63 Dogs. One Unexpected Beginning. A Legacy of Love.
When Carole joined Labradors and Friends in August 2023, she couldn't have imagined where rescue would take her.
Three years later, she's fostered 63 dogs, helped countless others behind the scenes, and discovered just how much one frightened dog named Flower could teach her about patience, trust, and love.
But Carole's journey began with a very special Great Pyrenees named Cindy, whose legacy continues through every dog Carole helps.
Read Carole's inspiring story and discover how one unexpected beginning changed 63 lives.
Meet Hercules: 80 Pounds of Love, Waiting for a Home
Imagine being tied to a fence in the middle of the night, on a leash so short you couldn't even sit down.
That was Hercules' reality on October 4, until a kindhearted woman doing her nightly cat rescue work in Los Angeles spotted him and refused to leave him behind.
Through a network of compassionate animal lovers, his story reached Labradors and Friends. We knew we had to help.
Today, Hercules is safe, neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. He's just over a year old, weighs 80 pounds, and is an absolute sweetheart! Everyone who has met him describes him as friendly, affectionate, and good with other dogs.
But Hercules is still living in boarding.
As wonderful as it is that he's safe, boarding isn't a home. We want Hercules to experience soft beds, family routines, belly rubs, and the comfort of knowing he belongs.
We're looking for a foster or forever family willing to give this big, sweet boy the chance he deserves. A foster home would also help us learn more about his personality and training so we can find his perfect match.
He deserves more than just being rescued. He deserves a place to call home.
Sometimes the biggest victories at adoption events are the connections that bring our dogs one step closer to home.
Our November 7 adoption event brought plenty of smiles, belly rubs, and promising introductions! Selina charmed visitors with her sweet personality, Calvin showed off his big paws, and Crickett has a meet-and-greet on the calendar.
But the biggest news belongs to Baxter! After such a long wait, this special boy is finally getting the opportunity to experience life in a foster home in San Diego. We couldn't be happier for him!
And thanks to our wonderful volunteers, supporters, and generous community vendors, it was a day filled with hope.
Read the full story and see the photos from our adoption day!
A Full House, Happy Winners, and a Night for Rescue!
SOLD OUT! Our November 4 Bingo Night at Baran Mediterranean brought together an incredible crowd for an evening of laughter, fabulous prizes, delicious food, and a whole lot of love for rescue dogs!
From beautiful gift baskets and dog-themed treasures to plenty of happy winners, the evening was a wonderful reminder of what happens when our rescue community comes together.
A huge thank-you to Baran Mediterranean for hosting and donating a portion of the evening's food sales, and to Sham Paws for organizing another entertaining Bingo Night!
We're also incredibly grateful to the volunteers, individuals, and businesses who donated every single prize. Your generosity made the evening possible!
To everyone who attended, donated, or helped behind the scenes, THANK YOU! Every fundraiser helps us continue providing shelter, veterinary care, and second chances to dogs who need us most.
See the happy winners and all the fun from Bingo Night!
On November 2, Labradors and Friends joined the Employee Health Fair at Masonic Homes in Covina for a day of community connections, conversations, and plenty of puppy love!
Alongside vendors offering health and wellness resources, our volunteers shared information about rescue, fostering, and adoption. But the sweetest part of the day was the opportunity for our dogs to visit the senior center and bring a few extra smiles along the way.
Sometimes making a difference isn't about finding a forever home that day. It's about sharing kindness, building connections, and reminding people of the special bond between humans and dogs.
Because rescue is about more than saving lives. It's about touching them, too.
π« Sweet Treats, Second Chances!
Holiday shopping just got a little sweeter! β€οΈ
Our See's Candies holiday fundraiser is officially underway!
Whether you're shopping for gifts, filling stockings, or treating yourself, every purchase through our special storefront helps support the rescue dogs in our care.
Shop through December 4, 2026!
Just click the flyer above to shop, share the sweetness, and help us give more dogs the second chances they deserve.
π¨ Paint Your Pet β On a Clock!
We've been waiting for this one!
Join Labradors and Friends for a fun afternoon of creativity, pets, and rescue!
Turn your favorite photo of your pet into a personalized clock you can proudly display at home or give as a gift.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Two sessions: Noonβ2 PM or 2:30β4:30 PM
Where: El Farolito Mexican Restaurant, Placentia
Cost: $55 per person, with $30 benefiting Labradors and Friends!
We'll pre-sketch your pet before the workshop, so you can focus on bringing your masterpiece to life.
Ready to reserve your spot? Email a photo of your pet and your phone number to fundraisingLAF@gmail.com.
Come paint, have fun, and help rescue dogs get their second chances! β€οΈ
π LAST CHANCE FOR HOLIDAY ORDERS!
Our Pampered Chef fundraiser was scheduled to wrap up this week, but there's good news for anyone who hasn't had a chance to shop yet:
The party has been extended through November 12th π
That means more time to browse, find fall kitchen favoritesβand help our rescue dogs at the same time.
A portion of proceeds from purchases made through our fundraiser goes back to Labradors and Friends, helping us keep saying yes when dogs need us.
And after the week we've had, we can tell you those yeses matter. β€οΈ
More time to shop. More opportunities to help. More dogs getting their second chance.
Every Act of Kindness Creates a New Beginning. β€οΈ
Sometimes rescue begins with a single person who refuses to look away.
For Hercules, it was a woman who found him tied to a fence in the middle of the night. One act of compassion started his journey toward a better life.
For Baxter, it was someone opening their home after a long wait, giving him the chance to finally experience life beyond boarding.
For Carole, it's been 63 foster dogs, countless miles, and years of showing up wherever she's needed. A reminder that rescue isn't just something we do. It's a commitment we make.
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And this week, our community showed up in so many wonderful ways.
A sold-out Bingo Night brought friends together to support dogs in need. Our adoption event created new connections and hopeful beginnings. And at the Health Faire in Covina, our dogs reminded us that sometimes the love we share reaches far beyond rescue.
Different people. Different moments. One beautiful mission.
Rescue doesn't happen because of one person or one organization.
It happens because someone says yes. Someone opens a door. Someone donates, volunteers, fosters, adopts, or simply believes that every dog deserves a chance.
Because being rescued is only the beginning. Being loved for a lifetime is the goal.
Thank you for being part of their stories and for helping us write the next chapter for the dogs still waiting.
Because friends don't let friends go homeless. π
Hercules, Marilynn, Twinkle, and so many others are still waiting for someone to see them. Sometimes all it takes is sharing a photo or telling a friend about a dog who needs a home. You never know whose heart you might reach.
π Could you open your home to a foster dog?
Hercules is safe, but he's still in boarding. Baxter is finally getting his chance in a foster home after a long wait. Every foster home opens a door for another dog in need. Could you be someone's next second chance?
β€οΈ Celebrate the people who make rescue possible.
From Carole's 63 foster dogs to our volunteers at adoption events, Bingo Night, and community gatherings, this week reminded us how much can happen when people show up. Every act of kindness matters.
π£ Help us spread the word!
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We may not have an adoption event this coming weekend, but our dogs are still waiting! Share our adoptable dogs, invite a friend to follow Labradors and Friends, or tell someone about the difference fostering can make.
You may not be the person who adopts a waiting dog. But you could be the reason their forever family finds them. β€οΈ
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Until next Sunday...
With gratitude,
The Volunteers of Labradors and Friends
Labradors and Friends Dog Rescue Group | 2307 Fenton Parkway #107-160 | San Diego, CA 92108 US
