Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline DuBose.
Caroline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m the founder of Caro’s Canines Rescue, a Houston foster-based dog rescue I launched in March 2026. My path here started during COVID, when I began fostering dogs through BARC, Houston’s city shelter, mostly out of curiosity and a lifelong love of dogs. What began as casual volunteering turned into something much bigger once I saw firsthand how many dogs in Houston needed a second chance, and how much untapped capacity there was in people willing to open their homes, even temporarily.
That’s what led me to start Caro’s Canines Rescue. We have grown to a team of eight dedicated directors and coordinators for fostering, medical care, adoptions, and events. To date, we’ve brought in 11 dogs and placed 7 in loving homes in Houston and through transport to Arkansas and Oregon, all through our partnership with BARC and a growing network of Houston-based fosters and volunteers.
What started as one small “yes” during a slow pandemic season has become a mission I care about deeply: making sure no dog in Houston gets left behind, and building something sustainable enough to last for years to come.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a dog rescue has been a huge learning experience. I’ve been lucky to receive advice from a few amazing people in the rescue world on everything from what bank account to use, to how to raise money, how to choose adopters, and what medical decisions to make.
The biggest ongoing challenge that all small rescues face is funding. Every dog we take in comes with real costs, including vetting, surgeries, food, and transport. We’ve since built out a sustainable funding strategy, from hosting our first fundraiser, which raised $4,800, to researching grants from organizations that support smaller rescues like ours. But fundraising as a new, unknown nonprofit is extremely hard. People want to support organizations with a track record, and building that trust takes time we don’t always have when a dog needs surgery now, not in six months.
We’ve tried to only take on healthy dogs, but dog rescue is unpredictable. One of our dogs from BARC, Cashew, ended up showing an injury he’d sustained long before he came into our rescue. We scheduled surgery for him right away, but it cost us around $3,500 right off the bat for x-rays, surgery, medications, and more.
It’s forced us to get creative and disciplined at the same time. Tracking costs per dog so we know exactly what we need to raise, being transparent with donors about where their money goes, and treating fundraising as its own ongoing job rather than an afterthought. It’s still one of the hardest parts of running CCR, but it’s also where I see us growing the most.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets Caro’s Canines Rescue apart is that we’re not just focused on getting dogs out of the shelter. We’re focused on getting them out for good. That means thoughtful medical care, intentional adopter matching instead of rushing placements, and transparency with our donors about exactly where their money goes.
Before I launched Caro’s Canines Rescue, I knew I wanted to do something to address the root cause of dogs ending up on the streets or in shelters. We are also building a Safe Haven Program, which will provide temporary housing for dogs caught in transition which is one of the biggest gaps we saw in the local rescue system. One of my favorite quotes is “Animal welfare is human welfare.” We cannot expect the homeless pet problem to improve without ensuring the humans are supported.
If there’s one thing I want readers to take away, it’s this: fostering isn’t about fixing something broken. It’s about giving a dog the chance to be fully seen for who they are, outside of a shelter kennel. It might just change your life the way it changed mine.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My board of directors has been essential: Claire, our Director of Programs, keeps our internal process and systems running smoothly and will be a key in the Safe Haven Program. Haley, our Director of Community & Outreach, leads our marketing and community presence. Sreya, our Treasurer, has been instrumental in building a sustainable funding strategy and managing our finances responsibly.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to learn from other rescues in this space who didn’t have to share their hard-earned knowledge with a brand-new organization, but did anyway. Caitie’s Foster Fam, Bark About It Rescue, Pippy’s Pals, and Destination Rescue Dogs all gave me advice at different points and continue to do so. In an industry that could easily feel competitive, especially with everyone chasing the same limited donor dollars, they chose to help instead because we all have the same goal.
Beyond that, I owe so much to our growing network of Houston-based fosters and volunteers, who open their homes again and again for dogs they know they’ll eventually have to say goodbye to. That’s the hardest and most generous part of this whole process, and none of this works without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caroscanines.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caroscaninesrescue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caroscaninesrescue/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/caroscaninesrescue
