The Why

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would one day start a charity that walks alongside families searching for their lost dogs and helps abandoned dogs find safety. I certainly never expected it to become the only 501(c)(3) in Southern Arizona devoted to this kind of work.

But sometimes, purpose finds you in the middle of something you never would have chosen.

In late 2023, my own dog escaped from a boarding kennel. For 22 days, I walked the vast desert searching for him—exhausted, angry, heartbroken, and losing hope.

My prayers began with frustration and questions: How could you let this happen? Why can't I find him? How much more can I take?

Eventually, those prayers changed.

What's the lesson you're trying to teach me? How can I use this for good?

And then something happened that changed everything.

People showed up.

A community surrounded me with compassion, strength, prayer, and relentless determination. People I barely knew searched with me. They believed with me. They refused to let me give up.

Then, one day, a community member spotted my dog.

He ran.

I followed his tracks through a sandy wash in the rain, walking for hours as one footprint after another appeared in front of me. And finally, the moment we had all been praying for— finally, our rescue moment happened. 

Looking back, I don't believe that experience was simply a lesson.

It was a door.

I had asked God for purpose. Instead of giving me an answer, He placed me in a position to discover it—to help others, bring people together, and serve dogs and families when they need it most.

Today, that experience is at the heart of everything we do.

There is something extraordinary about meeting people in one of the most emotional moments of their lives and being able to offer hope. There is something unforgettable about the joy of a dog finally being safe. And there is something powerful about standing alongside volunteers who give their time, their energy, and their hearts to help families they've never even met.

This work is intentional. It's gritty. It's fueled by compassion, faith, and relentless determination.

This is why we serve.
This is why we show up.
This is why we don't quit.

Because every dog matters.
Every family matters.

And every rescue reminds us that even in the darkest moments, hope can find a way through.

I am grateful every day that I listened, walked through that door, and said yes. And I am humbled to serve alongside the incredible people who continue to make this mission possible.

We believe that when we step into the hard places, we are answering a calling bigger than ourselves.

Hope isn't lost.

Hope is lived out—one rescue at a time.

Mechelle Colby | President/Founder & Trapping Director - Red Collar Rescue & Recovery