on a dog just because it sounds better.

But now that they're getting older and filling out...

👀 We have to admit—they're looking surprisingly Lab-ish.

Will DNA eventually tell us they're 17 different breeds and exactly 3% Lab? Entirely possible. 😂 Rescue genetics love to keep us humble.

So for now, Pit mix / mixed breed is our best guess. What we can tell you with confidence is that this crew is outgoing, social, happy and ready to find their forever teams.

They've been growing up in rescue long enough. It's time for these Arizona babies to get drafted. 🏈❤️

📍 Alabama born. Illinois fostered. Arizona themed. Forever home TBD.

Dogs first. Always.

08/18/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: Luna 🩵

Luna is the kind of girl who’s ready to leave her stray days behind and settle into the safe, loved life she always deserved.

Meet Luna, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois/Husky mix with a whole lot of heart and a fresh start ahead of her.

Luna’s story started with a neighbor noticing her wandering loose and posting about her on Facebook. That’s when someone commented that this wasn’t the first time she had been found out as a stray. It turned out her original owner had left, and the person caring for her wasn’t able to keep her secure, so Luna kept getting out.

Eventually, Luna’s original owner showed up and surrendered her to the family who had found her. They wanted to help, but with two senior dogs of their own, they weren’t in a position to keep her long term—so Luna made her way to us.

Through all the instability, Luna has stayed a total love bug with people. She’s great with kids and absolutely loves attention.

When it comes to canine teammates, Luna is dog selective. She may do well with the right dog, but introductions matter. Any potential forever home with resident dogs will be required to complete a meet-and-greet with all dogs currently drafted to the team, and an adoption trial will also be required to make sure everyone is truly comfortable together.

One more scouting note: Luna is not recommended for homes with birds or squirrel companions. Her Husky/Malinois instincts are very much aware that those exist. 😂

Luna is ready to trade wandering for belonging and find the forever team that fits her best.

🐾 2 years old
🐾 Belgian Malinois/Husky mix
🐾 Great with kids
🐾 Dog selective
🐾 Resident-dog meet & greet required
🐾 Adoption trial required
🐾 Professional love bug
🐾 No birds or squirrel roommates, please

Breed is our best guess based on physical traits and observed features and is never guaranteed.

08/16/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: Wendy 🩵

156 days.

That’s how long Wendy has been in rescue waiting for someone to draft her onto their forever team.

Wendy’s story began when she was found on March 14 as one of 24 dogs living in an abandoned shop in Houston. She arrived at Ruff Draft on April 15 shy, uncertain, and overwhelmed by a world that was completely new to her.

But over the last 156 days, we’ve gotten to know the wonderfully weird, sweet and hilarious girl hiding underneath that uncertainty.

💦 Wendy LOVES water. Give this girl a kiddie pool and she’ll jump in, dunk herself completely underwater, roll around and live her absolute best life.

🫧 She recently discovered bubbles and has decided her new personal mission is catching every single one with her mouth.

🏅 She’s also quite the crate engineer. Wendy figured out that if she launches herself from one end of her crate to the other, she can actually scoot it across the floor until she reaches whatever has caught her attention. 😂 We HIGHLY recommend a sturdy crate without wheels for this girl!

With frequent potty breaks, Wendy keeps her crate clean.

She’s still a little shy when meeting someone new, but she warms up quickly and does wonderfully with kids of all ages, adults, and dogs of all sizes.

And yes… she’s a Husky. She absolutely has opinions and will make sure you hear them when she’s displeased. Thankfully, she’s otherwise a pretty easygoing pup.

Wendy has spent 156 days learning that people can be kind, pools are amazing, bubbles are meant to be eaten, and apparently crates can double as transportation.

Now she needs to learn one more thing:

What it feels like to finally go home.

After 156 days, we think it’s Wendy’s turn to hear…

“Congratulations, Wendy. You’ve been drafted onto your forever team.” 🩵🐾

Ready to meet Wendy? Visit RuffDraftInc.org to apply.

Dogs First. Always.

08/15/2026

🚨 UPDATE — TODAY’S RUNNINGS EVENT IS CANCELED 🚨

Apparently we needed a little more excitement around here. 😂

Good news: No seizures this time! 🎉
Bad news: Jessica got bit serval times on her hands and arms 🫠🐶

She’s been checked out at the hospital and is going to be okay, but her arms and hands are currently not very interested in cooperating. Since we’re already running a little short-handed today, we’re going to cancel today’s adoption event at Runnings in Homer Glen.

BUT — we’ll be back tomorrow! 🏈🐾

📍 Runnings — Homer Glen
📅 Sunday, August 16
⏰ 1–4 PM

Sorry for the last-minute change! Apparently even rescue needs an injury timeout every once in a while. 😂💚

Dogs first. Always. 🐾

08/12/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: Dexter 🩵| THE ONLY MYSTERY LEFT IS WHY HE'S STILL HERE 🖤

If you've been following Dexter since the beginning, you might remember him as one half of Dexter & Deb — the brother-sister duo found abandoned in a neighborhood in San Antonio.

They were just puppies trying to survive until a kind woman stepped in, got them to safety, and helped give them a completely different future.

Well… Deb has moved on to her next chapter.

Dexter is still waiting.

And at this point, the only crime happening here is that nobody has adopted this dog yet. 😂

Dexter has grown into a 36-lb, sleek, handsome little gentleman who is basically everything people tell us they're looking for.

He's easygoing and chill.
He's playful without being completely bananas.
He walks well on a leash.
He's house trained.
He's crate trained.
He's great with kids AND other dogs.

And when the day's activities are over?

Dexter would very much like to cuddle. ❤️

This pit, boxer, husky mix has come a LONG way from the puppy who was abandoned on the streets of San Antonio. He doesn't need someone prepared to take on a chaotic project. He just needs someone who looks at him and realizes that the dog they've been searching for has been sitting here waiting.

🐾 36 lbs with a sleek build
🐾 House trained
🐾 Crate trained
🐾 Walks well on leash
🐾 Great with dogs
🐾 Great with kids
🐾 Playful
🐾 Easygoing & chill
🐾 Major cuddle bug

Dexter's rough opening scene is ancient history.

He's done the character development.
He's learned the house rules.
He's proven he's a very good boy.

Now can somebody PLEASE give this guy his happy ending? 🥹

🏈 Dexter is ready to be drafted onto his forever team.

Also his sister got her DNA results back!
19% American Pit Bull Terrier
16% American Staffordshire Terrier
13% Boxer
5% Rottweiler
1% Bull Terrier
14% Siberian Husky
9% Chow Chow
4% Alaskan Malamute
3% Samoyed
5% Chihuahua
4% Labrador Retriever
4% Catahoula Leopard Dog
2% German Shepherd Dog

08/11/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: Maggie🩵
SHE'S BEEN WAITING LONG ENOUGH

Maggie came to us after being dumped in a neighborhood back in March, just a puppy and far too young to be figuring out life on her own.

Fast-forward a few months, and that scared little stray has grown into a 42-lb absolute sweetheart who has proven over and over again what a fantastic family dog she can be.

And if you're looking for a dog who can actually go places with you? Maggie would like to submit her résumé. 😂

🚗 Car rides? She's a PRO.

Front seat. Back seat.
Rain or shine.
Another dog riding along or flying solo.

Maggie does not care. She hops in, gets comfortable, and just chills.

She's equally impressive on a leash. One of Maggie's regular walking buddies is our 9-year-old Junior Board Member, and watching them together tells you just about everything you need to know.

Maggie doesn't drag her down the sidewalk.
She doesn't try to bolt.
She doesn't turn the walk into an Olympic event.

She walks right beside her, side by side. ❤️

And Maggie LOVES other dogs. Big dogs, little dogs—she's happy to play with everybody. She's playful but tends to be more submissive with her canine friends, making her a pretty easy addition to the group.

🐾 42 lbs
🐾 Fantastic in the car
🐾 Great with kids
🐾 Great with big AND little dogs
🐾 Playful & submissive with other dogs
🐾 Walks beautifully on leash
🐾 Doesn't pull or try to run off
🐾 Sweet, loving & people-oriented
🐾 9-year-old Junior Board Member approved

Maggie's original bio called her our heart player, and honestly?

That hasn't changed.

What HAS changed is that we now know even more about the kind of dog Maggie is—and she has checked box after box after box.

She's spent months showing us that she's ready.

Now she just needs someone to finally choose her. ❤️

🏈 Maggie is ready to be drafted onto her forever team.

DOGS FIRST. ALWAYS.

08/10/2026

🩵 Player Spotlight: Marny 🩵

Born around mid-January, Marny started life as part of one VERY crowded roster.

She arrived at our rescue partner in Texas on March 8 alongside her siblings, mom, aunt, and an entire lineup of cousins after an accidental litter situation left their owner unable to care for everyone.

When they arrived, the puppies were covered in fleas and desperately needed some TLC.

Fast-forward a few months and Marny has left all of that behind.

Now she's just waiting for the part where someone chooses her. ❤️

Marny is sweet, affectionate, people-focused and an absolute sucker for attention. She's happiest when she's close to her humans—getting loved on, following them around, playing, or settling in for some serious cuddle time.

Basically, Marny's love language is:

Please pay attention to Marny. 😂

There is one thing we've learned about her as she's gotten older: some dogs can be a little scary to her.

She's not looking to pick a fight—quite the opposite. Sometimes another dog's personality, energy or approach can simply be a little overwhelming for her.

So if her forever home already has another dog, we'd like to give everyone the best possible chance at success.

🐾 Slow introductions are important.
🐾 And we'd LOVE to do a home-field tryout before making anything official.

Think of it like training camp. 🏈

Marny can spend some time in the potential home, meet the resident dog on their turf, settle in and give everyone a chance to see if the team chemistry is right before committing to the final roster.

Because sometimes you can't tell whether two players work well together from one quick meet-and-greet.

And Marny deserves a match where she feels safe, comfortable and confident.

She's already gone from an overcrowded, flea-covered puppy in Texas to a loved little girl who has learned just how good life can be.

Now she needs the one thing rescue can't give her:

A family that's hers forever. ❤️

🏈 Marny is ready for her home-field tryout. Could your family be her forever team?

08/09/2026

🏈🐾 DID YOU KNOW SUNDAY! 🐾🏈

You see the dogs, adoption photos and events—but there’s a LOT happening behind the scenes at Ruff Draft!

💡 DID YOU KNOW… only THREE board members handle the majority of our rescue’s core operations?

Intakes, photos, adoption listings, events, applications, medications, vaccines, surgery scheduling, transportation, vet appointments, foster coordination… you name it! 😂

💡 DID YOU KNOW… once a dog has been with us for 2 months, we cut their adoption fee IN HALF?

We’d rather take a lower adoption fee and see a dog sleeping in their forever home than keep them in rescue waiting for a higher one.

❤️ Forever homes > adoption fees. Every time.

💡 DID YOU KNOW… we’ve had more than 150 ADOPTIONS since opening in January?! 🤯

That’s 150+ dogs who have traded their rough draft for a forever family!

It also means we need A LOT of names. 😂 Our Name Game Fundraiser lets you submit a future dog’s name for a $5 donation or name an entire themed litter for $20!

💡 DID YOU KNOW… Klaus & Snicket are our longest residents?

The brothers from our Unfortunate Events litter have been with us for FIVE MONTHS.

Five months of watching other dogs get drafted. Five months of events. Five months of waiting for someone to say, “That one. He’s coming home with me.” ❤️

💡 DID YOU KNOW… Ruff Draft is completely foster-based?

Our dogs live in foster homes while waiting for adoption, allowing us to learn their personalities, quirks and what kind of forever family fits them best.

It also means more foster homes = more dogs we can save.

150+ dogs drafted and counting—and tomorrow we’ll wake up and do it all over again. ❤️🏈

DOGS FIRST. ALWAYS.

08/09/2026

The Sacred Becoming is spoiling us once again by leading another puppy yoga! We will be at Rising Lotus Healing Center on Sunday August 23rd!

https://facebook.com/events/s/puppy-yoga-connect-breathe-giv/793891057119077/

08/06/2026

🏈 Welcome to Our Fourth Quarter. 🏈

For most sports teams, the fourth quarter is when you give everything you’ve got to finish strong.

For dog rescue, it’s a little different. It’s still a push… but rescue never ends.

As kids head back to school, families get busy with fall activities, and everyone starts preparing for the holidays, adoptions naturally begin to slow down. But the dogs don’t stop needing us.

The emergency vet visits don’t slow down.
The food bills don’t slow down.
The vaccinations, surgeries, medications, and daily care don’t slow down.
The calls asking us to help dogs in need don’t slow down.

That’s why we’re launching our Fourth Quarter Fund with a goal of $5,000.

This fund will help carry Ruff Draft through the slower adoption season so we’re ready to answer the next emergency, provide the medical care our dogs need, and continue giving every dog the second chance they deserve.

Over the past six months, together we’ve:
🏆 Helped 143 dogs find forever homes.
🐾 Hosted 40+ adoption events.
🚑 Responded to emergency rescues and surgeries.
💚 Partnered with organizations in North Carolina to provide spay/neuter services for community pets.
🧘 Hosted Puppy Yoga.
🐶 And answered countless calls for dogs with nowhere else to turn.

If Ruff Draft has made you smile, inspired you, introduced you to your best friend, or simply reminded you that good people still exist, we’d be honored if you’d help us finish our fourth quarter strong.

Every dollar—whether it’s $5 or $500—helps ensure that when the next dog needs us, we can say YES.

💚 Donate today and help us finish the season strong.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/the-fourth-quarter-fund

Dogs First. Always.

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