Never Forgotten Ranch is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based out of Concord, Virginia, with foster, rescue, and adoption partners in Edgewood and Willard, New Mexico.
The mission of Never Forgotten Ranch is to serve three specific groups of animals who are at risk of being “forgotten” by humans who have failed them. First, Never Forgotten Ranch serves to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome neglected and abused horses, with a focus on BLM and reservation mustangs. Additionally, Never Forgotten Ranch strives to assist in the growth of adoptions of the wild horses who have been removed from their homelands up by the Bureau of Land Management due to overpopulation and the resulting degradation of the range lands, and are now awaiting adoption in BLM holding pens, by gentling them, training them, and placing them in good homes. The Ranch also aims to educate others about the plight of these wild horses, their uncertain future as their population increases and the range lands can no longer sustain them, and the mustangs' unmatched strength, hardiness, intelligence, and dependability as faithful equine partners.
Second, Never Forgotten Ranch provides lifelong sanctuary care to a number of senior and special needs dogs. Each of these dogs came to the Ranch from a city or county shelter, after either finding themselves alone on the streets or surrendered by their "owners," usually during their golden years of life.
Third, Never Forgotten Ranch helps dogs of a variety of working farm breeds find homes in which they can thrive. At the forefront of this aspect of the Ranch's mission is our goal to help educate the public about the unique needs of working farm dog breeds, with a focus on livestock guardian breeds, the invaluable services they provide to the agricultural community and the joy they experience in doing so, and the critical importance of ensuring that dogs of these working breeds are placed only in home environments that meet their unique needs based on their genetic instincts. Never Forgotten Ranch serves to connect rural adopters living on ranches, farms, and small homesteads with livestock guardian and other working farm dogs looking for new positions, and occasionally puppies born of such working dogs. It is our goal to facilitate lifelong adoptions of working farm breed dogs, in the environments in which they thrive, therefore limiting the number of dogs of working farm breeds ending up at risk in shelters.
As part of this endeavor, the Ranch operates a livestock guardian rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption program serving dogs of livestock guardian breeds who have experienced failed adoptions in urban pet home settings that are inappropriate for the breed, or failed positions as livestock guardians, generally due to inadequate or improper training. These dogs are fully assessed for any existing behavioral challenges, re-trained accordingly, and then placed with responsible adopters who can provide the environment in which the individual dog can thrive, whether it be protecting the specific types of livestock with which he or she has proven successful, or living as a faithful family companion in a rural home setting.
Finally, Never Forgotten Ranch rescues dogs of numerous farm and working dog breeds, both purebred and mixes, who find themselves at risk of euthanasia at one of the many high-kill-rate city and county shelters. The dogs are all fully assessed for behavioral traits in order to place them in the best and most fitting adoptive homes possible. Never Forgotten Ranch does not place farm dog breeds in urban homes, since due to their unique instincts and genetic traits they generally do best in rural environments where they can have a "job" and a focus for their highly active minds. Even if this "job" is not working with livestock, we aim to place our dogs in homes situated in rural environments where their energy, personalities, protective instincts and sometimes vocal tendencies will not only be accepted but will be welcomed and appreciated.
*On occasion, we do bring in rescue dogs who may be suitable for an urban lifestyle. Such dogs will be listed separately at the bottom of our "Available Dogs" page, when and if they are available. Please be aware that even if a dog is listed as a potential candidate for an urban home, priority is always given to rural placements, in line with our organization's mission.
**All dogs adopted through Never Forgotten Ranch are fully examined by our trusted veterinarians, de-wormed, immunized, and spayed/neutered in accordance with the laws of both the State of New Mexico and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Never Forgotten Ranch's “Cross Country” Rescue & Rehoming
Never Forgotten Ranch is based out of Concord, Virginia, with foster partners in central New Mexico. With volunteers travelling between these locations several times a year, Never Forgotten Ranch is able to rescue dogs and horses across a large portion of the country, as well as offering transport to adopters throughout our adoption area.
*Never Forgotten Ranch is a registered nonprofit charitable 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 84-2141190. However, due to our recent name change, which was made in response to our expansion from serving horses in need, to serving both horses and dogs in need, some IRS and State online records may still display our former name of “Cross Country Horse Rescue.” All sites are expected to be updated with the new name in early 2020.
