12 Hills Dog Rescue in Walthill, Nebraska, is a lifeline for dogs and the families who adopt them. Operated by Nola and Chuck B., the rescue receives critical animal care supplies through Reservation Animal Rescue® (RAR), which helps keep kennels clean and provides starter supplies for new adopters.  

“We use the supplies to give to people who adopt. We use it for the kennel to keep things clean. It is so useful; it’s unbelievable. It’s saved thousands of dollars,” Nola said. 

The rescue also received a grant from RAR for a community investment project, allowing Nola to hire a behavioral trainer for dogs with social or behavioral challenges.  

“It saved our rescue. We were ready to close. It kind of gave us new hope,” said Nola. “We really needed help for dogs that had some social issues, and that’s where our trainer consultants have come through for us. They’ve helped with behaviors. They tell us things we wouldn’t know. The funds that we received to help us get consultant trainers to work with the dogs were unbelievable to us.”  

People like Kennedy and her husband, James, benefit directly from these programs. They first adopted Shiloh, a stray. “I wanted to adopt an adult dog versus a puppy, because those are usually harder to find homes for. We picked Shiloh because she had a batch of puppies here and was a good dog. She’s very sweet and smiley and has plenty of space to run.”  

A month later, they welcomed Emmy, a shepherd-mix. Emmy was initially adopted by another family but was surrendered after a few months. 

Kennedy said the dogs have very different personalities but get along well with each other.  

“12 Hills Dog Rescue is the absolute best, and Chuck and Nola are the most caring people I know,” she said. “They were very easy to work with and very supportive. They helped us make the best decision for our family.” 

Kennedy spoke about the benefits of RAR.  

“We did get supplied with the collar and leash. We got a bag of food, dog treats, flea and tick stuff, and a food dish,” Kennedy said. “We really appreciated being able to go home with a good starter supply with things to care for our dog.”  

“A decent bag of dog food is $30,” James said. With everything provided, he estimated saving close to $100. 

The rescue sees hundreds of animals each year, many of which are surrendered by families or found as strays. Dogs like Hazel, who gave birth to nine puppies shortly after arriving, and Audrey, another mom with nine puppies, rely on the shelter’s care until they find new homes. Edgar, a Great Dane/lab mix, was surrendered from the Omaha Reservation. Nola hopes every dog finds a loving family and blesses each one before they leave. 

12 Hills Dog Rescue typically places approximately 200 dogs per year, but demand often exceeds its capacity. Unfortunately, they’re the only local no-kill shelter.  

“All the rescues are full around here,” Chuck said.  

“We need a spay/neuter clinic desperately,” said Nola. 

With RAR’s continued support, Nola and Chuck can provide care, training, and hope for dogs and families across their community.