At Danny & Ron’s Rescue, Saving Dogs Is More Than A Goal, It’s A Promise

By Patrick Sherry

Thousands of dogs each year are euthanized or abused, but Danny & Ron’s Rescue is working to save as many of them from this as they can. At Danny & Ron’s, dogs live together as a family in a home where they are treated, fed and loved, no matter where they came from, as they await their forever homes.

Having recently reached the milestone of saving 15,000 dogs, Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta have been on an over 20-year-long mission to create a haven for all dogs in need. With Wellington’s equestrian season in full swing, the two horse trainers and their team are back in Wellington to try to find homes for dogs.

“They promise every dog that they will always have a better life and a forever home,” said Lisa Davis Engel, who works in event marketing and media relations for the nonprofit.

Robertshaw and Danta started their rescue mission in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the Gulf Coast and left many dogs stranded. Using horse trailers, they brought more than 600 dogs back to their horse farm and home in Camden, South Carolina. They converted their property into a shelter and eventually started adopting the dogs out to their many contacts in the equestrian community.

After saving hundreds of dogs within months, their work did not stop there. They then broadened their focus to help any homeless or abused dog. As soon as they join the pack, dogs are given everything from home-made food to medical care until they are ready for adoption.

The two call their home in Camden “The Doghouse,” where they live together with all the ones that they rescue. Robertshaw and Danta routinely go to shelters to pick up dogs that are about to be euthanized, have been abandoned or need a home. At any point, they have up to 150 dogs in The Doghouse, where they provide the ultimate safe haven where abused and neglected dogs can recover and learn to trust again, in a loving home.

“It’s not that they planned to have their whole house taken over by the dogs,” explained Kim Tudor, director of marketing for Danny & Ron’s Rescue. “It just evolved that way.”

Every year, Robertshaw and Danta return to Wellington during the equestrian season and bring dogs with them. They set up a booth at the Winter Equestrian Festival, which has become a popular fixture at the showgrounds. There, people can meet dogs that are ready for adoption.

Tudor explained that dog overpopulation is a major problem, and the rescue tries to address some of those issues.

“Most shelters cannot handle the influx of dogs that are coming in, and many end up euthanized,” Tudor said. “We are pulling those dogs out of that funnel, vetting them, training them and finding them good homes.”

Team members at the rescue prioritize ensuring that every dog will be cared for, even when they are adopted. People looking to adopt undergo a thorough application process involving references and verification to determine if they are a good fit. They also have to sign an agreement that specifies that they will return the dog to Danny & Ron’s if they need to give it up.

“We want to know where these dogs go,” Robertshaw said. “We made a promise to them, and we live by that promise: they will never end up in a shelter or a bad situation ever again.”

In 2018, filmmaker Ron Davis released a documentary on Danny & Ron’s Rescue, called Life in the Doghouse. For six months, camera crews recorded the inner workings of the organization and all the work they do to give dogs a better life. It touched on how thousands of dogs are euthanized each year, and many animals are kept in inhumane conditions, which contrasted with the selfless mission of the rescue to give hope to animals that have no voice.

The documentary was played at local theaters across the U.S and was offered to other local rescues to use for fundraising. It was later picked up by Netflix, which helped it reach a wider audience. The documentary received critical acclaim and put a larger spotlight on the rescue as a whole.

The rescue received thousands of calls, e-mails, requests for help and donations after the film went on the streaming platform.

“It really changed our entire lives, and forced us to redirect some of our energies into creating systems where we could help more people because we were just overwhelmed,” Tudor said.

Outside of rehabilitating dogs, Danny & Ron’s Rescue has multiple other outreach programs that help owners and animals in need. Team members, for example, created a disaster relief fund, which provides resources to dogs impacted by natural disasters. Recently, these efforts have gone toward providing aid in Texas during flood emergencies and even to help shelters impacted by the war in Ukraine.

There are also programs that give financial assistance to dogs experiencing life-threatening medical conditions. In Palm Beach County, Robertshaw and Danta have donated $20,000 over the last few years to Animeals on Wheels, which is an extension of Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches. The program helps aid seniors with pets by providing them with animal food and veterinary care.

“Danny and I were raised with compassion,” Danta said. “Not just for animals, but for people in need. We feel fortunate to be here not to take — but to give.”

On Sunday, Feb. 15, the organization will host its 17th annual Kids Lip Sync fundraiser, this year with a Grammy Awards theme. It will be held at Deeridge Farm in Wellington.

The fundraiser invites animal lovers to watch kids, mostly young equestrians, perform on stage, with all the proceeds going toward Danny & Ron’s Rescue. Tickets are available now for this historically sold-out event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Visit www.dannyronsrescue.org/events to learn more.

Last year, two-time Grammy winner Gloria Gaynor closed out the Kids Lip Sync event, which had a groovy “Woofstock” theme.

“It was a great time. The kids were just wonderful, and they worked so hard on their routines and songs,” Gaynor said. “I’m as proud of them as if they were my own children. I am here because I love dogs, and I love Danny and Ron.”

Members of the rescue are now planning to partner with grant writers to secure additional funding for the nonprofit’s mission.

They’re also exploring the development of educational programs that teach children why dog rescue matters.

None of these efforts would have been possible without the drive and commitment of the rescue’s founders. Team members explained that they are proud to see how much the organization has grown and how many dogs they have been able to rescue.

“I have never worked with such a group of individuals more passionate and dedicated to dog rescue in my life,” Engel said. “I am always blown away with the board, the individuals who donate their time, the hours spent at the booth and the lives they’ve touched.”

Danny & Ron’s Rescue is completely donor-funded, fueled by a community of supporters who believe in the mission. Every contribution, large or small, helps save lives, bring comfort and create forever families.

To learn more about how you can help or to adopt a dog yourself, visit www.dannyronsrescue.org.