I grew up as a daughter of a Veterinarian, we owned our own small animal hospital & kennel where I worked as a kid into young adulthood. I consider myself knowledgeable, known about & seen much having to do with shelter, rescue, & purebred dogs, etc. After loosing our beloved ridgeback, the family dog raised alongside our 2 young boys, we finally decided to seek another pup. This time, I didn't know where to start. We did know we wanted to try to rescue a pup from a reputable & caring organization & we are beyond pleased.
Dogstar Rescue EXCEEDED ALL expectations & most important their foster families & lovingly knowledgeable staff of volunteers actually care for each animal & look out for their overall well being. To find a good match matters on both sides.
Our adoption process was smooth & natural, it felt like it was meant to be. I believe in the famous words from Cesar Milan, when he states that all too often "you don't get the dog you want, you get the dog you need". We have welcomed a new member to our family & he is so wonderful. This process was educational & more rewarding than we imagined it to be. We are so in love & forever greatful to all who volunteer tirelessly to help make Dogstar Rescue a success. Thank you to Ira, Brendan, & Emma in particular, our pups foster family.
This organization sets a high bar, a standard most should aspire to in the doggie-rescue world. Thank you, we appreciate you all. FurEver Greatful
The Indorf Family - Orange, CT
We adopted Buster from Dog Star about a month ago. The adoption process was thorough but went smoothly. We met with the behaviorist who helped us understand what Buster would need and it made the whole process easier. We now have the perfect dog for our family and get asked about him and his rescue all the time, and we’re happy to recommend Dog Star.
Snoop!
Snoop's friends at Dog Star helped us help Snoop adjust to our home. And she's doing great! She's small and in charge.
Back in 2018 I had started to follow Dog Star Rescue on Facebook with the intent of volunteering. I had lost my dog unexpectedly a couple years previously and wasn't ready to own again, or so I thought. They posted pictures of dogs that would be available for adoption and that's when I saw a picture of my Lacey (DS Lilac). I don't know what it was about her but I just knew she was meant for me! I submitted my application, and within 24 hours got a call back stating they had checked with my references and that she was going to be waiting for me to pick her up at the adoption event! Lacey's handler that has been working with me was fantastic through the process, and when I met Lacey, she jumped in my lap and she's been there for the last 6.5 years! Dog Star truly cares about what they're doing, they take the time to ensure the dogs are going to appropriate homes, and they never give up even with some of the most challenging dogs. I am forever grateful to Dog Star Rescue for bringing Lacey into my life.
We had a wonderful experience with Dog Star Rescue. Staff was very attentive and caring, truly compassionate about their dogs. Ensuring that the dogs have a good home is their number one priority. We are so happy to have a found the new member of our family through Dog Star!!!
Absolutely amazing dog rescue. Very knowledgeable about their dogs. The introduction process with our first dog was amazing. We love our Floki boy and are very thankful that dog star brought him into our life.
I am a part of many non profit rescue organizations and this one helps the MOST dogs from the overpopulated southern states. They do an excellent job helping homeless dogs/puppies find the forever homes they deserve. Keep up the great work!!!
I cannot express how impressed I am with Dog Star Rescue! I am beyond grateful I found out about Dog Star. My friends highly recommended I begin my search with Dog Star for my forever pup. I traveled from NYC to an adoption event and would travel again and again! The staff was extremely kind, helpful and beyond friendly. They were able to answer all of my questions about each dog I visited with. Ultimately I knew right away when I met “the one” and so did the volunteers. Luckily my dog was fortunate to have a foster family, which Dog Star prides themself in. My dog, was pretty much house broken, walked well on a leash, understood a few basic commands, socialized with other dogs and introduced to cats and children, which he loves! Thank you Dog Star for your amazing work, dedication and for helping me find my perfect match!
DogStar is AMAZING! From looking online to speaking with the volunteers, and the in-person events, we were blown away by the amazing energy and knowledge about their animals. The staff gets to know the adopters' lifestyles and experiences with dogs to determine if the dogs might be a match. They honestly answered our questions about the ones we were interested in, and they were completely on point! We adopted our Penny 5 years ago and 4 years ago found our Amy. They couldn't be better matches for us. DogStar Rescue gets our top recommendation! ⭐⭐⭐
We adopted our black lab mix pup from here in 2022. Great experience and very thorough adoption process. Great communication by all volunteers too. The team quickly connected us with an amazing behaviorist who we hired after the adoption after we reached out when our pup was having resource guarding issues. Highly recommend.
We adopted Tilly through dog star and they were so helpful and super communicative. The application process while thorough made me feel comfortable that they actually cared about the homes the pups went to. I would adopt again through dog star. Even after a year with Tilly they check in to make sure all is going well.
Amazing organization and does a lot for the veterans community. Dog for vets program. He's a lifesaver
I have 2 amazing dogs from Dog Star Rescue and they are my best friends. They are amazing pups who fill my heart with so much joy. We refer people to Dog Star all the time, the experience is fantastic!
We adopted our first dog from dog Starr. She is the perfect addition to our family. All the volunteers and workers were SO helpful, and you could tell immediately how much they cared about all the dogs. They also made sure to thoroughly vet us and let us know that certain dogs wouldn’t be a good fit for us as first time dog owners (I really appreciated their candor). It was very well run, and we will continue to support them!
We lost one of our dogs and I didn’t know if I was ready to adopt but my husband found Dog Star and Miss Willow. I knew when I saw her that she would be the perfect fit for our broken hearts. Thank you Dog Star for bringing willow into our hearts and home. She is the perfect girl❤️❤️
Guided me through my adoption of moxie. They are very caring rescue and take care of the dogs.
I have recommend them to numerous people
This group is amazing. They are diligent in their screening and matching. They take incredible care of the dogs in their care.
My name is Mikey and my sister is Lacey. We were adopted from Dog Star after they rescued us off the streets when we were just young pups. They got us medical care and then helped us find foster homes in our first states where nice people took really good care of us until we could get moved to CT. When we got here to CT there were nice people waiting for us and they brought us into their home and took such perfect care of us while they searched for our perfect family. They care so much about all us dogs, and they won't let us go to just anyone. Our pawrents have to go through an application and careful screening to make sure they'll take really good care of us. They picked our family for us, and they did a really pawsome job at it. They even made the two of us have a meet and greet before we were adopted to make sure we got along, We're did, and they let us go home together. We are happy, we're healthy, and we are so very very loved. Our pawrents say that we are the perfect puppies. We even have a kitty brother who we love and loves us! We're forever grateful Dog Star was our rescue and they got us to our furever home.
Dog Star helped us add 2 new members to our family last year! We adopt Luna as a puppy in July and decided she needed a friend by December so Faye going us 2 day before Christmas. Every single volunteer we dealt with and talked to along the way for both adoptions was AMAZING! They really have the best interest in each dog! I can not say enough good things about DSR. They helped us add two sweet, young energetic girls to our family and we couldn't be more grateful for all they do for these pups. Thank you DSR! ❤️
So thankful to Dog Star Rescue for allowing Mars to find his way to us! It’s been one year of pure love - Mars loves his two human sisters and his big fur sister Nala! Can’t recommend Dog Star enough!
dog star matched me with my best friend and I will always be grateful. Everyone I interacted with was so supportive. The experience was such a good one that I have been a volunteer ever since.
So grateful to Dog Star for running such a professional and caring organization, bringing dogs and families together! We traveled almost 100 miles to attend one of Dog Star’s weekly meet-and-greets, where we were able to interact with dozens of dogs in person, talk directly with their wonderful fosters, and make the right decision for us and our new family member. Dog Star volunteers are amazingly dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and placing fantastic companion dogs, and they make sure every dog in their care finds a loving home, no matter how long it takes. Their live videos on social media allow potential adopters to see the dogs in action online—a huge benefit if, like us, you don’t live close by. And there’s a smooth and thorough approval process we completed in advance (it took about a week), so that when the right dog came along we were pre-qualified to adopt. We would not hesitate to adopt through Dog Star again. We’re so happy with our adorable cuddle-bug, Smooch! ❤️
I adopted my dog through Dog Star over 5 years ago and I continually recommend this rescue to everyone I meet that is looking to adopt. I had such a great experience with them. I am blown away by the time and effort and training they put into each dog. They go above and beyond to find the right home for each rescue dog.
A fantastic non-profit! We got our lab hound mix Honey from Dog Star almost 2 years ago and their intake process was thorough and supportive. They truly care about these dogs and ensuring they are going to fantastic homes. Honey came home with us house-broken and with basic training we have been able to continue and expand upon. We are excited to someday return to Dog Star and bring home our next dog.
We decided we wanted to adopt a dog after seeing all the beautiful dogs available on DogStar online. From start to finish, the experience was amazing. Additionally, they offer a Veteran discount which was very nice. Since adopting our first dog, we adopted another dog a year later from DogStar. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. We recommend this rescue to everyone we know who is looking to adopt!!
I volunteer with Dog Star and this is the hardest working group of dog lovers ever! They care so much about the dogs and work tirelessly to ensure they are put in loving homes.
such very cute dog! it is very comfortable with me and it super nice! it was been a smooth sailing boat and very good !!!
I have been serving as a Kennel Support Volunteer and Event Dog Handler for Dog Star Rescue over the past year and a half.
The experience with helping dogs of all ages through their adoption journey truly invigorates my spirit.
I initially volunteered to lose weight while walking the dogs. I have met many new friends at Dog Star Rescue who share my vision of bringing new light to dogs in need of new homes.
Dog Star Rescue as a non profit organization is extremely well managed. Every volunteer plays a special role to assist our adoptable dogs with finding new homes. Thank you, Dog Star Rescue!
Found the love of our life at Dog Star. From the start with an email showing interest to bringing our Ruby (aka: Anna) home, every person we encountered was helpful and caring. We encourage anyone looking for a new family member to adopt and always recommend Dog Star.
I rescued Bruno (originally named Jolly McSparkles) through Dog Star Rescue in April 2022. The whole process was very fast and the whole staff was incredibly helpful. My coworkers were fostering him and posted his picture on social media. I expressed interest, applied, and within two weeks, he was home with me. I am so grateful to Dog Star for their work in helping dogs like Bruno.
Love Dog Star Rescue! They brought us our two senior dogs Frank and Lola. They are such a great organization.
Having volunteered at Dog Star Rescue for the past six months, I’ve found a welcoming and dedicated community. As someone who assists in the kennel a few times weekly, I’ve witnessed the sincere efforts of an all-volunteer team working harmoniously towards providing a safe, nurturing environment for dogs awaiting their forever homes.
The fulfillment that comes from seeing the dogs well-cared for and eventually adopted is immeasurable. The genuine care for the dogs displayed by everyone involved makes this rescue a remarkable place to serve.
Volunteer run , so professional. I adopted our Casey from Dog Star. They rescued her and her brother from a deplorable hoarding situation.
We have adopted 2 dogs from Dog Star and are so very grateful to them for blessing us with our fur babies. Their whole team of volunteers is very caring and I feel like their adoption process ensures that the dogs only go to good homes. We attend their fundraisers when we can and I will always keep them in mind when getting ready to add to our furry companions
I can say that dog star rescue was a fantastic organization that matched up my needs and likes with a beautiful dog. They were thoughtful and courteous. I highly recommend them to anyone which I’ve already done to find a dog that suits them. They won’t be disappointed.
Dog Star was amazing to adopt through. Their volunteers and fosters are the most kind and caring people you will ever meet. We are so happy to have found our Boba through them.
This is the best place to adopt a dog. They have a great screening process and vet. I've never adopted a dog who had all their shots and a complete history of what was known about the animal. Totally wonderful rescue.
We adopted sadie from Dog Star a little over a year ago. Her fosters were very specific about Sadie’s needs and we got the fur baby we expected! The process was easy and they made sure to vet us very well which made me feel like they genuinely care about where their dogs go!
Dogstar Reacue paired us up with Bruno. The process was easy, but being my first rescue I was surprised at all the questions. But after finding our one true love, Bruno Vincenzo Givani (The Great)…. We understand why. If we didn’t live so far, we would visit them often and help where we could. We are so thankful they brought him to us. He’s a spoiled boy and we love every minute of having him with us. They are wonderful match makers! Keep up the amazing work!
Incredible rescue. Allowed me to adopt my dog who is truly amazing and they are very supportive to their alumni. You can tell all the volunteers really want to best for the dogs and work hard to put on fundraisers so they can rescue and support as many dogs as possible. Can’t say enough good things about Dog Star!
Dog Star Rescue takes it seriously to save more dogs and place them in loving homes.
I just wish they did more for dogs in CT that are being abandoned or surrendered.
Great people that truly care about their animals! We adopted a puppy from them and they went above and beyond for her. Would recommend them to anyone.
We are so happy with our DSR pups. The adoption process was seamless and every single person truly cares about each dog. They take the time to match each dog with their perfect family. They remember dogs by name and are so happy to see their alum thriving. We will adopt every dog through them, they are amazing
In early 2022, we saw a sweet older dog online and knew we had to adopt him. We applied for him through Dog Star Rescue and were pleased with the speed and thoroughness of the application process, which included two interviews, a background check with our vet, and a meet and greet with all family members (human and canine). Marshall came home with us on a cold Saturday morning in January, and we are truly grateful to Dog Star for bringing him into our lives. Neither my husband nor I had ever rescued a dog before, and we couldn't ask for a better experience. We support Dog Star by donating food and supplies for other dogs they are rescuing and attending their Bark and Brew Festival as well as other events. With gratitude to all of Dog Star's volunteers and partners, we recommend them highly.
I love Dog Star, they are amazing and were able to allow me to find my best friend. They are an amazing nonprofit and I recommend them to everyone I know.
When I decided to adopt a dog, Dog Star was so helpful. On top of that, the application process is very detailed so that they can make sure they are putting the right dog and family together. They check references. I am so happy that they take this so seriously. Everyone is so nice and knowledgeable. Thank you for my Cinnamon
We adopted our first dog through Dog Star Rescue and I couldn’t be more grateful for the process and how they helped pair us with the perfect dog for us. You can tell they have the dogs’ best interests in mind, making sure each dog will be just as happy as the adopters. They were very supportive during the adoption event and helpful after with follow up and suggestions to ease our transition. Thank you!
I went through this rescue and they were not only thorough but patient and kind. We found the most perfect dog for our family and couldn’t be happier, they followed up and made sure he’s settling nicely. I will never adopt elsewhere again, I am so happy with my experience. They are doing the best job, thank you dog star! Milo is happy to be home ❤️
Dog Star Rescue……What great people. Very caring and dedicated to each and every dog. Found my new best friend Teddy (Hogwarts). Couldn’t be happier. What a sweet dog. Looking forward to the next 15 years at least with him.
We adopted our dog Rusty from Dog Star and he is the love of our lives. The adoption process at Dog Star was very thorough yet we were able to take Rusty home within 2 weeks. They care about finding a good home for their dogs and that it is the right match. The dogs are loved and well cared for while waiting for their forever homes.
We’ve adopted 2 beautiful pups from DSR. The process was thorough, but painless. You can tell they really care about their dogs and the families they go to. Even after the adoptions, DSR is a great community to be a part of!
We love Dog Star! My family adopted 2 dogs from this amazing rescue about 6 months apart. The experience was easy, but they really make sure adopters are the right fit for the dogs. After the adoption, you join the Dog Star Alum Facebook page and it’s truly a community of some pretty amazing humans.
100% would adopt here again.
I am a 2 time adopter and volunteer for Dogstar. Let me tell you about the experience with my 2nd adoption of a special needs dog named Stanley. I extend a huge THANK YOU to DogStar and the countless volunteers who have made life a better place for Stanley and all of our other rescues. Let's start with DogStar board of directors and leadership, who put in place extraordinary programs that leave no dog behind. I will forever be grateful for the top notch behaviorist provided to help Stanley transition from a fearful dog to a contented dog. Thanks to kennel leadership and crew for loving dogs as their own and giving them a bright spot to look forward to three times a day. To the medical team, for keeping pups healthy and arranging for Stanley's heartworm treatments. It must have taken thousands of dollars to support Stanley through his journey with DogStar; that surely couldn't have been possible without the efforts of the fundraising team and the many people who have donated cash and supplies. To the foster team, for loving pups as their own and allowing me to foster this fantastic pup. To the behavior team, whose expert assessment revealed that Stanley was indeed savable. He is living proof that a dog can overcome his past and revert to the loving and loyal dog that he truly is. Just a little work reaps huge rewards - I cannot imagine life without this wonderful dog.
I applied to several rescues when i was looking for my new dog. none responded except for Dog Star Rescue and from application to adoption was nothing short of a stress-free, comfortable process and within a week matched me with the right dog to love and care for the rest of her life.
And after adoption, Dog Star Rescue does not forget you. They followed up with me afterwards, they have an alumni site to post updates, meet and arrange playdates with other Dog Star rescue adoptees as well as a resource for any questions you may have.
A completely stress-free, comfortable process leaving you with your best friend at the end of the day.
Thank you Dog Star Rescue
Dog Star Rescue is amazing. from the moment I applied, my experience was different than every other rescue I’d interacted with. They kept in communication with me, learned about the type of dog that would be a best fit for my home and were very accommodating to my other resident dog’s challenging personality when meeting new dogs. Hands down above the rest. I would highly recommend Dog Star Rescue.
We've gotten two of our dogs from Dog Star Rescue. Dog Star is truly one of the best dog rescues in the area. They are extremely organized and function like a well-oiled machine. You can tell that they truly care and love dogs, and have dog's best interests at heart. Yes, they have a very thorough and detailed application / adoption process, but this is just because they want to place dogs in the best home possible. All of their volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. They are a 100% volunteer based rescue which is pretty amazing and just goes to show you how dedicated their volunteers are!
I've seen Dog Star take in dogs with medical issues, senior dogs, dogs that other rescues may have turned away, and find them amazing forever homes. They've even taken dogs with some behavioral issues and really worked with these dogs to help them overcome their issues and get them adopted.
I really could go on and on with how amazing I think this rescue is!
We adopted our Riley from Dog Star in March 2020. They explained the process to us and made it straight forward. They wanted to make sure we were a good fit for her and her for us, which we appreciated. Riley has been a joy and we are so happy she is a part of our family. We have brought her to several of the alumni events. It is cool that they do those things. I have recommended Dog Star to many of my friends and am now a volunteer.
We’ve adopted our last 3 pups from Dog Star Rescue. They do an outstanding job of screening applicants and matching them with the perfect dog. I can’t recommend this group highly enough…they’re dedicated and very professional. This is our “perfectly imperfect” pup Louie. He’s made our home complete!!
I feel so lucky to have gotten connected with Dog Star when my husband and I were looking for a dog in 2020. The rescue is committed to ensuring the right fit between applicants and adoptable dogs and this is evident from the start of the application process. Ultimately this helped us to find a dog that was a perfect match for our lifestyle. We had such a good experience with Dog Star that I’ve since stayed involved with the rescue- attending events, volunteering at the kennel and bringing in a few foster pups. At each event I continue to be impressed by the leadership and volunteers that put so much time, effort and creativity into growing the rescue. Dog Star is a well-run organization that will continue to make a meaningful impact on dogs and the local community.
Recently adopted my little Ben from Dog Star. I love how amazing this rescue is! They care so much about the dogs, place them in good foster homes where they get loved (and probably pampered) and even get some basic training on things like crate training, potty training, etc. The coordinator was awesome and SO very helpful. Ben has fit right in and he loves my other dog - follows him around like, well, a little puppy! I would highly recommend them if you’re ready to find your new best friend!
Dublin (fna Smokey) was a volunteer fail. My first volunteer day and I meet this little crinkle ear puppy. And I can’t stop thinking about him. I call my husband who comes down to meet him and BAM- hook, line and sinker- we put in our application to adopt. Eight months and loving him. ❤️ Thanks to Dog Star for finding us the right addition to our family.
I have gotten both of my dogs through Dog Star Rescue and it has been life changing. Both of the dogs had to be transported to us because we live out of state, but they were great communicators from start to finish and made the process so easy! I am so in love with both of my pups from them and can’t see myself ever going through a different rescue for a future dog. Thank you for all that you do!