About Homeward Trails Our History, Mission and Principles
Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 2002, we secure temporary and permanent homes for thousands of dogs and cats annually who are rescued from under-resourced communities and shelters or whose owners can no longer care for them.
While most of our animals come from the mid-Atlantic region, we also rescue animals internationally and have partners in numerous countries including Thailand, Kuwait, Peru, Russia, Ukraine and more.
We also provide spay/neuter for hundreds of street dogs and cats annually in Puerto Rico through our GuaniCARES program.
In 2020, Homeward Trails created our Trails UP program which brings lifesaving resources, training, education, outreach and funding to Virginia’s most under-resourced communities. Trails UP provides Trap-Neuter-Return and spay/neuter programs, vaccine clinics and sustainable solutions and programs to address the root causes of animal homelessness.
Our History Where Homeward Trails Began
Homeward Trails started by accident! In December 2001, Founder Sue Bell was vacationing in Fayette County, WV when she happened upon the local animal shelter. During a quick stop to drop off biscuits, she was told the sad history of this shelter. Their facility had been hit by a flash flood a few months prior, drowning more than 50 animals. Now operating out of a small trailer, the shelter had little space to house the animals, and the euthanasia rate was almost 98%.
Bell decided to rescue three dogs that day, setting into motion a future no one could predict. Once back in the DC area, the three dogs – Brown Dog, Black Dog, and Lucy – were “put up for adoption” via e-mails to friends and ads in local papers. In just one week, all had homes. But the calls and e-mails kept coming from folks asking Bell to help them find a pet.
Recognizing a demand from local animal lovers and a large supply of animals in Fayette County, Bell began driving the six-hour, one-way trip every weekend to bring dogs and cats back to DC for adoption. At first, the goal was just to rescue 50 animals in honor of those that drowned in the shelter flood.
Now, more than 20 years later and tens of thousands of animals rescued, Homeward Trails is going strong and has no plans of stopping until every homeless dog and cat out there can be assured of a loving home.
Our Mission What We Do
Homeward Trails secures temporary and permanent homes in the Mid-Atlantic Region for dogs and cats from under-resourced shelters or whose owners can no longer care for them.
Sadly, without our help, many of these adoptable animals would face euthanasia.
Homeward Trails also brings lifesaving resources, training, education, outreach and funding to Virginia’s most under-resourced communities through our Trails UP program. Trails UP provides Trap-Neuter-Return and spay/neuter programs, vaccine clinics and more.
We cannot rescue our way out of animal homelessness. Trails UP aims to create and implement sustainable solutions and programs to this need.
Our Principles What Homeward Trails Promises
1. To always operate in the best interest of the animals we take into our program and to advocate for the proper care of those in shelters and in private home.;
2. To provide quality care for the animals we take in for as long as they are in our program and to provide ongoing support to our adopters.
3. To always maintain a manageable number of animals in our system whereby we can ensure proper medical care, behavioral training, and housing for the animals.
4. To rescue the widest array of dogs and cats by avoiding general discrimination based on breed, age, and health.
5. To provide our shelter partners and their communities with resources that will result in the highest level of care for their animals, an increase in spay/neuter surgeries, and a decrease in the abuse, neglect, and abandonment of dogs and cats.
6. To treat our volunteers, adopters, and partners with understanding, patience, and support.
