About us

Why we run a rescue without a kennel.

Heart of the Foothills Rescue serves the rural counties of western North Carolina, where access to shelters and spay and neuter services is limited. We take in surrendered and abandoned dogs, cats, and the occasional farm animal, provide medical care, and work to place them with families in the region who understand rural life.

We were founded in 2015 after a winter storm left a pack of abandoned hunting dogs stranded in Pisgah National Forest. A few neighbors turned a barn into a triage center and never stopped.

Today we operate a small intake facility plus a network of foster farms. Our volunteers drive dirt roads, coordinate with local sheriffs on cruelty cases, and run low-cost spay and neuter clinics that prevent the next generation of strays.

Every adoption includes a honest conversation about rural life. A dog that needs a fenced yard is not going to be happy on 40 acres of open land, and we say so.

Leadership and governance

We are governed by a five-member volunteer board that meets quarterly. Day-to-day operations are led by a small paid staff. Full bios and our annual Form 990 are available on request.

Financial transparency

Our most recent audit is available upon request at [email protected]. Over 91% of expenses fund direct animal care. Administrative costs run under 6%; fundraising under 3%.