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El Camino Dog Rescue

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Okanogan, WA
El Camino Dog Rescue

Volunteer-run rescue helping dumped dogs, surprise litters & pound-bound pups in Okanogan County reach safety through trusted partners.

No buildings, just foster homes. El Camino means “The Way” and for dogs with nowhere else to go, this is their path out

10/31/2026

🐾 THERE’S NO MAGIC BEHIND WHAT I DO. JUST AN INCREDIBLE LITTLE CIRCLE OF PEOPLE. ❤️

I’ve heard it so many times over the years, “Heidi will work her magic!” But here’s the thing. I don’t have magic. I have a very small circle of incredibly dedicated, hardworking people who put boots on the ground to help make things happen.

We don’t have unlimited time, space, or resources. When everyone is full, working, or simply unavailable, there’s only so much we can do. And that’s why we desperately need more people in our community willing to step up.

But what this little circle pulled off over the last 24 hours is a perfect example of just how much a handful of dedicated people can accomplish.

First, a HUGE thank-you to Team Okanogan Animal Rescue for organizing the Big Fix and to everyone involved in making this incredible clinic happen! I can’t even imagine how many hundreds of animals they worked through yesterday or how exhausting that must have been for everyone involved. What an amazing service they provide to this community!

And thank you to everyone who entrusted us with their dogs. An extra thank-you to those who were patient, understanding, and appreciative throughout such a long day. We know it was a lot of waiting, and your kindness and patience meant more than you know.

One thing I’ve learned over the years, through life, business, and especially the rescue world, is the value of keeping your circle small. It’s not about how many people you have in your corner, but the loyalty, work ethic, integrity, and dedication of the people standing beside you. I’ve learned that a small group of genuinely good, hardworking people can accomplish more than a hundred people who are only there when it’s convenient. And I wouldn’t trade this little circle for anything.

Now, let me tell you what this little circle pulled off!

Todd donated his van for 24 hours. Gaby got up early, picked up the van, loaded it with crates, and helped get everything ready for a long night ahead.

I had been coordinating with several dog owners, including complete strangers and people we’d never worked with before, to help get their dogs to the Big Fix so they wouldn’t have to spend the night waiting in line themselves.

By 5:30pm Wednesday evening, Charlotte & Cowboy had 9 dogs loaded up and ready to go. By 6:30 p.m., she was already in line at the Big Fix, prepared to spend the entire night sleeping in a van full of dogs. Her husband slept in another vehicle behind her to help accommodate some crates as well.

Charlotte ❤️

This woman literally donated her back, her sleep, and nearly two entire days of her life to help other people’s animals.

Her & her husband Cowboy spent the entire night in that van, making sure these dogs had the opportunity to get spayed and neutered, rabies & updated vaccines.

And the work didn’t stop when the clinic was over!

Last night Charlotte and her husband met up with all the owners, coordinating pickups, and making sure everyone’s dogs got back where they belong. They didn’t even get the dogs picked up from the clinic until around 7 p.m., and probably didn’t make it home until 9pm.

Think about that for a minute.

From 5:30pm Wednesday evening until approximately 9pm Thursday. All that time, all that work, all that lost sleep, helping people they don’t even know.

FOR FREE.

Nobody is getting paid for any of this. Nobody is obligated to do any of it. These people have their own jobs, families, responsibilities, and lives, yet they continue to give so much of themselves to help animals.

Gaby, Tyler, Todd, Charlotte and Cowboy…
I cannot thank these people enough. I cannot possibly express how much I appreciate the time, energy, physical work, and sacrifices they make for animals, day after day.

And Charlotte, what you just did was nothing short of incredible. You are one seriously dedicated, selfless, and honorable woman. ❤️

If anyone feels like buying Charlotte a coffee, sending her a few bucks for gas, or just showing her a little appreciation for everything she sacrificed to make this happen, I know it would mean a lot.

❤️ Charlotte’s Venmo account is -YOCUM
#3056
And PayPal is
[email protected]

And this is why I keep asking for more people to get involved. We may have a small circle, and we accomplish an unbelievable amount together, but we cannot be everywhere or help every dog without more hands willing to step up.

The magic people think they see? It’s actually a handful of unpaid volunteers working their tails off behind the scenes.

Sometimes the biggest things are accomplished by the smallest circles. 🐾❤️
El Camino Dog Rescue

10/25/2026

🐾 ANOTHER 8 DOGS GET THEIR SECOND CHANCE! ❤️🐾

Another emergency transport, another eight lives given a fresh start!

This one came together out of sheer necessity. With fosters stretched thin, space running out, and dogs urgently needing somewhere to go, we were scrambling to make room and find a way to get these deserving dogs to safety.

Eight adult dogs, all with different stories, but all needing the same thing — a second chance.

🐾 Omak Animal Control had five dogs desperately needing placement. Scarlet, Sky, Max, Duke, and Holly were all waiting for their chance.

🐾 The Tribal Pound had another dog needing placement.

🐾 Pita had been spotted several times roaming the streets of Bridgeport, at serious risk of being hit by a vehicle. Thankfully, ResQ Rita took the time to travel all the way to Bridgeport to safely trap her. It wasn’t long before she discovered Pita actually had an owner. Unfortunately, Pita was quite the escape artist, and her owners realized they simply couldn’t keep her safely contained in their yard. They ultimately made the decision to surrender her.

Rita then brought Pita up to Gaby, where she was fostered for the week while we waited for an opening on transport. Gaby was once again juggling dogs, making room at the last minute, and getting everyone in for vaccinations and deworming just days before transport. We are so grateful for these two ladies, who are always going the extra mile to protect dogs and give them a chance at safer, happier futures!

🐾 Dax, our Doberman, had been abandoned inside a house. Thankfully, the new property owner reached out to Okanogan Valley Veterinary Clinic, who contacted me to see if we could find him a home or get him transferred. Thanks to someone generously stepping forward to cover his neuter, and the wonderful veterinary staff who kept him a couple of extra days until transport could be arranged, Dax was able to make this trip too! And thank you to everyone who stepped up for Dax, from the property owner who cared enough to reach out, to the veterinary staff and the person who helped with his neuter.

❤️ A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN!

🐾 Wet Noses Foster Paws — for squeezing in this emergency load at the last minute, even when we know everyone is already stretched thin. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership!

🚐 Ana and Todd — for making the round-trip transport from Omak to Bremerton. That’s a lot of driving and dedication to give these dogs a chance!

🐾 Team Okanogan Animal Rescue — for helping provide dewormer, vaccines, and food for the dogs. Your continued generosity and support are always appreciated and help make these lifesaving efforts possible!

Eight more adult dogs are now on their way to brighter futures. Not puppies, not easy placements, but adult dogs who deserved every bit of this effort.

These transports don’t happen because of one person or one rescue. They happen because people work together, make room when there isn’t any, drive the miles, open their homes, and refuse to give up on dogs who have nowhere else to go.

Eight lives. Eight second chances. And a whole lot of people to thank. ❤️🐾

El Camino Dog Rescue

10/25/2026

🐾❤️ MEET MURRAY — A FEW BROKEN BONES, BUT A HEART OF GOLD! ❤️🐾

Murray may have a little hop and a skip to his walk, but that doesn’t slow this sweet boy down! At just a year and a half old, he’s already been through more than most dogs experience in a lifetime. Now he just needs a chance to gain some weight, get healthy, and find a loving foster or forever home! ❤️

Murray was found all alone, high up in the mountains, severely underweight and appearing to be injured. After X-rays, we discovered several old, healed broken bones in unusual places on his legs. The veterinarian doesn’t believe these are typical fractures from being hit by a car. The bones have healed, leaving Murray with his own unique little hop and skip.

We also noticed something concerning while cleaning his kennel. Murray is afraid of anyone holding a shovel. Between that reaction and the unusual locations of his old fractures, we have our suspicions about what may have happened to him. Of course, we’ll never know for certain.

But whatever Murray has been through, it certainly hasn’t broken his spirit! He’s an absolute love bug who just wants affection, companionship, and someone to call his own.

🐾 MURRAY NEEDS A WINTER FOSTER OR FOREVER HOME!

He’s currently being cared for in an outdoor kennel, and with winter approaching, we’d love nothing more than to get him indoors, where he can gain some much-needed weight, build his strength, and enjoy a warm, comfortable place to rest.

Because of his old injuries, a quieter home would be best. We don’t want him getting too rowdy with a large pack of dogs and ending up sore. One gentle canine companion or a loving human buddy would be just perfect!

We’re not looking for an adoption fee. We’re looking for the right home for Murray. Whether that’s his forever family or someone willing to open their home for the winter, what matters most is giving this boy the comfort and love he deserves.

His bones may have healed but his heart is pure gold. 💛

Can you give Murray a soft place to land and a chance at the life he deserves?

Please reach out if you can foster or adopt Murray. And if you can’t, please share his story. Somewhere out there is the person he’s been waiting for. 🐾

❤️ El Camino Dog Rescue

If you'd like to see Murray's adorable little skippy jump for yourself, just send us a message! We'd be happy to share videos of him with anyone interested in fostering or giving him a forever home. ❤️�

10/21/2026

🐾 WINTER FOSTERS OR FOREVER HOMES NEEDED! 🐾

With winter approaching, we are looking for temporary winter fosters or forever homes for several of our dogs currently being cared for in outdoor kennels in Omak.

Just like our girl Molly here! She’s a 3 years old female pitty mix mix and an absolute sweetheart who would love a warm home to spend the winter in, or better yet, a forever home!

Unfortunately, these are breeds and mixes that we have difficulty placing with our rescue transfer partners, leaving us with limited options for finding them homes.

❤️ All of our girls are spayed and up to date on vaccinations!

We’re hoping to find loving homes willing to welcome them in for a couple of winter months or permanently. And if you decide to foster one of these girls and discover she’s the perfect fit for your family, we’ll waive her adoption fee! ❤️

📍 Currently fostered in Omak, WA.

Meet and greets can be arranged throughout Okanogan County, including Oroville and surrounding areas, as well as the Wenatchee area. You must be willing to travel for a meet and greet.

Even a temporary home for the winter would make a world of difference for these girls!

Please reach out if you can foster or are interested in adopting! 🐾❤️

10/16/2026

🐾❤️ SAVED BY THE BELL! SAMMY GOT A SECOND LEASE ON LIFE! ❤️🐾

Sammy was running out of time at the pound, and we were racing against the clock to find him a home before it was too late.

And then along came my new friend Renee! ❤️

Renee reached out to me about Sammy and was ready to give him a home right away! Sometimes things just fall perfectly into place.

Renee is retired, has experience with Sammy’s mix of breeds, and has all the time in the world to give him the love and attention he deserves. And the best part? Sammy has a new doggy sister! 🐶❤️

The two had a meet and greet and hit it off! We couldn’t have asked for a better start to his new life.

From sitting in a pound with his time running out to having a loving mama, a new sister, and a home to call his own. This is exactly why we do what we do!

Sammy, you have no idea how close you came to never getting this chance. Now you get to live the life you always deserved. ❤️

Happy tails, sweet boy! 🐾❤️

10/15/2026

🐾❄️ URGENT: TEMPORARY WINTER FOSTER HOMES NEEDED! ❄️🐾

As the temperatures continue to drop, we’re hoping to find temporary winter foster homes for some of our long-term residents who are unable to transfer to our rescue partners.

Over the past couple of months, Gaby has taken in a few dogs who, for various reasons, cannot be transferred and are currently staying in outdoor kennels. While their kennels are protected from the wind and equipped with heat lamps, straw, and other winter preparations, we would much rather see these girls spending the cold winter months inside a warm home. ❤️

We’re looking for people willing to open their homes temporarily until the weather warms up and the dogs can return to Gaby’s care.

Not only would this give them a warm place to spend the winter, but it would also give them an opportunity to experience indoor living, learn household routines, receive more one-on-one attention, and enjoy the comforts of being part of a family.

🐶 A little about the dogs needing winter fosters:

* ALL of the dogs are FEMALES, and ALL are SPAYED!
* All are large dogs ranging from 1 to 6 years old.
* Securely fenced yards are required for safe potty breaks and outdoor time.
* Most would do best in homes without cats.
* Some have not been tested with small dogs.
* Meet and greets can be arranged for homes with other dogs.

We can provide individual profiles and help match you with a dog that would be the best fit for your household.

This is a temporary winter commitment, not a permanent adoption. We’re simply hoping to give these girls a warmer, more comfortable place to stay while also helping them gain valuable experience living inside a home.

❤️ Winter is coming quickly, and we’d love to get these girls settled before the temperatures drop any further!

If you have a little extra room in your home and heart this winter, please reach out! Even a few months in a loving home could make a tremendous difference in their lives.

🐾 Please share! Someone out there may have the perfect warm spot for one of these girls. ❤️

10/12/2026

🐾❤️ TWO DAYS, TWO TRANSPORTS, 19 DOGS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE! ❤️🐾
El Camino Dog Rescue

SATURDAY: 16 DOGS
SUNDAY: 3 DOGS
TOTAL: 19 DOGS! 🐶🚐

What a weekend! Between phone calls, last-minute changes, coordinating drivers, and juggling schedules, we managed another successful weekend of rescue transports!

A special thank-you to Wet Noses Foster Paws for working with me on a daily basis and continually opening their doors to so many dogs from Okanogan County. Their dedication and willingness to take in these dogs have helped save countless lives, and I couldn’t be more grateful for our partnership! ❤️🐾

WHY DO WE NEED SO MANY TRANSPORTS?

We typically coordinate two to three rescue transports every month, sometimes more, because there aren’t enough volunteer foster homes in Okanogan County to keep up with the number of dogs needing help.

Without local fosters, we rely on rescue partners with available space, foster homes, and resources. Every transport requires drivers, vehicles, fuel, coordination, and countless hours of behind-the-scenes work.

More volunteer drivers and foster homes would make an enormous difference!

🐾 HERE’S WHO MADE IT TO SAFETY THIS WEEKEND!

A whole bunch of adorable puppies from several different litters, a mama and her babies, a giant 140-pound Anatolian Shepherd, an eight-year-old fluffy sweetheart, and a handful of other four-legged cuties of all ages and sizes! ❤️🐶

Quite the variety of personalities, paws, and wagging tails packed into one busy weekend!

This weekend was a mix of transports, and I also helped some of our rescue friends in Grant County, including Annette Hernandez from
Columbia Basin Rescue and her fosters, Amanda with Safe Haven Animal Rescue and Resources and her rescues, Stephanie and Martina with a dog Team Okanogan helped rescue, and other rescue groups.

I helped coordinate dogs coming from multiple locations, along with six additional drivers helping get their foster dogs where they needed to go.

It was a huge logistical puzzle, but everything came together! ❤️🐾

❤️ A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR DRIVERS!

Todd, what would we do without you?!

Todd handles probably 99% of our transports from Omak to Cle Elum. He volunteers his time, provides his big van, and pays for his own gas. He never asks for anything in return—he simply shows up and gets the dogs safely where they need to go.

People like Todd are priceless in rescue. ❤️

Ana, our amazing volunteer driver with Wet Nose Foster Paws, drives from Tacoma to Cle Elum. She drove both Saturday and Sunday, including a second trip for just three dogs because that’s what we needed to make the transport work.

Thank you, Ana, for always showing up for the dogs! ❤️

NOW, OKANOGAN COUNTY, I NEED TO ASK FOR A LITTLE HELP! 🚐🐾

We desperately need more volunteer transport drivers.

When I put out an SOS for a Saturday morning driver, Todd is often the only person available. While he would probably drive every dog in Okanogan County to safety if he could, I’d love to give him a break once in a while!

Not every transport requires a large van. Sometimes it’s just two, three, or four dogs, and smaller groups can often fit in a regular vehicle.

I’m not asking anyone to commit to every weekend. I’m hoping to build a list of people I can contact when help is needed. Even occasional availability would make a difference.

If you can drive from Omak to Cle Elum, even occasionally, PLEASE message me!

🐾 THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MAKES THIS POSSIBLE!

Thank you to Team Okanogan Animal Rescue for helping provide vaccines, deworming, dog food, and other necessities.

Thank you to the tribal pound and the other pounds and organizations that work with us to get dogs to safety.

And thank you to every rescue, foster, volunteer, and driver who helps make these transports happen.

Last year, we helped transfer approximately 850 dogs. We may not reach that number this year, but the need has not slowed down.

If you have a dog needing help, you’re welcome to reach out. Our transfer program does have limitations. Dogs must generally be social with people and other dogs and pass the necessary assessments. Certain breeds, ages, medical conditions, and behavioral concerns may limit what our rescue partners can accept.

I wish I could help every dog, but we can only take in as many as our receiving rescues have the space and resources to accommodate.

❤️ THE BIG FIX IS COMING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH! ❤️

PLEASE make plans to attend if your animals need to be spayed or neutered!

Take time off work if necessary and make arrangements ahead of time. You may have to get in line the night before and sleep in your vehicle, but it is worth it!

We cannot rescue our way out of this overpopulation crisis.

There are not enough adopters, fosters, rescues, or available homes in our county to keep up with the number of unwanted puppies and kittens being born. Rescue volunteers are exhausted and constantly scrambling for transportation, funding, fosters, and placement.

Every litter prevented means fewer animals entering an already overwhelmed rescue system.

Spaying and neutering your pets is one of the most important ways you can help. Our community must be part of the solution instead of relying on rescues to handle the consequences.

19 dogs got their second chance this weekend because people worked together. Imagine what we could accomplish if even more of our community stepped up. ❤️🐾

— Heidi
El Camino Dog Rescue

10/11/2026

Update…he has a home!!
❤️ MEET SAMMY! ❤️

This handsome boy is sitting in the pound waiting for someone to give him a chance. Unfortunately, Sammy is not a dog we’re able to transfer to our rescue partners, which means finding him a home locally is his best chance at getting out. And unfortunately, time is not on his side. 💔

We believe Sammy is around a year and a half old. He’s an incredibly sweet, friendly, pretty chill boy who just wants someone to love him!

🐾 He’s had meet and greets with female dogs and has done great!

🐾 We’re not sure yet if he’s dog selective. The only male he’s been around was an intact male who was dog selective himself, so that wasn’t a fair way to judge him.

🐾 If you have a male dog at home, we would definitely want to arrange a meet and greet first.

🐾 We can arrange meet and greets anywhere from Oroville to Wenatchee!

I also have videos of Sammy interacting with a female dog that I’m happy to share!

We would really love to see Sammy get the happy ending he deserves. He’s a wonderful dog who deserves so much more than sitting in a pound, and we don’t know how much longer we have to find him that chance. 💔

If you’re interested in giving Sammy a home, please reach out to us here El Camino Dog Rescue for an adoption application.

Please share! Sometimes all it takes is the right person seeing a post to completely change a dog’s life. ❤️🐾

10/03/2026

❤️🐾 EL CAMINO DOG RESCUE 🐾❤️

FROM THE POUND TO THE PERFECT HOME — BOSCO GOT HIS MIRACLE!

Just yesterday, I posted Bosco on my personal page hoping the right person might see him.

Bosco had been sitting in the pound for quite a while, and his time there was becoming very limited. Unfortunately, because he is a Rottweiler, he isn’t a dog that I can transfer through my regular rescue partners. That left us needing to find another way to give this amazing boy his second chance — and we needed to do it quickly.

Well, sometimes the right person sees the right dog at exactly the right time. ❤️

One of my friends saw Bosco’s post and immediately reached out. Their family has owned and loved several Rottweilers over the years, and sadly, they had just lost their longtime Rottweiler, Boomer, only a few days ago.

When they saw Bosco, something just felt meant to be.

They have hearts of gold and decided they wanted to open their home and give this boy the life he has always deserved.

And we couldn’t have asked for a better match.

Bosco is an AMAZING dog. He’s one of the most chill, sweet dogs we’ve come across, and he has already fallen in love with their granddaughter. He’s gone from sitting in the pound with an uncertain future to living the life of luxury with a family who already absolutely adores him. 🥹❤️

Of course, it still took a village to get him there.

A huge thank you to Gaby for taking Bosco in overnight so we could get everything lined up, and to Todd for driving him from Omak to Wells Dam this morning. My friends Kirby and Gail drove over the mountains to meet Todd and bring their new boy home.

In less than 24 hours, everyone came together and changed the entire course of Bosco’s life.

THIS is rescue.

Not every dog in Okanogan County fits the criteria of our transfer partners. Sometimes it’s their breed. Sometimes they’re dog-selective. Sometimes there are other circumstances that mean we have to find a different path.

That’s why I am so grateful for every single person who follows our page, shares our dogs, watches for the ones who need help and steps forward when they can. You never know when one share, one message or one person saying “I’ll take him” is going to be what saves a dog just in time.

Yesterday Bosco was waiting in the pound.

Today, he’s HOME. ❤️

What an incredible second chance for one very deserving boy.

This is the El Camino way.

🐾❤️ EL CAMINO DOG RESCUE ❤️🐾
The Way • The Path

10/01/2026

20 MORE LIVES HEADED TO SAFETY TODAY ❤️

Today’s transport included a mama dog with her 10 tiny puppies who were born just 24 hours ago, another mama with 4 puppies, a pregnant mama, a little Chihuahua mix, and two adult dogs whose owner had passed away and someone reached out to us for help.

20 lives total.

The mama with the 10 newborn puppies belonged to someone who is currently homeless and simply did not have the means to safely house, feed, or care for a mama and ten newborn babies. She recognized that she needed help and did the right thing by reaching out.

We are incredibly grateful for people who recognize when they are in a situation where they cannot provide what their animals need and ask for help. Sometimes circumstances change overnight, and reaching out can be the very thing that gives these dogs a safe future.

The two adult dogs were facing a completely different situation after their owner passed away. Thankfully, someone stepped up, reached out to us, and made sure they weren’t left behind.

The last couple of days have been an absolute whirlwind. We are constantly juggling dogs, last minute emergencies, transportation, kennel space, and trying to figure out how to make room for just one more.

A huge thank you to Gaby, who is constantly rearranging everything on her end and somehow finding space for another last minute overnight slumber party before transport day. So many of these dogs need somewhere safe to land for a night or two before we can get them on the road, and she continues to make it work even when we are already stretched thin.

And I really cannot thank Todd enough. Nowadays, Todd is doing probably 95% of the driving for our transports, week after week, getting these dogs out of Okanogan County and meeting up with Wet Nose Foster Paws and their volunteers on the other side. These are long drives, a lot of miles, early mornings, changing plans, and sometimes very little notice. This week was another one of those times where everything came together in about 48 hours, and once again Todd was willing to get behind the wheel and make it happen.

Thank you to Dawn the Wet Nose volunteer for jumping in and helping with the transportation and meeting Todd on the other end and keep this entire chain moving. It really does take people on both sides of the mountains working together to make these transports possible.

And that brings me to Wet Noses Foster Paws. I cannot say enough about what they are doing for Okanogan County. They work with me week after week, continually making room for dogs coming from a county facing a tremendous animal overpopulation problem with painfully limited resources and very few meaningful options available to the people trying to help.

The need here is relentless. Rescues, fosters, drivers, and community members are continually trying to fill gaps that desperately need long term solutions. Without organizations outside of the county continuing to step in and help, I honestly don’t know where many of these dogs would go. Wet Nose has become an incredible lifeline for Okanogan County, and I am so grateful that they continue to work with us and say yes week after week.

Thank you to Team Okanogan Animal Rescue for continuing to provide funding for vaccines, dewormer, and other necessities that help us keep these dogs healthy and safely moving forward.

And a huge thank you to Barbara for meeting Gaby at North 40 and getting her a big load of pine shavings. Those were badly needed and very much appreciated.

We could still really use straw for winter. Gaby has a couple of dogs who cannot be transferred and may be with her for quite a while until we can find the right adopters. Charlotte also has the injured dog who was picked up yesterday and may be in her care for some time while we figure out what he needs and what comes next.

We would really like to get both Gaby and Charlotte stocked with straw before the cold weather arrives. If anyone would like to help, you can meet either of them at a local feed store and purchase a few bales of straw directly. Every little bit helps us keep these dogs warm and comfortable through the colder months.

Another 20 lives given a chance today. ❤️

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