Paws of Hope Animal Rescue

09/16/2025

09/16/2025

✨ Today we were honored to receive a wonderful donation from a past cat rescue we had the privilege of assisting. We are endlessly grateful for the support and generosity that helps us continue our mission. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 💛🐾 🐈

09/15/2025

🥤✨ Turn your cans into hope! 🐾💙
Yes—we gladly accept your empty, clean drinking cans (pop, beer, etc.)!

👉 Drop them off with a member of our team, or message us and we’ll even arrange pickup.
Every bag of cans helps us buy the food, supplies, and gear we need to bring lost pets safely home.

It may look like just a bag of cans to you… but to us (and the animals) it’s a bag full of HOPE. 🐶🐱

09/15/2025

✈️ Bailey’s Grand Tour: Officially Closed ✈️

After a week-long adventure, Bailey’s travel plans have come to an end. Her itinerary included:🐾 A few days of complete hide-and-seek🐾 Some off-the-grid exploring🐾 And finally, a surprise reappearance this morning!

This afternoon, with a perfectly laid scent trail, a treat buffet, and the trusty Tomahawk 610D, her vacation was officially over. 😅

Welcome home, Bailey—you sure know how to keep us guessing! 💕

09/14/2025

🐾 Important Reminder About Lost Pet Forms 🐾

We completely understand the desire to help a friend or family member search for their missing pet—it comes from a place of love and care. 💛 However, we kindly ask that only the pet’s owner fills out our Missing Pet Form.

Lately, we’ve been receiving multiple messages and emails from different people about the same animal. While we truly appreciate the concern, this creates extra work for our team as we have to sort through duplicates instead of focusing on helping the pet as quickly as possible.

👉 Once the owner has filled out the form, there is no need to send additional messages unless you haven’t heard back from us. Rest assured—we see your submission and will respond as soon as we can.

Thank you for understanding and helping us keep the process organized so we can do what we do best: bring pets home safely. 💕🐾

09/11/2025

🔥🐾 Help Us Restock Our Scent Trail Supplies! 🐾🔥

When it comes to tracking down lost pets, it’s all about the smell! 👃✨ Our scent trails are made from a “secret recipe” of strong-smelling goodies that help guide frightened pets back toward safety.

Right now, our cupboard is running low, and we could use your help stocking up on the essentials that make our trails so effective:

🛒 Scent Trail Staples:
• BBQ sauce
• Broths (chicken, beef, vegetable)
• Parmesan cheese
• Liquid smoke
• Worcestershire sauce

These items may not sound glamorous, but they are lifesavers when it comes to turning and keeping us for pets in need. 💖

Donations can be dropped off or ordered online and shipped directly to us. Every bottle, jar, and packet helps us bring more pets home where they belong. 🐶🐱

09/10/2025

🎉🐾 We are so lucky to have such an amazing community of supporters! 🐾🎉

Our friends at Up-Down Des Moines hosted Coins for a Cause on September 3rd, and every single token sold from 5–10 PM was donated directly to Paws of Hope! 💙

Thanks to their generosity (and everyone who came out to play games for good), more lost and abandoned pets will have the chance at a brighter future. 🐶🐱

Thank you, Up-Down, and thank YOU to everyone who showed up to support our mission. Together, we are turning and .

09/09/2025

At Paws of Hope, every rescue we do is an opportunity to educate. Our posts are never meant to be degrading—each story is shared to inform, inspire, and highlight safe, compassionate practices for lost and wandering animals.

09/09/2025

🐾✨ Our Trapping Toolbox ✨🐾

Ever wonder how Paws of Hope safely brings lost dogs home? It’s not magic—it’s a mix of patience, strategy, and a few trusted tools we never leave home without. But the most important part of every rescue is our dedicated and highly skilled team, who bring years of experience and compassion to every mission. 💙

Here are some of the supplies we rely on:

🔹 Tomahawk Traps – Sturdy, reliable, and lifesaving. These traps give us a safe way to contain scared pups without causing them harm.

🔹 Cameras – Our “eyes in the field.” They let us know if a dog is visiting a feeding station or checking out a trap when no one’s around.

🔹 Smelly Food & Scent Spray – Rotisserie chicken, sardines, or canned dog food… plus our special scent spray, a combination of smelly liquids designed to attract lost dogs from a distance. 🐟🥫 These scents help lure dogs who are too scared to approach people.

🔹 Blankets & Towels – Not just for comfort. We use them to cover traps once a dog is inside, helping them feel calmer and less exposed.

Every rescue is different, but with the right tools and the steady hands of our experienced team, we’re able to turn fear into safety and give lost dogs the chance to find their way home. 🐶❤️

09/09/2025

🐾✨ Teaching Tuesday: Safe & Secure Walks ✨🐾

When walking a dog—especially a new rescue, a nervous pup, or a known flight risk—safety always comes first! Two simple tools can make a huge difference in preventing escapes:

🔹 Martingale Collars
Unlike standard collars, martingales gently tighten if a dog tries to back out, keeping them from slipping free. They’re especially helpful for dogs with narrow heads (like greyhounds or shepherd mixes) or anxious pups who spook easily. Bonus—they’re comfortable and sit nicely without choking when fitted correctly.

🔹 Double Leashing
One leash on the martingale, one on a backup harness = peace of mind! If one fails or a dog wiggles loose, the second leash keeps them safe. Think of it as a seatbelt and airbag—extra protection you hope you don’t need, but you’ll be glad to have.

👉 Together, martingale collars + double leashing give dogs freedom to explore while keeping them safe by your side.

💡 It can be a true lifesaver!