The sun was blazing at Silverado Days, but so was the enthusiasm for rescue! ☀️🐾
Our Labradors and Friends volunteers and adoptable dogs spent the day meeting new faces, making friends, and sharing a little of what makes rescue so special.
From curious visitors stopping by our booth to plenty of puppy kisses and wagging tails, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community.
And one of our very own decided it was time to steal the spotlight!
And then there was Oliver! 🏆
Our very own Oliver took the stage to compete in the Tricks division of the Mutt Competition, proudly representing Labradors and Friends!
He walked away with the Participation Award, and we couldn’t be prouder of our boy. Sometimes just getting up on stage and giving it your best is worth celebrating!
Watch Oliver’s Silverado Days performance!
The day may have been hot, but the hearts were even warmer!
A Little Silverado Days Cuteness! 📸
Every Conversation Plants a Seed ❤️
While we didn’t receive any adoption applications at the event, we met so many wonderful people who stopped to learn about our dogs and the work we do.
Sometimes a conversation today leads to an adoption tomorrow. Every introduction, every shared story, and every new connection helps bring our dogs closer to the homes they deserve.
A huge thank-you to our dedicated volunteers who braved the heat, everyone who stopped by our booth, and the Silverado Days organizers for welcoming us!
The best part of rescue events? You never know which hello might change a dog’s life. ❤️
Some dogs find their forever families in days. Others wait weeks, months, or even longer.
But the passing of time doesn’t make them any less deserving of love.
At Labradors and Friends, we have some truly incredible dogs who have been waiting for someone to see what we see in them.
A sprinkler-loving goofball. A senior who refuses to slow down. A fetch fanatic. A shy soul waiting for someone to earn his trust. And so many more.
Seven dogs. Seven personalities. Seven hearts still hoping.
Meet Baby Girl, Twinkle, Marilynn, Kira, Connor, Baxter, and Venus.
They may have different stories, personalities, and needs, but they all have one thing in common:
They’re still waiting. And they’re absolutely worth it. ❤️
Baby Girl — The Official Welcome Committee ❤️
Some dogs just have a way of making everyone feel special, and Baby Girl is one of them!
This happy, social butterfly greets every volunteer with excitement, as though they’ve come just to see her. She loves people, adores playtime, and has a particular weakness for squeaky toys!
With her infectious enthusiasm and joyful personality, Baby Girl has so much love to share. She’s been waiting for someone to recognize what our volunteers already know — she’s a wonderful girl who deserves a family of her own.
Could Baby Girl be the happiness missing from your home? ❤️
Age is just a number, and Twinkle is living proof!
This spirited senior has more energy than some dogs half her age! While other dogs might prefer a leisurely stroll, Twinkle would much rather go for a run. She’s an enthusiastic explorer with incredible endurance, and sometimes you have to convince her it’s time for a break!
And then there’s her love of water. Give Twinkle a bowl to drink from, and don’t be surprised if she decides it’s actually a splash pool! Her silly antics never fail to make our volunteers laugh.
Twinkle is proof that growing older doesn’t mean slowing down, and she still has so many adventures ahead of her.
Could you be the one to share Twinkle’s next great adventure? ❤️
Marilynn may be petite, but the love she has to give is anything but small!
This sweet, athletic girl has a heart as big as her personality. She absolutely adores her people and is happiest when she’s right by their side, soaking up affection and attention.
Marilynn forms deep bonds with the people she trusts. She’s eager to learn, responds well to praise and gentle guidance, and genuinely wants to make her humans happy.
Behind those beautiful eyes is a loyal, loving companion just waiting for someone to give her the chance to shine.
Marilynn has so much love to give. Could you be the person she’s been waiting for? ❤️
If enthusiasm were an Olympic sport, Kira would bring home the gold!
This beautiful girl absolutely LOVES attention, affection, and most of all, a good game of fetch. In fact, one of her favorite days is new volunteer orientation, because it means plenty of new people ready to shower her with love and throw her favorite ball!
There’s just one little catch. Kira doesn’t always believe in returning the ball. 😂 But she’s figured out a pretty good system — bring a second ball, and she’ll happily keep the game going until she’s completely worn out!
Kira’s playful spirit and love for her people make her unforgettable to the volunteers who know her.
She’s been bringing joy to our volunteers for so long. Isn’t it time she had a family to share that joy with? ❤️
Connor — A Little Patience, A Lifetime of Loyalty ❤️
Some friendships happen instantly. Others take a little time to grow. And sometimes, those are the most rewarding friendships of all.
Meet Connor, a handsome, goofy boy with an adventurous spirit and a heart worth earning.
Connor can be cautious around new people, and he needs someone who understands that trust isn’t always given immediately. But with patience, kindness, and the opportunity to get comfortable at his own pace, his wonderful personality begins to shine.
Once you’ve earned Connor’s trust, you’ll discover a loyal, fun-loving companion who’s ready to share life’s adventures with you.
He doesn’t need someone who expects perfection. He needs someone who sees his potential and is willing to build a lasting bond.
Connor may take a little longer to give you his heart, but once he does, it’s yours for life. ❤️
Some dogs chase tennis balls. Others chase squirrels. Baxter? He chases sprinklers! 💦
Meet Baxter, our fun-loving boy who has turned an ordinary backyard sprinkler into his very own amusement park!
The moment Baxter spots a sprinkler, he’s off and running, charging straight toward the spray with pure joy. Lakes, baths, and garden hoses are perfectly fine, but sprinklers? Those are something special!
His enthusiasm is absolutely contagious, and watching him enjoy the simplest things in life is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Baxter reminds us that happiness doesn’t always come from grand adventures. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a sunny afternoon, a little water, and the freedom to be yourself.
Baxter has mastered the art of finding joy in everyday moments. Now he just needs someone to share them with. ❤️
Behind those beautiful eyes is one very clever girl with a whole lot of love to give!
Meet Venus, a sweet, intelligent, and resourceful girl who has proven she’s quite the survivor.
Venus is friendly with people, other dogs, and even cats! She can be a little shy at first, but give her time to feel comfortable, and her affectionate personality begins to shine.
She’s also an accomplished escape artist. After getting out of her foster home, Venus survived an entire week on her own before being safely recovered. That adventure taught us just how smart, determined, and resourceful she can be!
Because of her escape history, Venus needs a family committed to keeping her safe. A secure home, careful management of doors and gates, and supervised outdoor time are essential. She should never be left unattended in a backyard.
Venus isn’t looking for just any home. She’s looking for someone who understands her needs and will give her the security, patience, and love she deserves.
This clever girl has spent enough time finding her own way. Now she deserves a family who will help her feel safe and loved forever. ❤️
Seven dogs. Seven very different personalities. Seven hearts still waiting for someone to call their own.
Some need an active family. Some need patience and understanding. Others simply need someone who sees the wonderful companion our volunteers already know and love.
They’ve waited through countless adoption events, watched other dogs find their families, and continued hoping their turn will come.
They don’t need everyone to choose them. They just need the right person.
And even if you can’t adopt, you can still help. Share their stories. Tell a friend. Help us reach someone who might be searching for a dog just like one of these seven.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one person seeing one photograph, reading one story, and deciding to give a dog a chance.
They’re still here. Still hoping. And every single one is worth it. ❤️
Three boys, two girls, and an incredible team of lifesavers!
When five puppies needed help at the Carson shelter, Molly and Old Blue Inc. stepped in to cover their veterinary care, and our extraordinary foster, Teri, opened her home once again.
All five puppies tested negative for parvo, received veterinary care, and are now safe, happy, and enjoying puppy life.
This week, we’re celebrating Cathy, whose journey from volunteer dog walker to dedicated foster and event volunteer reminds us that one small YES can change countless lives.
Sometimes, one dog changes everything. For Labradors and Friends volunteer Lina, it all began with two dogs named Coco and Liberty.
Eight years ago, Lina began volunteering at Ramona Humane Society, where she met Lauren through their shared dedication to helping shelter dogs. What started as a simple desire to help would grow into eight years of freedom rides, friendships, heartbreak, and countless second chances.
The Freedom Rides That Changed Everything
Liberty and Coco’s freedom ride. Lina’s first with LAF.
Lina’s first freedom ride with Labradors and Friends was with Coco and Liberty, two dogs beginning their journeys toward brighter futures.
But her second freedom ride, with a dog named Midnight, left an especially powerful impression.
Midnight was a beautiful girl who had suffered terrible abuse and was in heartbreaking condition. Watching her finally leave the shelter and get a second chance was something Lina would never forget.
“That freedom ride changed something in me,” Lina recalls.
It inspired her to become more involved in volunteering and shelter assessments. She wanted to help rescues see the dog behind the kennel door, especially those who had been overlooked or unseen.
Eight Years of Showing Up
Over the years, Lina has worn many hats for Labradors and Friends.
She’s helped assess and pull shelter dogs, coordinate transports, communicate with shelters, assist with adoptions, walk dogs in San Marcos and Orange County, and provide temporary foster care.
Today, she plays an important role as one of our Riverside shelter pullers, working behind the scenes to help dogs make their way to safety.
Much of this work happens long before we take a freedom ride photograph. There are phone calls, shelter communications, assessments, transportation arrangements, and countless moving pieces that must come together.
It’s the kind of work most people never see, but without it, many dogs would never get their second chance.
Lina hugging Kamari at an adoption event.
Seeing the Dogs Others Overlook
Throughout her years with Labradors and Friends, Lina has watched the rescue step up time and again for dogs who might otherwise be left behind.
Black dogs. Seniors. Dogs with medical needs. Dogs who simply need someone willing to look beyond their circumstances and see their potential.
She’s also experienced the difficult side of rescue. The heartbreaking losses, unexpected challenges, and cases that stay with you long after they’re over.
But she’s witnessed something equally powerful: the extraordinary dedication of people who refuse to give up.
From fosters and transporters to shelter staff, veterinarians, adopters, and volunteers working quietly behind the scenes, everyone has a part to play.
Rescue Takes a Village
Labradors and Friends volunteer Lina hugging Kira at a holiday event.
“Every person plays an important role, and every effort matters,” Lina says.
For her, rescue has always been about more than saving dogs. It’s also about the friendships, the people who show up when they’re needed, and the shared belief that every dog deserves a chance.
“The dogs, friendships, and experiences have changed my life. I feel truly blessed to be a small part of such a wonderful rescue community.”
And after eight years, that feeling hasn’t changed.
“There is nothing quite like watching a shelter dog walk out on a freedom ride and begin a new life.”
Thank you, Lina, for eight years of compassion, dedication, and helping dogs find their way to safety. We’re grateful to have you as part of the Labradors and Friends family.
Be Part of Someone’s Second Chance
Behind every rescued dog is a community of people who made that rescue possible.
Whether you can help with shelter transports, volunteer at adoption events, foster a dog, or lend a hand behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in our rescue family.
Sometimes saving lives takes more than one rescue. It takes people coming together, sharing resources, and refusing to give up when the odds seem overwhelming.
For five little puppies at the Carson shelter, that village made all the difference. ❤️🐾
Five Puppies in Need of a Lifeline
When we learned about five puppies in danger at the Carson shelter, we desperately wanted to help.
Another puppy had been euthanized following a reported positive parvovirus test, leaving serious concerns about the health of the remaining puppies.
For Labradors and Friends, the decision wasn’t simple.
We had recently spent more than $11,000 providing veterinary care for Charlotte and her puppies. The possibility of taking on another parvo crisis was more than our all-volunteer rescue could financially manage.
But walking away from five little lives wasn’t something we wanted to do.
We needed a partner.
Meet the Girls: Hazel and Aspen.
When Old Blue Inc. Said YES ❤️
That’s when Molly from Old Blue Inc. stepped forward.
Old Blue Inc. is a nonprofit whose primary mission is helping senior dogs at the Carson shelter receive veterinary care beyond what the shelter can provide.
Through an agreement with the shelter, Molly can arrange for dogs to receive treatment from outside veterinarians.
And although these five puppies weren’t seniors, Molly recognized that they needed help.
Old Blue Inc. agreed to cover their veterinary expenses, making it possible for Labradors and Friends to bring all five puppies to safety.
Then came the wonderful news.
All five puppies tested NEGATIVE for parvo!
They received canine parvovirus monoclonal antibodies and fluids as part of their veterinary care.
What had seemed like an impossible rescue was suddenly becoming a story of hope.
Teri Said YES. Again!
Medical care was only part of the equation. Five puppies also needed a safe place to land.
Enter Teri.
Our longtime puppy foster had just finished caring for Charlotte and her puppies, helping that entire little family find their forever homes.
After all those weeks of puppy care, she certainly deserved a break.
But when five more little lives needed somewhere safe to go, Teri opened her home once again!
Meet the boys: Remi, Finn, and Casper.
Three boys. Two girls. Five little personalities, each getting a chance to grow, play, and experience the comfort of being loved.
Today, they’re doing exactly what puppies should be doing — tumbling over one another, exploring their surroundings, enjoying cuddles, and making their foster family smile.
Watch Their Second Chance in Action 🎬
Sometimes words simply can’t capture the joy of watching rescued puppies play.
See for yourself!
Rescue Takes a Village
This rescue reminds us why collaboration matters.
Molly and Old Blue Inc. made the medical care possible.
Teri made their safe landing possible.
Together, we gave five precious puppies the second chance they deserved.
To Molly, Old Blue Inc., and Teri, thank you for being the people who say YES when animals need you most.
Because when rescues, volunteers, and compassionate people work together, extraordinary things can happen.
Five little lives. One big second chance. And a village that made it possible. ❤️
