Nonprofit Spotlight: I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven

For I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven, rescuing dogs is about more than finding animals new homes. The Warren-based nonprofit is dedicated to giving abandoned, neglected and abused dogs a second chance while also providing critical support to people in the community.

The organization rescues homeless and stray dogs, including those that have ended up in shelters, and provides veterinary care, training, enrichment and plenty of love before placing them in adoptive homes.

I Heart Dogs also partners with Turning Point to provide temporary shelter for the pets of domestic violence survivors who might otherwise delay leaving an unsafe situation because they cannot take their animals with them. Through the program, I Heart Dogs will house a survivor’s pet for up to 45 days at no cost, providing food and veterinary care while the owner works to establish a safe and stable living situation.

For co-founder, chairperson and executive director Dianne Reeves, the organization grew out of a lifelong connection with dogs and a desire to rethink the traditional shelter environment. After leaving a 20-year corporate career in 2012, Reeves began volunteering with animal rescue organizations and started considering how she could approach the work differently.

Her vision included larger living spaces, group play, training and enrichment opportunities that allow dogs to engage in natural behaviors. Today, I Heart Dogs operates a nearly 12,000-square-foot facility that can house up to 70 dogs at a time. Dogs have opportunities for group play, sniffing, digging and other activities designed to reduce the stress of shelter life and prepare them for successful adoption.

The impact can be life-changing for both the dogs and the people who adopt them. Reeves recalls Milo, a dog adopted through I Heart Dogs, who tried unsuccessfully to wake his owner one night and then alerted her son. The woman was having a stroke, and Milo’s actions helped her receive medical attention quickly.

“A lot of times, we’re saving people by rescuing dogs,” Reeves said.

In another case, a domestic violence survivor temporarily placed her beloved dog with I Heart Dogs while rebuilding her life. Being reunited with her dog after establishing a new living situation became an important part of regaining stability.

Operating a rescue of this size comes with significant challenges. I Heart Dogs receives no government funding, making fundraising critical to its operations. Veterinary care alone costs the organization approximately $250,000 to $300,000 each year. The organization has 10 employees and relies heavily on volunteers to help care for the animals and keep its programs running.

Reeves connected with Advancing Macomb after hearing about the organization on a local radio station. At the time, she was focused on strengthening I Heart Dogs’ board of directors to help ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability.

That initial connection has developed into an ongoing coaching relationship focused on board development, resources and organizational growth.

“They’ve been invaluable for helping us with this process,” Reeves said.

Looking ahead, Reeves hopes to develop the organization’s property into a new and more modern animal shelter. Her longer-term vision also includes converting the current facility into a training and boarding operation that could generate revenue to help support the nonprofit and create a more sustainable financial model for the future.

Community members can support I Heart Dogs in many ways, including volunteering, fostering, adopting, donating, attending fundraisers or helping with dog walks and veterinary visits. The organization also maintains wish lists and offers other opportunities for supporters to contribute.

To learn more about I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven, adopt an animal, volunteer or donate, visit iheartdogs.org.