Leverett Dog Rescue Rehomes Over 2,000 Dogs Amid U.S. Shelter Crisis
Better Together Dog Rescue in Leverett, Massachusetts, has found permanent homes for more than 2,000 dogs in just five years, stepping into a national crisis of homeless and overcrowded shelters.
Founded in 2021 by Jenny Franz, the organization operates with a lean team of three paid staff members earning minimum wage, supported by a dedicated network of volunteers and fosters. Franz describes rescuing dogs from overwhelmed cities like Cleveland, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, where stray populations and shelter overcrowding reach dire levels.
Cross-Country Rescue Missions Deliver Hope
Twice annually, Better Together volunteers travel to Texas for “boots on the ground” operations, delivering food, supplies, and medical care through their partnership with the Forgotten Animals of Cleveland Texas program. Dogs rescued in these areas undergo thorough veterinary checks and mandatory isolation before being transported to Massachusetts foster homes.
“It’s a volunteer-favorite shift because they get to see the full journey from crisis to second chance,” Franz said, highlighting the hands-on commitment that fuels the organization’s success.
Local Partnerships Extend Impact Across Western Mass
In addition to out-of-state rescues, Better Together cooperates with local Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospitals in Springfield, West Springfield, and Deerfield to care for area dogs facing emergency or abandonment situations.
The rescue’s presence is visible at local events and venues such as Springfield PetSmart, farmers markets, pride marches, and breweries, where volunteers like Sydne Didier actively connect dogs with prospective adopters.
Foster Families Drive Lifesaving Work
Volunteers have become the backbone of Better Together’s success. Austin Urkiel and his wife have fostered 22 dogs and adopted two, explaining, “The line is, ‘it saves two lives.’ You hold one dog at home while freeing a spot in the shelter for another.”
Kayla Blair, volunteer coordinator and foster, witnesses dramatic transformations in dogs once they leave the shelter environment. “You can see the stress melt off them as they take their first steps outside,” she said.
Community Embraces Effort With Open Arms
Franz expressed deep gratitude for the warm reception from the Leverett community and western Massachusetts at large. “We’re small but mighty,” she said, noting the universal positivity surrounding Better Together’s work and how the rescue has become known as “helpers” across the region.
“It’s very infrequent in life that you get to be involved with something that is so ultimately positive,” said volunteer Sydne Didier. “Helping one dog move from a bad situation into a loving home really makes a difference for everyone involved.”
As the demand for rescue dogs steadily climbs nationwide, Better Together Dog Rescue’s model of steady, compassionate intervention underscores the critical role local organizations play in solving a nationwide animal welfare crisis — proving even a small team can create big change.
For Colorado readers and animal lovers across the US, this story highlights how regional efforts join a larger movement fighting for homeless dogs at the heart of our communities, fostering hope one dog at a time.
