Northern Lakes Rescue

Northern Lakes Rescue Northern Lakes Rescue is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization that focuses on saving dogs in need.

Northern Lakes Rescue is a foster based rescue that will save dogs everywhere as long as we have a foster that will provide a loving home until their forever home is found. Prior to adoption all animals will be spayed/neutered and up to date on age appropriate vaccines.

Earlier this week, we introduced you to Grimes and Trinity—two of our Angels who watch over us and guide our mission. At...
09/19/2025

Earlier this week, we introduced you to Grimes and Trinity—two of our Angels who watch over us and guide our mission. At the time, we didn’t know if Ruby would be coming into our care. Today, we are overjoyed to share that she will.

We are excited to introduce you to Ruby, a 4-year-old Frenchie whose story is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. She was found wandering alone—starving, covered in fleas, and weighing just over 10 lbs. A compassionate mailman chose to be part of the solution instead of the silence, scooping her up and getting her the help she so desperately needed.

Thanks to the teamwork of Catawba County Animal Services, BISSELL Pet Foundation, APL (Animal Protection League Of McCreary County), Shelter Dog Transport Alliance, Rescue Riders Pet Transport and so many caring hands along the way, Ruby (and friends) will be arriving at Northern Lakes Rescue next week. 🐾💜

Since her rescue, Ruby has already gained a few pounds and now weighs 13.4 lbs. She will soon be placed in a medical foster home and begin a carefully monitored refeed plan. For dogs who have experienced starvation, refeeding must be done slowly and strategically—too much too soon can actually be life-threatening.

Right now, Ruby is stable. But situations can change quickly, and we need to be prepared for potential emergency vetting to stay ahead of the game. That’s where we need your help.

💜 If you’d like to support Ruby and others like her, please donate directly through one of the following secure options:
👉 Shelterluv: https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/nlmn
👉 PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NLR2023
👉 Venmo:
👉 Cuddly: https://cuddly.com/donate/4953450/ruby

⚠️ Please note: Facebook is currently withholding nearly $4,000 in donations from Northern Lakes Rescue. Because of this, we are not using the Facebook donation button at this time.

Every gift ensures Ruby never goes without the medical care, safety, and love she deserves.

Ruby may not know it yet, but an entire community is waiting to welcome her with open arms. 🫶🐾

Hey there, I’m Luca—your future best friend, playmate, and ball-chasing champion. I’m a 3-year-old Aussie Doodle mix, wh...
09/18/2025

Hey there, I’m Luca—your future best friend, playmate, and ball-chasing champion. I’m a 3-year-old Aussie Doodle mix, which means I’m basically the perfect combo of fluffy charm and endless energy.

Let’s get something straight: I love kids and dogs. Like, seriously. If you’ve got them—sign me up. If you don’t, no worries, I’ll happily wait while you work on that whole “family” thing. I’ll even help raise ‘em—think of me as the cool uncle who teaches the kids how to have fun and the other dogs how to keep up with me.

I’m house-trained (most of the time). But listen, if you don’t make sure I did my business outside… that’s on you, buddy. Don’t blame me if I leave you a “surprise.”

I’m also crate-trained, and I don’t mind hanging out in my kennel when it’s chill time. I know my basic commands, I’m e-collar trained, and yes—I sometimes push the limits when I’m excited. But don’t worry, I’m super easy to redirect. Basically, I’m like a kid who asks for one more cookie, then says “okay fine” when you say no.

Oh, and did I mention I’ve got energy for days? A big yard where I can zoom, chase balls, and do my Aussie Doodle thing? DREAM LIFE. I’ll be out there running my laps while you sit back sipping lemonade.

So here’s the deal: My ideal home? A family (bonus points for kids and dogs), plenty of space to run, and humans who understand that I’m part sass, part sweetheart, and 100% lovable.

Tell me about yourself: https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/NLMN-A-2527

🐾 Guess who’s stealing hearts at Northern Lakes Senior Living? 🐾Our very own Noodin (aka Noodles!) made a special visit ...
09/17/2025

🐾 Guess who’s stealing hearts at Northern Lakes Senior Living? 🐾

Our very own Noodin (aka Noodles!) made a special visit a few days ago—and the residents loved him so much they asked if he could come back again! 💕

Noodin isn’t just any dog—he’s Northern Lakes Rescue’s mascot, here to show the world that rescue pups can make a pawsitive difference.

He came from the Lake Traverse Reservation, and when you hear “Rez dog,” “Pitbull mix,” or even just “rescue dog,” too often the world attaches a negative stigma. But Noodin is proof that labels don’t define a soul. ✨

This goofy, lovable boy has overcome barriers and now brings smiles, laughter, and comfort to everyone he meets. From his own rescue journey to spreading joy with seniors, he shows us every single day: rescue dogs matter—and they make the world brighter. 🌎🐶❤️

Learn about our other alum making a pawsitive impact in their communities:

https://www.northernlakesrescue.org/pawsitive-impacts

💔 Help Us Reach Dogs Like Trinity Sooner 💔Every day, there are dogs waiting—hurting—who simply need someone to get to th...
09/15/2025

💔 Help Us Reach Dogs Like Trinity Sooner 💔
Every day, there are dogs waiting—hurting—who simply need someone to get to them in time. Your donations make it possible for us to respond faster, provide emergency care, and give them the chance they deserve. Please consider donating today so that no dog has to wait too long for help.

🌈Meet Trinity:
As we continue to honor the dogs we tried so hard to help but were just a little too late, today we remember Trinity. This brave, beautiful soul passed away on July 5, 2021—but she did not leave this world unloved.

Trinity was the kind of dog who should have been cherished every single day of her life. Instead, she endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of humans who failed her. She was left broken, neglected, and cast aside as though she didn’t matter. But Trinity did matter. To us, she was perfect.

When rescuers finally reached her, they were horrified by the condition she was in. Malnourished, dehydrated, unable to bear weight on one leg, with an old break in her front paw, and so infested with fleas that she was severely anemic—Trinity’s body told the story of years of cruelty and neglect. Her glucose levels dropped dangerously low, and her packed-cell volume was at a life-threatening “1” when she arrived at the hospital. A blood transfusion saved her in the moment, but her fragile body had endured too much for too long.

And yet—Trinity fought. This girl was a warrior.
Despite everything, she clung to life with every ounce of strength she had. She spent her last days in a specialty hospital, surrounded by care, love, and dignity—things she should have always known. For days, she received IV fluids, pain medication, and the best chance we could give her.

Though her time on earth was far too short, Trinity finally left this world not as an afterthought, not as “not good enough”—but as family. She was held, she was cherished, and she was loved.

We will never understand why she had to endure such suffering, but we will forever carry her spirit with us. Trinity’s life is a reminder of both the cruelty that exists and the incredible resilience of the dogs who fight against it.

🐾 Trinity, you are forever part of our pack.

💳 Donate here
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NLR2023
Venmo:
Shelterluv: https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/nlmn

(Please note: We are currently missing over $3,000 from Facebook donations that Meta is holding from, so we are not using the FB donate button at this time.)

Forever loved. Forever remembered. Forever part of our pack. 🌈🐶💜

🌈🐾 National Pet Memorial Day 🐾🌈Today, we pause to remember the dogs who never got the chance to make it to their forever...
09/14/2025

🌈🐾 National Pet Memorial Day 🐾🌈

Today, we pause to remember the dogs who never got the chance to make it to their forever homes, but who will forever be part of our pack. One of our volunteers is creating a mural and memorial wall to honor those we’ve lost too soon. This week, we’ll be sharing some of their stories—because even though they’re no longer with us, their lives still mattered, and their stories deserve to be told. 💔

Meet Grimes.
In September of 2019, Grimes was one of 15 dogs rescued from a dog fighting ring in Grimes County, TX. These dogs were found chained in the woods—abused, flea-infested, bearing wounds from fighting, and carrying the weight of cruelly heavy collars.

Grimes was tagged for transport to Northern Lakes Rescue, and arrangements were made to keep him safe until we could bring him here. But tragically, safety was not what he received. While at a boarding facility, Grimes was attacked by another dog. As a recently trained bait dog, he had been conditioned not to fight back—and so he didn’t. He just endured.

Reports tell us that physical force was used to break up the fight. Grimes was then sedated, doused with bleach, and placed back in his crate—left to suffer instead of being cared for. When rescuers came through later to prepare dogs for health certificates, they found him and rushed him to the vet. Despite their desperate efforts, Grimes passed away on the operating table. 💔

While Grimes never made it here for his forever, his buddy Wishbone did. Today, Wishbone is thriving in his forever home, cherished and adored every single day. His adopter honors Grimes’ memory by giving Wishbone the best life imaginable.

🐾 In Grimes’ honor—and in memory of your own beloved pets—we invite you to skip just one coffee this week, a DoorDash meal, or simply donate $5 to help us continue saving lives. Sometimes, time isn’t on our side, but together, we can fight for as many as possible.

💳 Donate here
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NLR2023
Venmo:
Shelterluv: https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/nlmn

(Please note: We are currently missing over $3,000 from Facebook donations that Meta is holding from, so we are not using the FB donate button at this time.)

Forever loved. Forever remembered. Forever part of our pack. 🌈🐶💜

🔗 Read more here:
https://www.khou.com/article/life/animals/15-dogs-rescued-in-grimes-county/

Meet Hank — a goofy, lovable, 70-pound pup who showed up on a family’s porch one night looking skinny, tired, and desper...
09/10/2025

Meet Hank — a goofy, lovable, 70-pound pup who showed up on a family’s porch one night looking skinny, tired, and desperate for help. Instead of wandering away, he stuck around… and quickly proved he was house-trained, affectionate, and just so ready to belong to someone. 💙

This sweet boy is estimated to be about 1.5 years old, fully vetted, neutered, heartworm negative, and on preventatives. He’s a big baby at heart — energetic, playful, and eager to please. Hank loves car rides with the wind in his face, lounging on the couch with his toys, and being wherever his people are.

✨ What we know about Hank:
Potty trained and does well alone during the day
Doesn’t bark much
Rides like a champ in the car
Affectionate and bonds quickly
Walks on a leash (still learning not to pull)
Loves attention and playtime

💡 What Hank needs:
Hank is still young and full of energy, so he’ll thrive with someone who can give him patience, structure, and training (puppy manners that need polishing!) He may do well as the only dog or with a calm, confident dog who can help him learn boundaries.

Hank’s current family adores him but can’t keep him long-term because their resident pets are stressed. They know Hank deserves the chance to blossom in a forever home. ❤️

👉 Could you open your heart and home to foster — or foster-to-adopt — this sweet boy? Hank just wants to be by your side, learning, growing, and being the goofy, loyal companion he’s meant to be.

📩 Apply or message us if you can help Hank write the next chapter of his story!

https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/NLMN/Dog

🚨 Local Owner Surrender 🚨 Meet Rocky, a 1.5-year-old Catahoula mix. He’s a big, goofy lovebug—full of energy, incredibly...
09/09/2025

🚨 Local Owner Surrender 🚨
Meet Rocky, a 1.5-year-old Catahoula mix. He’s a big, goofy lovebug—full of energy, incredibly affectionate, and ready to find his forever home. Rocky is great with kids—he’s been living with children ages 6 and 8—and absolutely loves toys, fetch, and playtime. He’s potty trained, confident, and not fearful or anxious at all. At night, he’s happiest curled up in blankets, snuggling close to his people.

Rocky would thrive in an active home with a large yard where he can run and play. He’s not kennel trained but does well in a gated area of the house. Ideally, his new home would have either no other dogs or a calm female dog companion, as he doesn’t get along well with male dogs due to dominance issues. He’s shown no aggression toward cats—just some curious sniffing.

This sweet boy is looking for a temporary or forever family who can give him the love, space, and activity he craves. He’s a happy, loving companion who just wants to play hard and snuggle harder. If you’ve got room in your heart and home, Rocky would love to be your next best friend.

Interested in learning more about Rocky?
https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/foster/NLMN/Dog

🐾 From seconds left to forever loved. 🐾In May 2024, Dingo’s life nearly ended in an Alabama shelter when flooding left “...
09/07/2025

🐾 From seconds left to forever loved. 🐾

In May 2024, Dingo’s life nearly ended in an Alabama shelter when flooding left “no space” for the long-time residents. But instead of being another tragic statistic, this goofy boy (affectionately known as Dingus and Deputy Dingo) got his second chance in Minnesota after his foster Chenay tagged him —and he’s been stealing hearts ever since.

Dingo didn’t just find a home; he found a family who made him such an important part of their lives that he was on their wedding invitations, in guest book photos, and even attended the wedding itself. 💍🐾

Even more, instead of gifts, their guests were asked to donate to Northern Lakes Rescue in Dingo’s honor—proof that love doesn’t just save one life, it multiplies. 💕

Join us in congratulating Dingo, Alissa & Travis—may your journey together be filled with endless joy, laughter, and unconditional love. 🥂🐶

✨ Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa & Rick ✨Why do they get one post instead of two? Because if you see one… you’re almost gu...
09/06/2025

✨ Volunteer Spotlight: Melissa & Rick ✨

Why do they get one post instead of two? Because if you see one… you’re almost guaranteed to see the other. They’re the ultimate rescue duo, and we couldn’t imagine thanking them separately!

🐾 Ever stop by our store on Mill Avenue when it was open Mondays and Wednesdays? They were there.

🐾 Transport day? They were there.

🐾 Chip clinic? You guessed it. They were there.

🐾 Off the Rails? Designing, setting up, and working the event.

🐾 Adoption events? There—with fosters in tow.

🐾 Moving from Pequot to Mill Avenue? They were there.

🐾 Moving again to Birchdale Rd? They basically were the moving crew (90% of it!).

🐾 Sealing floors with epoxy? They did it.

🐾 Parades? Set up, driving, and take-down—you already know.

🐾 Foster fail? Twice.

And here’s the thing—they’ve done all of this selflessly. No complaints. No hesitation. Just hearts fully committed to the dogs and the mission.

Melissa is everywhere—intake team, vetting team, events team, and even serving on the board. She somehow manages to juggle it all while fostering countless puppies, adult dogs, and even the tougher behavioral cases.

Rick is the fixer, the do-er, the steady presence who quietly shows up and gets it done.

Together, they’re the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the ones who keep everyone smiling in between.

Melissa and Rick—thank you for your dedication, your compassion, your silly antics, and the way you pour yourselves into this rescue without ever asking for anything in return. NLR simply wouldn’t be the same without you. 💙

🐾 Ducky! That’s me, yep, yep, yep! 🐾Meet Ducky, a spunky 7-month-old, 50-pound Dogo Argentino & Pitbull mix, who’s tough...
09/05/2025

🐾 Ducky! That’s me, yep, yep, yep! 🐾

Meet Ducky, a spunky 7-month-old, 50-pound Dogo Argentino & Pitbull mix, who’s tougher than she looks! This tough girl has already battled her way through tough times, and just like when she fought Parvo with her mom Etta and her siblings, she’s ready to take on anything life throws her way! 💪🐾

Ducky’s got a heart as big as the Great Valley and is full of love for kids and other dogs! She’s crate-trained, playful, and loves to snuggle up for a cozy cuddle. She’s still a puppy, so sometimes accidents happen, but don’t worry—she’s a quick learner and always eager to make you smile! 😊

Ducky’s also known to be friendly and gentle so we’re pretty sure she could adapt to resident cat too! 🐱

Ducky’s return to NLR had absolutely nothing to do with her—her family’s situation changed, and now she’s just looking for a fresh start with a new family who can give her the love and attention she deserves. 💖

She’s looking for a loving home where she can be her tough, loving, and sweet self! Could that be with YOU? 🏡

Help Ducky find her happily ever after—send us a message or submit an application if you’re interested in fostering or adopting this tough girl with a heart of gold!

https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/NLMN-A-64541

🐾 Lena’s Ready to Steal Your Heart! 🐾This adorable 4-month-old pup is a Pitbull, Staffy, American Bully, and Shepherd mi...
09/05/2025

🐾 Lena’s Ready to Steal Your Heart! 🐾

This adorable 4-month-old pup is a Pitbull, Staffy, American Bully, and Shepherd mix with so much love to give! At 16 pounds, Lena is a playful and snuggly little ball of energy who’s looking for a family to call her own. 💕

Lena’s a toy lover and is practicing leash walking. When it’s time to unwind, she’s all about relaxing with her favorite chew toys or ice cubes (who knew pups loved those?!). She’s great with dog-savvy kids, and she's even been camping—she LOVES car rides! 🚗

Lena is crate-trained during the day and well on her way to being fully potty trained. This sweet girl is looking for a family to share all her snuggles, joy, and puppy energy. Could you be the one to give her that soft landing she deserves? 🏡

Lena’s return to rescue is about her family’s circumstances, NOT her! This sweet girl is full of love and ready to shine with her forever family. 💖

Tag someone who’s ready to be Lena’s hero! If you're interested in fostering or adopting, click the link below⬇️

https://new.shelterluv.com/embed/animal/NLMN-A-64803

Address

5307 Birchdale Road
Brainerd, MN
56401

Telephone

+12185684508

Website

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