Rezdawg Rescue: KONG Toys Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Mama Becca’s recovery is a clear example of why enrichment isn’t optional in our program — it’s essential. While Becca was isolated for medical treatment, Kongs were the only safe, stress-reducing tool we could provide. They kept her mentally engaged, lowered her anxiety, and directly supported her physical healing. Without enrichment, her recovery would have taken significantly longer.
At our Moriarty location, we care for animals in every stage of rehab: puppies, seniors, malnourished animals, those recovering from surgery, and dogs with behavioral or medical challenges. Because of our climate, animals are routinely moved indoors and outdoors depending on weather conditions, which can increase stress and disrupt routine. Enrichment tools like Kongs help us bridge those gaps by providing consistency, stimulation, and comfort.
We work with pups of all shapes, sizes, and ailments, and Kongs are one of the few enrichment items durable (our Rez dogs are EXTREME chewers) and adaptable enough for nearly every animal in our care. They support mental health, reduce anxiety-driven behaviors, and promote faster, more stable recoveries.
Investing in Kongs directly strengthens our rehabilitation program and improves outcomes for vulnerable animals like Mama Becca every single day.
How many pets did this grant help?
350+
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Meet Mama Becca and her 10 tiny miracles! A couple of weeks ago, while we were in Tucumcari for a spay/neuter clinic and door-to-door outreach, we met the sweetest mama — Mama Becca.
A kind local woman named Polly had been feeding her for weeks, slowly earning her trust. Polly knew Becca had puppies, but she hadn’t heard their cries in days. She feared the worst.
When we arrived, Becca, thin and full of milk, led us to an abandoned trailer. We heard faint puppy squeaks — they were alive.
We made a plan: Polly would keep caring for Becca until the pups were ready to come out. A week later, we got the call: “THERE ARE PUPPIES EVERYWHERE! Can you help?!”
Our amazing friends Angi and Christian from Paws & Claws Animal Rescue of Quay County rushed over to help Polly, kept the family safe overnight, and then drove them to our RezDawg Animal Care Center, where this little family received the care they needed.
But when they arrived, it became clear that Mama Becca was in trouble. She was steadily losing weight, and the pups weren’t receiving enough nutrition. Under Western Trails Vet’s direction, we weaned Becca’s pups early and focused on getting her well. It turned out she had IBS and needed special food and metronidazole to curb her issues. She’s now in her foster home in Colorado Springs at a healthy weight and thriving, and most of her pups have already been adopted.
During her medical workup and treatment, Becca required isolation while we waited for bloodwork and monitored her digestive issues. Isolation is stressful for any animal, but especially for a mama dog who has survived trauma, hunger, and the strain of caring for a large litter while malnourished.
This is where enrichment became essential.
To prevent stress-related regression and support her emotional well-being, staff provided Becca with Kongs packed with a rotating variety of soft treats, frozen foods, and calming, easy-to-digest options approved by her veterinarian. These enrichment tools gave her mental stimulation, choice, and comfort at a time when she couldn’t yet receive normal social interaction.
The results were immediate and meaningful: Becca engaged eagerly with her Kongs, showing curiosity and problem-solving even when she was physically weak. Her stress levels visibly dropped: Her posture relaxed and she began approaching caregivers with trust rather than fear. Improved emotional stability supported her appetite, digestion, and overall healing.
Becca’s recovery is a testament to how medical care and behavioral support must go hand-in-hand. Today, she is thriving in foster care, her weight restored, her personality blooming, and her puppies safe in loving homes. She is finally experiencing the stability and comfort she has always deserved.
Becca has a pending adopter.
