DAWG

They come in bleeding, broken, burned. Carried in cardboard boxes. Dragged from chains. Pulled from the filth of hoarding houses, ditches, and dumpsters. Some have been beaten, some have been abandoned, and some—like the wildlife DAWG rescues—are simply victims of life’s harshest moments: hit by cars, tangled in fences, orphaned too soon.

These are Michigan’s most vulnerable animals, the ones no one wants, no one helps, no one even sees. Except for DAWG.

The Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) doesn’t turn away from the suffering. They run toward it. Whether the animal has been abused, abandoned, or left dying from injury, DAWG says yes—no matter the species, no matter the cost, no matter how broken

The Heart of DAWG

DAWG is more than a rescue—it is a lifeline. A relentless, compassionate force standing up for the animals others have failed.

They don’t stop at dogs and cats. DAWG takes in pigs, horses, goats, wildlife, and more. If it breathes, and it’s in pain, DAWG shows up. And they don’t ask how hard it will be. They ask, "How can we help?"

One Life, One Story: Gideon

Of all the stories that pass through DAWG’s gates, few haunt the heart like Gideon’s.

Gideon was just a puppy when his short life became a nightmare. Instead of being loved, he was tortured.

His former owner placed him into a bathtub filled with scalding hot water—intentionally.

The burns were horrific. His skin peeled off in sheets. The pain was unimaginable. And after that act of cruelty, his abuser left him to suffer alone, in silence, and in agony. By the time DAWG was called, Gideon was barely alive. His tiny body was covered in raw, open wounds. He was trembling from trauma, unable to move, too weak to fight.

But DAWG didn’t turn away.

They said yes to the emergency vet care.
Yes to the 24/7 nursing.
Yes to the heartache and the horror of his condition—because he deserved a chance.

Today, Gideon is with his new loving family but still on the long road to recovery. His wounds are healing slowly. His skin is fragile. He still requires specialized medical care, and the emotional trauma runs deep. But somehow, through it all—Gideon is fighting.

He wags his tail. He’s learning to trust again. He is surviving.He has a chance—because DAWG said yes.

But for every Gideon, there are more still waiting in silence

Why We Fundraise: Because the Lives They Save Depend On It

This fundraiser isn’t just for fun—it’s an absolute necessity.

DAWG runs on donations, and the need never stops. They receive no government funding and relies solely on the kindness and generosity of people like you. Every animal they save—every wound cleaned, every surgery performed, every life brought back from the brink—is made possible entirely by donations. Without that support, they simply can’t continue to say “yes” to the animals who need them most.

Every dollar helps fund:

Emergency surgeries
Life-saving medication
Burn care and trauma treatment
Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
Food, shelter, and sanctuary
Transport and outreach to high-risk areas

Without donations, animals like Gideon are left to die. With your help—they live.