About
About The Mission
Hobble Nation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on assisting those who rescue, foster, and adopt dogs with special needs. Our mission is to provide education, donations, and support to organizations and individuals who find it in their hearts to promote the longevity and quality of life of dogs who would otherwise not be given a chance to live and thrive in a loving, caring environment. Disabled dogs, medical dogs, senior dogs, and hospice dogs are often abandoned or relinquished due to their costly care and higher maintenance needs. Our research and personal experiences show that these dogs are very difficult to place. Oftentimes, euthanasia, abandonment, or neglect is the unfortunate outcome. About The Inspiration The inspiration for Hobble Nation came from a sweet, loving rescue dog named Hazel. Hazel was saved from a terrible life at a homeless encampment after being hit by a truck and left broken in a field to die or fend for herself. Her body was broken in several places, but she hobbled on and survived! By the time someone on the outside found her, it had already been at least two months. By then, she was paralyzed and incontinent with several health issues. At the time a Facebook post was started to find rescue backing or someone to foster her. Rescues are beyond overburdened, and no one was able to help. Finally, my husband and I rescued her. We had no experience with disabled dogs. We had no one to help us, no supplies, no knowledge of next-steps. However, we felt the calling to take her into our home, and we moved forward in faith and love. About The Support We began reaching out to the community for help. We were blown away (and still are) at the amount of love, support, advice, and donations we received for Hazel. Dozens of people came to meet her. We made so many new friends and connections, and suddenly we did not feel scared, alone, or unsure. We saw (and continue to see) so many positive changes in Hazel - in her health, her strength, her personality, and her zest for life. People call us heroes for saving her, but the reality is that we saved each other. Hazel has taught us to live in the moment, to appreciate even the tiniest things, to persevere through challenges, and to hobble on despite the obstacles in our path. She brings joy to us daily, hourly, and by the minute. Our other rescue dog, Casper, has taught her how to be a puppy, and he gets the majority of credit for her rehabilitation and phenomenal quality of life. Together they have amplified the love in our household, and we are so incredibly grateful. About The Gratitude It is this gratitude that has led us to form Hobble Nation. We saw and felt the love and support from our community - both online and in person. These, along with the resources, money, and education gifted to us for our little "hobbler", who fended for herself in a terrible environment, must gain momentum and turn into something much bigger than ourselves. We feel it is our calling to pay it forward and help others experience the pure beauty and love that comes with loving and helping special needs dogs through community support. Please check out Hazel's Instagram account at hazel_the_hobbler to follow her journey from homeless to healing. |