Worthy Dog Rescue, Vienna, VA (2026)

09/02/2026

ADOPTION UPDATE X 2! 💖💖

Bubba and Holly’s mom, Sara, checked in with this heartwarming update…

Bubba was adopted back in 2018. He was an injured dog picked up by animal control, where he had his leg amputated at the shelter. A large brindle bully and tripod, Bubba was the kind of dog many adopters would overlook. But one family saw what we saw and gave him the chance he deserved.

Holly was adopted in 2021. She had been chained, starved, and regularly beaten by her former owner. Holly was terrified and completely shut down when she came to us. But with stability, patience, and love, she has learned that she was safe and flourished as part of a family.

We absolutely love receiving updates like these. They are a wonderful testament to the work we do, but just as importantly, to the incredible support of our community. Our rescue regularly takes in dogs who need extra support, patience, and rehabilitation before they’re ready for their forever homes.

Because of you, dogs like Bubba and Holly get a second chance at the lives they always deserved.

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I’ve been meaning to send you an update on two of my favorite Worthy Dogs, Holly and Bubba. ❤️

They’ve been in my sole care for over a year now, since Amy moved out. I’ve always considered myself more of a small-dog person, but I fell in love with Bubba and Holly from the day I met them. I honestly can’t imagine our family without them.

As you can probably tell from his increasingly gray muzzle, Bubba is an old guy these days, but he still gets around amazingly well on those three legs and doesn’t let his age slow him down much. He is still the same incredibly loyal, gentle, sweet dog he has always been. If you let him, he would happily spend the entire day pressed as tightly against you as physically possible. He is especially bonded with my daughter Kylee and sleeps with her every night.

And Holly has come so far! Her fear of strangers is almost nonexistent now. She warms up to new people much more quickly, and I love that she has learned what to do when she does feel overwhelmed. Instead of becoming overly anxious, she simply removes herself from the situation and heads to my bedroom, which has become her safe, quiet place.

Holly and Bubba are truly best friends. As Bubba has gotten older, I’ve noticed that he seems to look to Holly more and more for companionship, and she absolutely eats that up! They really do seem to take care of one another.

Holly has also become my baby. The bond we’ve developed is hard to describe, but you can see it in her eye contact, the way she follows me around, how well she listens to my commands, and most of all, the trust she has in me now. Knowing where she started makes that trust feel especially meaningful.

One of my favorite things is that there are three people in our house - me, Kelsee, and Kylee - and somehow we each ended up with our own dog to sleep with every night. I never, ever imagined myself having three dogs, but here we are, and I truly wouldn’t change it for the world.

I just wanted you and everyone at Worthy Dog to know that Bubba and Holly are loved beyond measure. They are happy, safe, completely part of our family, and very spoiled, exactly as they should be. ❤️

08/31/2026

🐾 FOSTER OR ADOPTER NEEDED!🐾

This adorable young pup came into rescue after his elderly owner was no longer able to care for him. Wilson has spent the past two months in his South Carolina foster home learning house manners and patiently waiting for a local foster home to open.

He’s ready to make the trip north; he just needs a place to land!

Wilson is everything people love about young dogs: playful, curious, affectionate, full of personality, and adorable…just look at those ears! He’s smart, energetic, and loves to play, explore, solve puzzles, and chase balls. He’d thrive with an active family and ideally another young, playful dog to help burn off some playful energy.

He’s crate trained, doing well with housetraining, and making great progress with his leash skills. Like any young dog, he needs structure, boundaries, daily exercise, and playtime.

And once the zoomies are over, his sweet side shines through. Wilson loves to snuggle, burrow under blankets, and curl up with his people.

If you’re looking for a fun-loving, playful companion and pack member, Wilson is it!

DC metro or Charlotte metro area - Apply today!

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Terrier Mix
Age: 8-9 mos
Weight: 20 lbs
Other: Young, playful, social pup - great with other dogs!
Location: Lake Wylie, SC. Needs a DC metro foster to come to town

08/30/2026

- Yesterday was Transport Day! Worthy Dog welcomed Gordon, Bean, Harley, Coco, and Ellie to town. Transport went smoothly, with new fosters and new photographers stepping up alongside our regular team to help make the day a success.

We’re always looking to grow our team! There are lots of ways to get involved, from fostering to fundraising to photography and more. Learn more about how you can help: https://worthydog.org/volunteer/sign-up/

A special thank you to Rebecca and Sarah for capturing these gorgeous pups, their sweetness, and the positive energy of the day. 📸🐶

Check them out!

- Sarah Thayer Photography, LLC
photo

08/29/2026

Lolli Update! 💕

After her owner passed away, Lolli was given away because her family didn’t want to keep her. 💔 Thankfully, she’s now safe in foster care and showing us what a sweet, easygoing girl she is.

Lolli is house-trained, well-behaved, knows her commands, loves car rides, toys, snuggles, and watching TV. 🥰 She enjoys people and kids and has lived happily with another dog, but she’d also be perfectly content as your one-and-only.

She does have some separation anxiety, but it’s steadily improving as she settles in. She’d do best with someone home much of the day and in a quieter environment.

This scruffy little senior has so much love left to give, and her best days are still ahead. ❤️

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Terrier Mix
Age: ~ 7 years old
Weight: 18-19 lbs
Location: Reston, VA

08/28/2026

Lolli Update! 💕

This sassy budding senior was given away after her owner passed away because the family didn’t want to keep her. It’s sad how disposable dogs can be to some people, but we’re grateful for the chance to help this sweet girl find the loving forever home she truly deserves.

Lolli has fully settled into her local foster home and has proven to be a sweet, well-behaved girl who knows her basic commands. She’s fully housetrained and has never been destructive. She waits to be invited before getting on the furniture, where she’s perfectly content to snuggle and watch TV. She’s also an excellent car rider and always ready to accompany you on local errands. Her favorite activity is playing with her toys, which she often initiates all on her own.

Lolli enjoys meeting new people and has proven to be great around kids. She has lived successfully with another dog, but is perfectly happy as an only dog, having her people all to herself. She does have some separation anxiety in new environments, but the good news is that it has steadily improved as she’s settled into her foster home. She would be happiest in a home where someone is around much of the day.

Overall, Lolli has a laid-back energy level and could happily be an only dog or live with another easygoing pup. She walks nicely on leash without pulling, although she can be barky toward some dogs. She has made friends with several dogs in her foster neighborhood, but she’d do best in a quieter, lower-traffic environment.

This adorable, scruffy girl has so much life and love left to give, and her best days are still ahead. ❤️🐾

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Terrier Mix
Age: ~ 7 years old
Weight: 18-19 lbs
Location: Reston, VA

08/26/2026

ADOPTION UPDATE!!
Trevor’s incredible journey is a testament to how resilient dogs can be when given love, structure, and stability.

Trevor spent his entire life as an outdoor dog; first chained, then confined to a small pen for years in isolation. Sadly, he fell into the hands of a dog fighter who rejected him and even threatened to kill him because Trevor wouldn’t fight. Thankfully, an uncle stepped in and saved his life, but Trevor then spent more than four years confined to an outdoor pen, unaltered and without basic veterinary care.

Despite these terrible conditions, Trevor was a naturally social, loving boy who was clearly meant for something better. After being attacked by another dog and needing medical care, his owner finally surrendered him to rescue, and everything changed.

Trevor was lucky to be fostered by Terri, who gave him the first real home he’s ever known. She expanded his horizons, taking him to work where she supports artists with disabilities, and his calm, affectionate nature made him something of a therapy dog for the community. He became a beloved companion to the staff and artists.

Terri considered adopting, but then we received an application from Elle and David. They could offer Trevor everything we had hoped for: an active family, a pup playmate, a large fenced yard, and humans who work from home who could give him the affection and companionship he had missed for so many years.

They were perfect for Trevor, and Trevor was perfect for them. ❤️

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Elle shared this update: “Trevor is settling in nicely! He achieved lap dog status on Day 1! The boys have been playing TONS. Trevor has a lot of the same characteristics of Brock, our pup who passed a year ago, and he brings our current dog, Buddha, a lot of comfort.

He’s sleeping happily in the crate, hangs out with me in my office during the day, and sleeps in the bed on weekends. He and Buddha played for 45 minutes straight yesterday morning and then slept the whole day!

He’s been an absolute delight. Buddha is overjoyed to have a new dog to run and play with. Trevor is the sweetest, LOVES his cuddles, and has the best temperament.

He’s filled a puzzle piece in our family that’s been so healing for all of us. I LOVE his energy and constant affection. He really is amazing. I’ve heard three times this week, ‘I’m stealing your new dog!’ He has already filled such a big hole in our family that we didn’t recognize we had.”

08/26/2026

🎉🎉🎉ADOPTION UPDATE!!! 🎉🎉🎉

Trevor’s incredible journey is a testament to how resilient dogs can be when given love, structure, and stability.

Trevor spent his entire life as an outdoor dog; first chained, then confined to a small pen for years in isolation. As a young pup, he fell into the hands of a dog fighter who rejected him and even threatened to kill him because Trevor wouldn’t fight.

Thankfully, an uncle stepped in and saved his life, but Trevor then spent more than four years confined to an outdoor pen, unaltered and without basic veterinary care.

Despite these terrible conditions, Trevor was a naturally social, loving boy who was clearly meant for something better. After being attacked by another dog and needing medical care, his owner finally surrendered him to rescue, and everything changed.

Trevor came to town in early March and was lucky enough to be fostered by Terri, who gave him the first real home he had ever known. She expanded his horizons, even taking him to work with her, where his calm, affectionate nature made him something of a therapy dog for a community of artists with disabilities. He became a beloved companion to the staff and artists and even a local celebrity, featured in the studio’s upcoming promotional campaign.

Terri adored Trevor and considered adopting him, but then we received an application from Elle and David. They could offer Trevor everything we had hoped for: an active family, a pup playmate, a large fenced yard, and humans who work from home who could give him the affection and companionship he had missed for so many years.

They were perfect for Trevor, and Trevor was perfect for them. ❤️

************
Elle shared this update:

“The boys’ first two nights have been absolutely wonderful, and Trevor is settling in nicely! He achieved lap dog status on Day 1! The boys have been playing TONS. Trevor has a lot of the same characteristics of Brock, our pup who passed a year ago, and he brings our current dog, Buddha, a lot of comfort.

He’s sleeping happily in the crate, hangs out with me in my office during the day, and sleeps in the bed on weekends. He and Buddha played for 45 minutes straight yesterday morning and then slept the whole day!

He’s been an absolute delight. Buddha is overjoyed to have a new dog to run and play with. Trevor is the sweetest, LOVES his cuddles, and has the best temperament.

He’s filled a puzzle piece in our family that’s been so healing for all of us. I LOVE his energy and constant affection. He really is amazing. I’ve heard three times this week, ‘I’m stealing your new dog!’ He has already filled such a big hole in our family that we didn’t recognize we had.”

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A special Thank You to Sheldon and the animal advocate community in South Carolina who looked out for Trevor, helped improve his living conditions, and stepped in to help when he was surrendered. Your advocacy made this happy ending possible.

Check out the video at the end to see where Trevor started, and just how far he’s come. 💖

08/25/2026

Re-Introducing Sadie! 🐾

Thank you to Sarah Pasco for the great name suggestion! We reviewed all the options to narrow down our favorites, then let Sadie’s foster mom, Ruthann, choose the name she felt fit her best.

We also have some incredible, and completely unexpected, good news to share: after spending her entire life existing in that muddy pen, Sadie is amazingly heartworm negative! 🎉🎉🎉

Our vets estimate Sadie to be about 3 to 4 years old, and she’s currently 10–12 pounds overweight from being overfed and confined for so long.

Sadie has spent the last few nights sleeping in a safe, cool, comfortable foster home, and you can already see how happy she is with her new situation. After everything she’s been through, it’s pretty amazing to watch her discover what life is supposed to feel like.

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Ruthann shared this update:

“Sadie is so sweet and follows me everywhere. She was hesitant to come into the house at first, but now she is very comfortable. She sleeps on the floor beside my bed and wags her big tail every time I talk to her. She is potty trained with no accidents and walks well on a leash.

The only problem I’ve had is getting her into the car, but she rides well once she’s in. I think it’s just a matter of getting used to something new. She eats well and takes treats and pills gently. A keeper for sure!”

See Sadie’s before pic in the comments

08/24/2026

FOSTER OR FOSTER-TO-ADOPT NEEDED! 🐾❤️

This striking young pup came into rescue after his elderly owner was no longer able to care for him. Wilson has spent the past two months in his South Carolina foster home learning the ropes of home life and patiently waiting for a local foster home so we can bring him to Northern Virginia.

He’s ready to make the trip north; he just needs a place to land!

Wilson is everything people love about young dogs: playful, curious, affectionate, full of personality, and adorable…just look at those ears! He’s smart, energetic, and loves to play, explore, solve puzzles, and chase balls. He’d thrive with an active family and ideally another young, playful dog to help burn off some energy.

He’s crate trained, doing well with housetraining, and making great progress with his leash skills. Like any young dog, he needs structure, boundaries, daily exercise, and plenty of mental stimulation.

And once the zoomies are over, his sweet side shines through. Wilson loves to snuggle, burrow under blankets, and curl up with his people.

If you’re looking for a fun-loving, playful companion and pack member, Wilson may be your guy.

DC metro or Charlotte metro area adopters...Apply today!

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Chihuahua/Terrier Mix
Age: 8 mos
Weight: 20 lbs
Other: Young, playful, social pup - great with other dogs!
Location: Lake Wylie, SC. Needs a DC metro foster to come to town.

08/23/2026

ADOPTION UPDATE! 🐾💖

Scottie came to us from the same home where we rescued several other Doodles earlier this year from a backyard breeder. The dogs had escaped the property and were taken in by kind neighbors, who reached out to Worthy Dog for help. They continued to monitor the situation, and months later, Scottie’s owner went to jail, leaving him and another dog, Rosie, behind with no one to care for them. They alerted Animal Control, who stepped in, and Worthy Dog was contacted to help.

Scottie had been living outside, covered in ticks, with no prior vet care. He went to a local South Carolina foster home, where he received the veterinary care he needed and got his first taste of home life before making the trip to Northern Virginia.

Scottie, now Mac, was fortunate to have two potential adopters waiting for him. Michelle and David had been long-time supporters of Worthy Dog but had never fostered or adopted a rescue dog. Allergies are an important consideration in their home, so finding a lower-shedding Doodle mix was important.

They had typically gotten their dogs as puppies, while Mac was a full-grown boy coming from a very isolated life. He needed time, patience, and plenty of positive experiences to adjust to a more active, noisy family life. They worked with a trainer to support his transition, and Mac is now officially part of their pack.

To say Mac’s life has changed is an understatement. He went from a neglected dog living outside on a rural property to a cherished family dog who splits his time between Northern Virginia and his summer home on the lake, enjoying boat rides, big family gatherings, and plenty of dog friends.

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Michelle shared this update:

“We totally missed having a dog. We really thought we’d need two, but with regular planned play dates and other family dog visits, it works well. Since it’s only us, Mac has had to adjust to people instead of his usual pack, so it’s been good for bonding. Training has been helpful, and we are getting there probably faster than it feels!

When people see Mac and interact with him, they’re amazed at how far he’s come.
He does great when he meets visitors on leash, and once he’s released, he goes trolling for pets! It’s been pretty surprising how the leash makes him feel so comfortable. He really does seek people/visitors out for attention now.

One of our friends is very fearful of dogs after being severely bitten several times, but when she came over, she and Mac were introduced and took to each other right away. It was really wonderful to see. We got Mac out on the boat last week, and he did great. He loved the wind in his face. He got a bit squirrelly when we hit some wake, but worked through it and settled pretty quickly.”

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This is exactly the kind of happily-ever-after we hope for every dog who comes into our care ❤️

NOTE: Mac is a Labradoodle, a popular breed mix that people spend thousands to purchase. Yet more and more of these dogs are ending up in rescue. There is a huge market for designer breeds, while backyard breeding remains widespread and largely unregulated, particularly in the South. Too many people breed simply to meet demand without a plan for the dogs they produce, or what happens when owners can no longer care for them. The result is that many of these dogs ultimately need rescue.

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