Look at the white smoke.
You can see it from the road. Behind the Animal Control building, white smoke rises from the cremation building.
And every time I see it, I think about the dogs who didn’t make it out.
Not because they were bad dogs.
Not because they were unwanted.
But because there wasn’t enough room.
Bartow County does not have a public animal shelter. Animal Control is a rescue-only facility. There are no public adoptions. There is no public access for families to walk through kennels looking for a dog.
When Animal Control is full, the dogs on the streets don’t stop coming. And the clock doesn’t stop either.
Three days.
Three days for a stray to be reclaimed, rescued, or otherwise find a way out. And when there is nowhere for another dog to go?
What happens next is the part I couldn’t accept.
I kept asking myself:
How did we get here?
And then I asked myself the question that changed my life:
If not me, then who?
If not now, then when?
In January 2022, I saw a photograph of a terrified dog at Animal Control.
Her name was Luna.
And I couldn’t look away.
Inspired by Luna. Built by Community.
Who We Are
Bartow Rescue & Resources was created to fill the gaps in our community’s pet support system.
We rescue dogs, help families through difficult times, provide community resources, and work to keep pets where they belong—with the people who love them.
We believe every situation deserves compassion, every family deserves to be heard, and every pet deserves a chance.
Crystal spent several weeks as a young puppy in Animal Control with her siblings. We saved 3 and her mom.
She spent the beginning of summer 2024 at events every weekend. But every weekend, people walked by. She watched her siblings got adopted; finally, her mom also got adopted. Crystal waited. It was crushing to watch her grow up in the rescue. She was beautiful, sweet, loved kids, other dogs, and she waited.
Then one day in June a man shows up and said, “My sisters told me that you have a dog I might want to adopt.” His sisters had been walking this girl all summer. Crystal went home, because we kept showing up.
What We Do
We provide:
- Dog Rescue & Adoption
- Foster Programs
- Angel Foster Program
- Emergency Medical Assistance
- Community Pet Resources
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Community Outreach
As we grow, we’ll continue adding programs that meet the needs of Bartow County.
Our Vision
We’re working toward a future where every family knows where to turn for help and every pet has the opportunity to live a safe, healthy life.
Our long-term vision is a community campus that brings rescue, education, veterinary resources, and support services together in one welcoming place.
Bogey — The Legacy Behind the Name
How We Got Our Nickname
Long before Bartow Rescue & Resources took shape, one couple opened their home to a dog named Bogey. He was on the euthanasia list — severely emaciated, heartworm-positive, and terrified. It took the two of them—and it took one woman choosing to foster him first—to give him the chance no one else would.
Bogey’s transformation became the heart behind our nickname, Bogey’s Buddies, and that name has stayed with us ever since.
Luna is still the reason Bartow Rescue & Resources exists. But Bogey is the legacy behind our name, and that legacy carries on today through the Bogey’s Buddies Rescue Program, where every dog gets the same second chance he did.
Bogey’s Buddies — the legacy behind the name.
Our Values
- Compassion
- Integrity
- Community
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Responsible Stewardship
We'd Love to Meet You.
Whether you’re looking to adopt, volunteer, foster, donate, or partner with us, we’d love to welcome you.