Little Big Dog Rescue, Inc.

Little Big Dog Rescue is the little rescue with the BIG heart!

In January 2025, LBDR made the New River Valley its home and deepened its commitment to becoming an organization that truly stands out within our community. We are here not only for the dogs in our care, but also for the people who love them.

While rescue remains at the heart of what we do, we believe in going beyond the traditional “rescue, rehab, rehome” model. Our mission is rooted in breaking the cycles that lead animals into shelters in the first place. We invest in proactive solutions—offering access to training, connecting families with low-cost spay/neuter resources, and providing financial assistance when medical challenges or life circumstances put a dog’s home at risk.

By supporting both dogs and their people, we strive to keep more pets where they belong: safe, loved, and at home.

How You Can Help

With your donations, we intend on furthering our mission of Rescue, Rehabilitation, Training, Adoption and Community Education. Every dollar donated will go towards:

• Operating Expenses – These are the lifeline of our rescue—providing the food in their bowls, the medical care that heals them, and the safe space that gives them a second chance. Every dollar keeps our doors open and our mission moving forward.
• Major Medical Cases – The ones others turn away… we lean in. Your support allows us to say “yes” to dogs facing unimaginable challenges—severe injuries, chronic illness, painful dental disease, and the heartbreaking effects of neglect and starvation. These are the lives that need us most.
• Behavioral Training – Not all wounds are visible. Dogs struggling with deep fear, anxiety, or past trauma deserve patience and a path forward—not a deadline. Funding gives them access to professional training, transforming fear into trust and giving them a real chance at life.
• Golden Years Furever Fund – No dog should lose their family just because they’ve grown old. This fund helps keep senior dogs where they belong—at home, loved and cared for—by easing the burden of costly, age-related medical needs.
• Community Paws Project – Compassion starts in our own community. By providing low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccines, and microchipping, we help families care for their pets, prevent unnecessary litters, and keep more animals out of shelters before they ever have to be rescued.

Our Story

In 2016, Little Big Dog Rescue, Inc. was founded by Dot Terry with a simple but powerful mission: to give senior dogs the dignity, comfort, and love they deserve at the end of their lives.

For nearly a decade, Dot opened her home and her heart to dogs who had nowhere else to go—many of them grieving the loss of their owners, displaced by life’s hardships, or overlooked in shelters because of their age. As a retired RN, she became more than a rescuer—she became a hospice nurse for these dogs, providing medications, specialized care, and, most importantly, compassion in their final days. Because of Dot, countless dogs did not pass alone or afraid—they passed knowing love.

In 2025, Dot retired, entrusting her legacy to long-time rescuer Krystal Bond, who stepped into the role of President. With over 20 years of experience—primarily in German Shepherd rescue—Krystal recognized a growing and urgent need in the New River Valley: a rescue that could serve dogs of all breeds, all ages, and all circumstances.

That need sparked a new chapter for Little Big Dog Rescue.

Since January 2025, LBDR has taken in nearly 200 dogs—each one receiving critical medical care, the safety of a foster home, and a real chance at a better life through adoption. What started as a small, specialized sanctuary has quickly grown into a vital, community-driven rescue effort.

Today, LBDR is powered by more than 30 foster homes, over 50 dedicated volunteers, and strong partnerships with local businesses. Together, we are not just saving dogs—we are building a network of support that strengthens our entire community.

But the need continues to grow.

Every day, we are faced with difficult decisions—dogs we want to say “yes” to, but can’t without the resources to support them. Your support allows us to continue this life-saving work, expand our reach, and honor the legacy that started it all.

Because every dog deserves a chance. And with your help, we can say “yes” to the next one.

Any amount makes an impact. Your donation today helps change a dog’s life—and strengthens the community we all share—tomorrow. Together, we can give back to this incredible community and the dogs who depend on us for care, safety, and a second chance.

Stay Connected

Want to see the lives you’re helping change in real time?

Stay connected with us in the NRV by signing up for our quarterly newsletter (Sign-Up Here) or following along on Facebook (Check us out). From rescue stories and second chances to happy tails and behind-the-scenes moments—you’ll be part of every life saved.