Dark Horse Dogs, NFP

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Dark Horse Dogs, NFP

Rescuing locally, responsibly and realistically. Rescuing locally, responsibly & realistically. Want to make a donation?

https://darkhorsedogs.org/donate

Adoption requirements:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-requirements

Adoption app:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-application

Interested in fostering? Foster FAQs:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/foster-faqs

Not sure what dog best suits your lifestyle? https://darkhorsedogs.org/choosing-the-right-dog

Foster application:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/apply-to-f

oster

Adoptable pets:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoptables

Adoption fees:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/adoption-fees-1

Basic supplies for a new dog:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/supplies%2Frecommendations

Training recommendations:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/training-referrals

Decompression info:

https://darkhorsedogs.org/two-week-shutdown

Additional questions? https://darkhorsedogs.org/got-questions%3F

Still have questions? Visit our website:

https://darkhorsedogs.org

07/01/2026

It’s 2026 and we’re coming in hot.

All from CACC, 4 yesterday and 4 today.

-Tabitha
-Gino
-Ferris
-Jonah
-Artie
-Logger
-Lindsay
-Paul

F**k my life.

Welcome to DHD, 8 is enough.💜

03/01/2026

First pull of 2026 and I’m sure everyone will be surprised it’s a CACC dog.

Old name, Begonia. New name, Lucy.

Welcome to DHD, Lucy. 💜

01/01/2026

That’s a mother fu***ng wrap!

2025 was one of the most challenging years we’ve ever had, personally and professionally.

We’ve officially been in our space for a year and we haven’t fallen behind on rent …yet. Maybe tomorrow, no one knows.

This year brought about the most saves we’ve ever had, while also bringing about some of the biggest piles of dog s**t we’ve ever dealt with…and stepped in. We’ve had some losses we’ll forever be pi**ed about.

If you know anything about us, you know we can’t post about all of our “wins” if we’re not also posting about all our loses. The losses hit us more than anything.

We’ve made good decisions, far more bad decisions, and regretted not being smart enough to just fu***ng quit. But we didn’t quit because we have too many people, and too many dogs pushing us on.

And although DHD isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, we are gallons of Tito’s, and kilos of co***ne for others. These are our people.

We’ve got some of the most consistent and loyal fosters that a rescue can have. We’re grateful.

To our fosters and volunteers…you are the reason we are where we are. I can’t name all of you because I would be editing this post 5,303 fu***ng times and I shouldn’t edit posts as I get more inebriated. That’s a rule I think I just made for myself.

So, for now, I’m going to tag the businesses that help support DHD and they can figure out how to untag themselves.

With that, from 1/01/2025 to 12/31/2025 DHD pulled our 250th dog from CACC today.

I was reminded we also pulled some fu***ng cats and we took a few other dogs from other places (not CACC) but 250 at CACC feels significant.

In true DHD fashion, an old man got his rescue ride today.

Welcome to DHD, Bunker (FKA, Archibald). 💜

Thank you to our followers, supporters, donors, fosters, volunteers, families, friends, and business partners. You’re appreciated.

Humbly,

Dayna 💜

28/12/2025

Petfinder is a mother fu***ng dumpster fire.

On 12/2 Petfinder was doing an “upgrade” to their website and since that day, we have had nothing but issues.

These issues have prevented us from using Petfinder properly, and the link between Petfinder and our website was fu**ed. When adding the link back, we turned into a rodent rescue. If I had published the update, ‘Dark Horse Dogs, NFP’ became ‘Little Critter Crew’ which I found hysterical for a few days…but this isn’t a few days anymore.

Petfinder can eat my ass.

Needless to say, I’ve spent a stupid amount of hours working on getting our dogs listed on our website again (not through Petfinder). We are 99.99% there. Below is a link that explains some of the bulls**t rescues are seeing from Petfinder. The issues we’ve experienced are basically every issue we could, or would have. It wasn’t just one issue. If Petfinder had 25 issues, we had 27 of them.

Petfinder Info:
https://youtu.be/M248vnYKM9w?si=S_Jsn20aa6-sFoFm

With that, we’ve still been working but haven’t posted all our new dogs yet. All of which are from CACC.

12/17/2025 - Minibus (Gorilla Rich)
12/17/2025 - Screech
12/17/2025 - Reggie
12/27/2025 - Mango
12/27/2025 - Popple (Squankles)
12/27/2025 - Mr. Lasagna (Marty McFly)

Shout out to CAST Chicago Animal Shelter Transport & Precious Cargo Rescue Rides.

Welcome to DHD, squatty hotties (except, Screech). 💜

15/12/2025

We seem to pull the most dogs when I’m not trying to. It’s been a busy year and I’m fu***ng out of dog name ideas.

And the names I do pick are impossible to remember because apparently you fall apart in your 40s. Mentally and physically. I can’t remember s**t and everything always hurts.

Yesterday we managed to pull, Berkley from CACC. His new name is, Sutton. Because I’ve run out of ideas, and Sutton is my daughter’s boyfriend’s name. She’s going to be so thankful. 😂

And today we pulled, Mekhi who appears deaf and blind. New name, Keller. Enjoy his rescue ride photo.

Last but not least, Dracula. New name, Gideon.

Welcome to DHD, Sutton, Keller & Gideon. 💜

11/12/2025

This dog’s name is Beaver.

I have no need to even try and change it. It’s perfect.

What isn’t perfect? The fu***ng photo collage on the right. I created that from the nightmare photos our foster/transporter sent me. And she was absolutely giddy about her photography skills.

And although he’s dressed in pink and his name is Beaver, he does not have a beaver.

Welcome to DHD, Beaver. 💜

09/12/2025

It’s been a rough (ruff) few weeks with some s**tty losses but somehow we managed to take those losses and “Sia math” them.

For one loss, we went and got 3 replacements just in case another died.

11/19/25 - Jack
11/21/25 - Benny - replacement #1
11/26/25 - Ralphie (Oak Lawn Stray)
12/06/25 - Ruben
12/06/25 - Big Bulldog
12/06/25 - Small Bulldog
12/06/25 - Charlie - replacement #2
12/06/25 - Zoot - replacement #3

All dogs are from CACC except the one stray from Oak Lawn. No dog deserves to land at AWL so when we had an opportunity to ensure he didn’t, we took that opportunity. F**k, AWL Chicago Ridge & Wabash.

Welcome to DHD, boys. 💜

01/12/2025

Tell us you’re a DHD dog, without telling us you’re a DHD dog.

~ Adoptable, Tina & Mavis

These wh**es are hoping to be made into housewives before Christmas.

**kelfonashelf

15/11/2025

I hate puppies.

More specifically, female puppies. So, I was thrilled when CACC’s Sia offered us 3 female puppies.

We pulled them.

Jesus, f**k. Total god damn chaos.

And then we pulled a few more non puppies. Because you can never have enough dogs.

-11/11/25 - Pumpkin Pie (formerly, Cookie Dough)
-11/11/25 - Butterball (formerly, Luna Crescent)
-11/11/25 - Stella (formerly, Kida)
-11/12/25 - Max
-11/13/25 - Finneas
-11/13/25 - Ferb
-11/13/25 - Rock
-11/13/25 - Polly (formerly, Jelissa)

Interested in fostering? We’ve got some amazing dogs at The Pit that could use fosters. Even temporarily! If you’re interested in meeting some of our Pit dogs, please fill out a foster application on our website (link below).

https://new.shelterluv.com/form/volunteer/DHDN/861-foster-application

Welcome to DHD. 💜

09/11/2025

Shout out to our fu***ng partners!

Today started with another urgent URI, and then CACC’s Sia, leveled up with a Parvo dog. The timing of the Parvo dog was the most fu**ed. Especially on a Sunday.

It was a long shot but Naperville Animal Hospital made it fu***ng happen. If I were them, I would ignore me. Maybe one day they’ll learn but today, they made the impossible happen.

Rescue can’t do s**t without all the pieces that need to fit together. It’s a really fu**ed up puzzle, and I’m so grateful when we aren’t missing a piece at the end.

Welcome to DHD, Gus & Parvo dog. 💜

Naperville, you have naming rights for the Parvo boy!

*The Parvo pup will need a foster*

08/11/2025

🎶 I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe ~ Destiny’s Child (circa, 2001)

Yesterday’s Pull: Jelly Roll (now, Jelly)

Today’s Pull: Fern (new name to come)

Welcome to DHD, Jelly & Fern. 💜

04/11/2025

I’m not a fu***ng debt collector.

If you’re choosing to publicly make a pledge, then there is absolutely no excuse for not honoring it.

This is becoming a real issue and I’m just going to start publicly shaming those who don’t honor.

Our partners and vendors don’t take IOUs. They actually expect us to pay our invoices. F**king crazy…right?

Your DHD PSA for the day: Don’t be a cheap bastard.

With that, here are our most recent pulls. All from CACC.

11/2/25 - Caterpillar (now, Geordie)
11/2/25 - Stuart
11/3/25 - Mavis
11/3/25 - Heavy D
11/3/25 - Monkeybread
11/3/25 - Freya (now, Randi)

Randi (Freya) was delivered to Naperville Animal Hospital a few hours ago and we will have more info on her tomorrow.

Welcome to DHD, Geordie, Stuart, Mavis, Heavy D, Monkeybread & Randi. 💜

Address

Telephone

+16304460169

Website

https://darkhorsedogs.org/

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