Worthy Dog Rescue

12/26/2025

Meet Violet!

This adorable little puppy was spotted running as a stray with two other dogs in Prince William County. She was fortunate to be rescued by one of our foster dads who lives in the area. Violet is truly a lucky pup, both for being brought to safety and for gaining immediate entry into our rescue, where we will ensure she finds the very best home.

Her foster dad notified the local shelter and posted across social media, but no one came forward to claim this sweet girl. Violet recently visited our vet, who estimated her to be about 6 months old and weighing 30 lbs. She received a clean bill of health and will be going in for her spay surgery soon.

Violet is currently being fostered with a loving foster mom and dad, a 4-year-old child, and multiple cats. She also enjoys regular playdates with family dogs. Her foster dad is taking her out and about to ensure she gets plenty of socialization so she’ll be ready for her future family. Like most young bullies, Violet is full of energy, but she’s also a total snuggle bug who loves her humans.

We are looking for a fun, active family with a flexible schedule for Violet, someone who is ready to continue the socialization and basic training that all puppies need. Apply today!

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
Age: 6 months
Weight: 30 lbs
Other: Good with kids, cats, and dogs

12/25/2025

Two WDR alums, Hope & Sydney, checking in to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Amid the hustle & bustle of the holidays, Hope & Sydney wish you , full body wiggles, lots of laughter, magical moments, unconditional love, cherished memories, peace and hope in the year ahead. Merry Christmas from ours to yours. 🎄 🎅 🎁

12/25/2025

We love seeing you holiday pup pics!

12/25/2025

ADOPTION UPDATE! 🐾

On this night filled with hope, family, and celebration, we are thrilled to share that our sweet boy Carter has found his forever home.

Carter’s new family generously stepped in to foster him while his foster parents traveled for the holiday. It took just four days for them to realize he was already home for good.

His new mom, Patty, reached out this evening with this update:

“Everyone loves Carter! It feels like he’s been with us forever after only a few days. We went shopping today, and he made so many friends. What do we need to do to keep him? We just love him so much and can’t imagine giving him back.”

Stories like this are what rescue is all about. ❤️

Carter came to us as an abandoned stray, and thanks to the many people who stepped up to help him along the way, he is officially home. 🏠🐾

Merry Christmas!

12/24/2025

🎨🐾 Check out this incredible portrait of Bodie! 🐾🎨

Bodie’s dads were recent winners of our Portraits for Pups fundraiser and chose the amazingly talented Angela Alexander, who has generously donated a portrait to our fundraiser for the past three years. We’re so grateful for her continued support!

Bodie was rescued in 2015 as a young puppy after being found chained to a tree. When his family was forced to move, a compassionate person reached out to our rescue to advocate for him, an act that changed Bodie’s life forever. Today, he’s a pampered, loved family dog and a perfect example of how one person can make all the difference.

Sweet but sassy with the most soulful eyes, Bodie’s personality shines through in this portrait, and we think Angela captured him beautifully.

🎁 Looking for a meaningful holiday gift?

A custom pet portrait from Angela Alexander is perfect for anyone who loves, or has loved, a special dog. Based in Asheville’s River Arts District, Angela has been painting for nearly 20 years and offers GIFT CERTIFICATES too!

Angela Alexander
[email protected]

12/23/2025

🐾 Meet Scooter! 🐾

Scooter is a charming little guy who was found as a stray in Rock Hill, SC and ended up at the county shelter. Thanks to one of our wonderful volunteers, he’s now safe and officially a Worthy Dog.

Scooter is thriving in foster care with Cindy and Paul, where he lives with other dogs and spends lots of time with visiting grandkids. He’s been fantastic with everyone he meets - friendly, social, and always happy to soak up attention. He loves playing with his dog friends (especially a young Frenchie playmate!) but is just as content curling up on the couch for snuggles and belly rubs.

He’s doing great with housetraining, has learned several commands, and has been trustworthy with free roam in the home. Scooter is medium-energy and calm indoors, but he enjoys running zoomies in the yard and going on walks. His leash skills are still a work in progress; he can be barky with some dogs and likes to pull, especially when squirrels are involved. He is making progress but will benefit from continued training.

Scooter would be happiest in a home with another playful dog or an adopter who enjoys being active with him. He’s a sweet, confident, and affectionate companion who truly loves being part of a pack.

📍 Coming to the DC metro area after the holidays/early January

Apply today! - adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Dachshund Mix
Age: ~ 2 years old
Weight: 13 lbs
Other: Good with dogs and kids

12/21/2025

PUPDATES! 🐶🐶🐶

Remember our momma dog Celeste and her two pups, Cenizo and Manchas, who were left behind when their family was suddenly deported? Thankfully, extended family stepped in to keep them safe and reached out to rescue for help. All three have now been fully vetted, and Celeste and Cenizo have settled into their new foster homes.

We are still looking for a foster or adopter for Manchas. 💙

Manchas is a sweet, playful boy and a wonderful family dog. He loves being around his people and absolutely adores kids. He joined his temporary foster mom at her elementary school last week and loved meeting all the “little people.” He’s great with other dogs. too, so a home with a playful canine buddy would be ideal.

Manchas is doing well with potty training, is comfortable in his crate, has good leash manners, and enjoys multiple walks a day. With routine and affection, he continues to blossom.

If you have room in your heart and home for this happy, loving boy, please apply today. 🐾

Adopt.worthydog.org - Option to foster-to-adopt!

Breed: Beagle Mix
Age: 9-10 mos
Weight: 24lbs
Other: Sweet, social boy, good with dogs and kids
Location: Vienna, VA

12/20/2025

PUPDATE! 🐾❤️

Stewie is a social, funny, and affectionate boy, estimated to be 1–2 years old, about 17 lbs, and likely a wire-coat Jack Russell Terrier mix. His scruffy coat and signature “poodle-hawk” tuft make him completely irresistible.

He’s currently being fostered by Gina & Terry with their two dogs. Stewie has become best buddies with their playful pup, AJ (you’ll often find them snuggled together!), while also respecting Lucy’s need for a little space. He does great as part of a pack and even spent Thanksgiving at the family beach house with eight adults and six dogs, where he fit right in.

Stewie warms up quickly to new people and becomes a total Velcro dog once comfortable. During the day, he’s usually curled up napping in Gina’s office, and at bedtime, he happily sleeps with his foster parents and their pack. He’s earned free-roam privileges in his foster home.

Gina describes Stewie as having a medium energy level and being great on leash—he stays close, doesn’t pull much, and is even more confident walking with a dog buddy. He’s crate-trained and almost fully potty-trained, just needing consistent breaks as he finishes mastering his routine.

Stewie would love a home with another young, playful canine companion. This sweet, snuggly boy is ready to blossom in a loving home and bring lots of joy to his people. ❤️

Apply today! adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: Wire Hair Terrier
Age: 1 - 2 years old
Weight: 17lbs
Other: Great with other dogs, best with a playful pup
Location: Herndon, VA

12/18/2025

ADOPTION SUCCESS! 🐾❤️

Bo was an outdoor dog who came into our care after his elderly owner, who suffered from dementia, passed away. As his owner’s health declined, so did Bo’s care. For more than three years, he went without routine veterinary care and arrived unneutered, heartworm positive, and suffering from painful, chronic ear infections.

Having lived outdoors, Bo never knew the comforts of a home or the love of a family. Thanks to a series of dedicated fosters, Bo learned to trust, gained confidence, and made the transition to indoor life. Though anxious at first, his gentle, affectionate nature quickly shone through, and he soon discovered the joys of soft beds, kitchen treats, and squeaky toys (his favorite!).

Dogs like Bo often need a little extra TLC, so we were looking for a proactive care-giving family with the ability to handle a 95-lb dog, a flexible schedule, and ideally a dog buddy. When Jessica and Chris applied, we were thrilled. She’s a nurse, he’s in the Army, they love BIG dogs, and wanted a laid-back, affectionate companion who would fit in with their senior dog and 4-year-old son. Bo had already proven himself to be a gentle giant who’s great with kids.

Bo has been home for almost two weeks and Jessica shared this update:

*“Bo is such a love bug. He came in and jumped right up on the couch and threw me a paw, exactly what we were hoping for. We love that he’s such a Velcro dog, always following us around and quick to hop into our laps for attention. He’s a little nervous but curious about the floors and stairs, loves stealing socks and toys, and is very food-motivated. He’s done great with Aidan, who keeps calling him his big brown dragon (he’s really into dinosaurs/dragons right now).. Bo has tried to eat the Christmas garland and loves all kitchen related activiities. We’ll take such good care of him!”

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We’re so happy to share that Bo will be spending his very first Christmas at home, surrounded by the love of his family. ❤️🎄

12/17/2025

Prior adopters Laci and Zach were recent winners of our Portraits for Pups raffle and chose artist, Jon Clingenpeel (j@jonathanryanart), to create a portrait of their beloved Dexter, who passed away earlier this year. .💔

While we were heartbroken to hear of Dexter’s passing, we were also deeply moved by the life Laci and Zach gave him.

Dexter was one of our true mission dogs. He had spent his entire life chained outdoors, isolated and neglected. When our team first met him, he was shivering from the cold, chewing on a stick, likely out of boredom and hunger. His body told the story of years of neglect: advanced heartworm disease, severely atrophied leg muscles from being confined to a small space, extreme malnourishment, parasites, painful ear infections, and inflamed skin. It was clear he didn’t feel well, yet he soaked up every ounce of kindness and attention we offered.

We took Dexter into our care that day and spent the next 4.5 months focusing on his rehabilitation, getting him healthy, comfortable, and accustomed to life at home.

Dogs like Dexter are not easy to place. He was a senior, and his body reflected the hard life he had endured. It takes special adopters, like Laci and Zach, who see beyond the scars and want to give a dog like Dex the life they always deserved.

They treated Dexter like a prince, and he truly flourished in their home. When Dexter first came into rescue, he didn’t even have the strength to jump onto the couch. Months later, he was running and playing at doggy daycare. He had more toys than he knew what to do with, enjoyed a real-food diet, and even began water therapy to help rebuild his leg strength. He had two adoring parents and a bestie named Cher, a fellow rescue Pittie who taught him how to be a dog.

Dexter’s story is exactly why we do this work, and why families like Laci and Zach mean so much to us.

We are so thankful to Jon for generously donating his time and talent to honor Dexter. The portrait is beautiful, and we truly love it.

12/15/2025

Meet Jack 🐾

Jack’s world changed suddenly when his mom passed away after surgery. Thankfully, he’s now safe in foster care and ready for a new beginning.

Jack is a 63-lb cuddle bug who loves being close to his people—on the couch, in bed, or under the covers. He’s great with kids, cat-friendly, and gets along well with other dogs. He has a moderate energy level, enjoys playtime, and would love a canine buddy.

He’s house-trained, crate-trained, rides great in the car, and is a confident, social boy. Jack is strong and working on leash skills, so he’ll do best with a capable handler who can give him daily walks and structure.

If you’re looking for a loyal, affectionate companion who wants to be by your side, Jack might be your guy. ❤️ Apply today!

adopt.worthydog.org

Breed: American Pitt bull Terrier Mix
Age: 3 years
Weight: 63 lbs
Other: Good with kids, cats, and dogs
Location: Ft. Mill, SC - Coming to DC metro in Jan 2026

12/14/2025

ADOPTION SUCCESS!!! 🐾❤️

This sweet little Yorkie, Hugo, was rescued from animal control after being surrendered in rough shape as a “stray.” He was severely matted and had to be fully shaved down. It was clear he came from a neglectful home where he didn’t get the socialization or love he needed, but those days are long behind him now.

Hugo spent months in foster care, learning to trust humans and build confidence. He was nippy at first and cautious with the other dogs in his foster home. Thanks to the dedication of his foster parents in both South Carolina and Northern Virginia, he made tremendous progress and started to trust again.

Even with that progress, we anticipated some challenges when he moved to a new home, and we wanted seasoned adopters willing to work with him. Many adopters were deterred by the potential nipping or marking issues, but not Jo and her family.

Jo and her family had grown up with dogs but hadn’t had one in adulthood. She sent us a thoughtful message, and after a follow-up video call to discuss Hugo’s quirks and tips for success, they were all in. They really wanted him and we really like their energy for him. We are happy to share that he’s doing well and living his best life with them.

Hugo has been with Jo and her family for almost three weeks now, and here’s what she shared:

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“We just wanted to share how much we’re enjoying Hugo. He’s eating well, going potty regularly, and really trying to take good care of our home. He did great at the vet and has already had his first bath (brushing is still a work in progress 😉).

He is incredibly loving and absolutely loves car rides. He’s also hilarious; he loves car rides and knows exactly when we’re getting ready to go somewhere and tries everything he can to come along. He’s played with all his toys, walks great with us, and does his very best pooping at the dog park.

Hugo has proven himself so much that we’re starting to give him free rein of the house. He’s great with our guests and has clearly bonded with us. We love him very much, and it’s clear he loves us too. Charisa and I are his favorites. He’s been a little nippy with Brad, but took correction very well.

Thank you for believing in us and for giving Hugo the chance to be part of our family. 🐾❤️”

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Hugo’s journey from a stray, fearful dog to a loved family member is exactly why we do what we do.

Congratulations and thank you, Jo and family, for working with this sweet boy and giving him the forever home he deserves!