Welcome! This is where we share adoption stories, upcoming events, and updates from the rescue. We’re an all-volunteer team that’s been finding loving homes for Labradors, Lab-mixes, and their friends since 2007 — grab a cup of coffee and see what’s new.
Sold-Out Bingo Night Brings Our Rescue Community Together
BINGO! And what a night it was!
Our November 4 Bingo fundraiser at Baran Mediterranean was officially SOLD OUT, bringing together an enthusiastic crowd of animal lovers for an evening of laughter, great food, fabulous prizes, and a shared love for rescue dogs.
From beautiful gift baskets and dog-themed treasures to gift cards and plenty of happy winners, the excitement lasted all evening. And of course, a few four-legged guests joined the festivities, reminding everyone exactly why we were there!
More Than Just a Game
There’s something special about seeing our rescue community come together outside of the usual adoption events and shelter visits.
Volunteers, longtime supporters, and new friends gathered around the tables, sharing stories, enjoying dinner, and cheering each other on as the numbers were called.
For one evening, it wasn’t about the difficult shelter decisions, urgent medical cases, or the endless needs that come with rescue. It was about celebrating the people who make second chances possible.
A Community That Shows Up
A huge thank-you to Baran Mediterranean for welcoming us and generously contributing a portion of the evening’s food sales to Labradors and Friends.
We also appreciate Sham Paws for organizing and running another entertaining Bingo night.
And let’s hear it for the incredible volunteers, individuals, and businesses who donated every single prize! From beautiful gift baskets and dog-themed treasures to gift cards and special surprises, their generosity helped make the evening such a success.
To everyone who attended, donated, helped behind the scenes, or simply came out to support our dogs: THANK YOU!
Every fundraiser helps us continue providing shelter, veterinary care, and second chances to dogs who need us most.
A sold-out room, a community full of heart, and another wonderful night for rescue. We couldn’t ask for more!
Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with heartbreak. And sometimes, the best way to honor someone we’ve lost is to carry forward the love they left behind.
Cindy — the Great Pyrenees whose legacy helped inspire 63 second chances.
For Labradors and Friends volunteer Carole, that journey began with Cindy, a Great Pyrenees she had hoped to adopt. Although that adoption wasn’t meant to be, Cindy’s passing would ultimately open the door to something extraordinary.
Encouraged by Laura B., Carole joined Labradors and Friends in August 2023, beginning a rescue journey that would change her life and the lives of dozens of dogs.
What began as a way to honor someone special became a remarkable commitment to rescue.
63 foster dogs. And counting.
The Dog Who Made It Personal
Ask almost any rescue volunteer, and they’ll tell you there’s always that one dog who leaves an unforgettable mark.
For Carole, one of those dogs was Flower.
Flower was terrified when she arrived in foster care. She needed patience, understanding, and, most importantly, someone willing to let her discover that she was finally safe.
Carole gave her that chance.
And then came a moment that made all the uncertainty, patience, and hard work worthwhile. Flower felt safe enough to lie on Carole.
“THAT was the best feeling ever.”
That moment didn’t happen overnight. It took months for Flower to learn to trust, and her journey toward a forever home wasn’t easy.
Flower was returned twice, each setback another reminder that finding the right home sometimes takes time. But Carole never stopped believing in her.
Today, Flower has a family who loves her, quirks and all. And for Carole, knowing that the frightened dog who once struggled to trust finally found her people makes every difficult moment worthwhile.
But Flower’s story has one more beautiful chapter.
Her adoptive family understands just how special the bond between Flower and Carole truly is. In fact, they’ve even included a provision in their trust that, if anything should happen to them, Flower is to return to Carole.
For a dog who once struggled to trust anyone, that’s quite a testament to the love and security Carole gave her.
Flower may have found her forever family, but she’ll always have a place with the person who first taught her it was safe to love.
It’s a simple moment, but anyone who has helped a frightened dog learn to trust understands just how extraordinary it is.
For Flower, it was a step toward feeling safe. For Carole, it was a reminder of why every dog deserves someone who won’t give up.
More Than a Foster Home
While fostering 63 dogs in just over three years would be an incredible accomplishment on its own, Carole’s dedication extends far beyond opening her home.
She’s one of those volunteers who seems to be everywhere, quietly making things happen behind the scenes.
From transporting dogs from shelters and Acton to attending adoption events, walking and bathing dogs, and helping with fundraising alongside Michele, Carole is always finding another way to help.
She also coordinates Fi trackers and microchips, helps with grant applications and corporate donation outreach, tracks dogs at Anaheim Hills and Vinjon’s, manages and distributes supplies to foster families, and shares photos and social media updates to help dogs find their people.
Some of these jobs happen in the spotlight. Most don’t.
But every single one matters.
Because rescue isn’t just about the moment a dog leaves a shelter. It’s about everything that happens afterward, and the dedicated people who make those second chances possible.
The People and the Dogs
When asked what keeps her coming back, Carole’s answer says everything about the community she’s become part of.
“The people I get to work with in rescue and the dogs, that’s what keeps me coming back.”
It’s that combination of compassion, teamwork, and shared purpose that makes an all-volunteer organization like Labradors and Friends possible.
There are difficult days in rescue. There are unexpected challenges, long drives, medical emergencies, and moments when the need seems endless.
But there are also moments like Flower learning to trust. Dogs finding families. And friendships built around a shared determination to make a difference.
A Legacy That Lives On
Perhaps the most meaningful part of Carole’s story is how she describes the connection between Cindy’s passing and the dogs who have found refuge in her home.
“The loss of her life gave 63 dogs a chance at my house.”
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful tribute.
Sixty-three dogs who had a safe place to land. Sixty-three opportunities for healing, hope, and a new beginning.
And one volunteer who turned a painful loss into something extraordinary.
Carole, thank you for every foster dog, every transport, every event, every behind-the-scenes task, and every time you’ve said yes when a dog needed someone.
Cindy’s legacy continues through the lives you’ve helped save, and we’re grateful you’re part of the Labradors and Friends family.
Every yes changes a life. Sometimes, it changes 63.
Sometimes rescue begins with a promise. Sometimes it begins with someone opening their home to a frightened dog. And sometimes, the greatest reminder of why we rescue comes from a family saying goodbye to a dog they loved for years.
This week, we’re celebrating the people who show up, the dogs who get another chance, and the love that makes every rescue journey worthwhile.
More than a decade ago, Shannon Williams made a promise after a heartbreaking shelter experience. She couldn’t save that first dog, but she was determined to help the next one.
That next dog was Blacky, a partially blind black pit bull who became her foster and eventually her beloved companion.
Shannon has been showing up for rescue dogs ever since — fostering, volunteering, walking dogs, and helping wherever she’s needed.
Her story is a reminder that one person’s decision to help can change countless lives.
Canela was a frightened young puppy at the San Jacinto shelter, facing an uncertain future. A noticeable bump on her head made her look a little different, but it didn’t make her any less deserving of love.
When a foster stepped forward, everything changed.
Now safe in a home with three larger dogs, Canela is beginning to discover the joys of playing, feeling secure, and simply being a puppy.
She’ll need a patient family willing to help her confidence grow. But this sweet girl has already shown us what a little kindness can do.
Walter’s Second Chance: From Doggie Jail to Foster Home
After spending more than a month in the shelter on a legal hold, Walter was finally given the chance to leave.
And what a difference a foster home has made!
This affectionate, middle-aged pug is enjoying life with other dogs and a cat, showing off his wonderful personality and reminding everyone that he’s ready to be loved.
Walter also needs veterinary care, including a dental procedure estimated at approximately $800. Donations toward his care will help us give him the fresh start he deserves.
In 2019, Ben and his sibling Jerry came to Labradors and Friends frightened and unsure of the world.
Ben eventually found a forever family who adored him.
He became a dog who loved Christmas mornings, chased squirrels, and collected what his family affectionately called the “Benny tax” — tummy rubs from everyone who came through the door.
We recently learned that Ben crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
When we thanked his family for loving him, they replied with five words that say everything:
“We were the lucky ones.”
Rest peacefully, sweet Ben. Your life was filled with love, and you will always be remembered.
In 2019, two frightened dogs named Ben and Jerry found their way to Labradors and Friends. They were scared and unsure of the world around them, but with time, patience, and love, they began to come out of their shells.
For Ben, that journey eventually led to a forever family who would love him beyond measure.
We recently learned that our sweet Ben has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. And while our hearts are heavy, the memories his family shared remind us just how beautiful his life became.
Ben was a handsome boy with a big personality and some wonderfully endearing habits.
His family remembers how excited he would get on Christmas morning.
Christmas mornings were always special for Ben, who greeted each day with excitement and a little spin!
“In the morning he would be so excited for breakfast, he would spin haha it was always Christmas morning for him ❤️”
Ben also loved chasing squirrels. His family never let him catch one, but that certainly didn’t stop him from trying!
And then there was the famous “Benny tax.”
“He loved greeting people at the door, no matter family or repairman. They always had to pay the Benny tax of multiple tummy rubs.”
We can just picture him welcoming every visitor, making sure nobody entered his home without giving him the attention he deserved.
When his family shared the news of his passing, they wrote:
“He will forever be in our hearts.”
And when we thanked them for giving Ben such a wonderful home, their response said everything:
“We were the lucky ones.”
Enjoying the good life. Ben knew the comforts of being a very loved family dog.
Those five words capture what rescue is really about. We may give these dogs a second chance, but the love they give in return is immeasurable.
Ben came into rescue as a frightened dog alongside his sibling Jerry. He left this world as a deeply loved member of a family, with years of memories, Christmas mornings, squirrel-chasing adventures, and countless tummy rubs behind him.
To Ben’s family, thank you for giving him a life filled with love and belonging, and for sharing these precious memories with us.
Run free, sweet Ben. May there be endless squirrels to chase, Christmas mornings to celebrate, and all the tummy rubs your heart desires.
You were loved. You mattered. And you will never be forgotten. 🌈
Some rescue stories begin with a happy ending. Shannon Williams’ story begins with a dog who never got one.
Eleven or twelve years ago, Shannon came across a Labradors and Friends Facebook post about a red pit bull on his last day at a shelter. She pledged a small donation, hoping someone would step forward to save him.
The next day, she learned that no one had. He was euthanized.
“I was so sad for him, and disappointed with myself that I hadn’t stepped up for him,” Shannon remembers.
That heartbreak became a promise.
“I promised him, and myself, that I was going to step up for the next dog I saw that was in dire need, in his memory.”
Blacky enjoying a nap on his bed.
That next dog was Blacky, a partially blind black pit bull who seemed to have every strike against him.
“He had every strike against him, it seemed. I got in touch with the rescue, offered to foster him, and the rest is history.”
But Blacky didn’t just find a foster home. He found his forever mom. Shannon adopted him, and he remained by her side until his passing.
And the promise that brought them together continued long after Blacky was gone.
More Than a Decade of Showing Up
Oso, Shannon’s current long-term foster.
Over the years, Shannon has fostered numerous dogs, including her current long-term foster, Oso, who has been with her for two years. When Oso came into rescue, he was facing heartworm treatment, and Shannon was there to help him through it. She also walks dogs on weekends, helps at adoption events, has transported dogs in need, and supports LAF with monthly donations.
Along the way, dogs like Oso and Gracie (formerly Birch) have become part of her story, too. Gracie is another foster who found her forever home right where she started — with Shannon! Sometimes the best foster homes turn into forever homes.
For Shannon, the rewards go far beyond the dogs themselves.
“Volunteering is good for my soul. And I have made some great friends at LAF.”
She loves watching frightened or sick dogs blossom into happy, loving companions and seeing families discover the dogs who were meant for them.
“I love seeing all of these humans work together to help a dog find its forever home, and to help humans find their fur baby.”
When asked what keeps her coming back despite the difficult days, her answer is simple:
“The knowledge that the dogs need us. There is a never-ending supply, and they need as many of us as are willing to step up to help them.”
Birch, aka Gracie, sharing her toy with Shannon. How could you not fall in love!
There’s a Lid for Every Pot
One of Shannon’s favorite lessons came from her grandmother.
“As my grandma once said, ‘There is a lid for every pot.’”
Shannon sees that truth in rescue every day. Different dogs touch different people, and sometimes the right family takes a little longer to arrive.
“Some just have to wait longer for their lids, and we try to help them as best we can during that time.”
And for anyone considering volunteering but unsure whether to take that first step, Shannon has a message:
“It will reward them in ways they probably can’t imagine right now.”
Thank you, Shannon, for turning one heartbreaking goodbye into more than a decade of second chances. And thank you, Blacky, for being the beginning of such a beautiful journey.
