Why We Only Work With Rescue Organizations — Never Breeders
Every puppy at a Kitten Paws and Downward Dogs event is adoptable, rescue-sourced, and looking for a forever home. Here’s why that matters — and why it should matter to you.
Our Promise: Rescue Puppies Only. Every Single Time.
Since our founding, Kitten Paws and Downward Dogs has partnered exclusively with animal rescue organizations to bring puppies to our events. We have never used a breeder. We never will. This is not a marketing position — it is a core value that drives every event we host, every rescue partner we work with, and every dollar we raise.
We are a registered 501©(3) nonprofit (EIN: 99-3790585). Our mission is not just to create joyful events — it is to give adoptable animals more opportunities to find their forever families. Every event is a step toward that goal.
The Reality: America’s Shelter Crisis
The Numbers You Need to Know (2024–2025)
5.8 Million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters in 2024 (Source: ASPCA / Shelter Animals Count — https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics)
607,000 animals were euthanized in U.S. shelters in 2024 (Source: ASPCA, 2025 — https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics)
1 in 5 dogs entering shelters in 2023 were puppies under 5 months old (Source: Shelter Animals Count / Lucky Dog Animal Rescue — https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/articles/2024-08/little-bit-luck/5-reasons-why-you-should-adopt-not-buy-your-next-puppy)
If just 6% more Americans chose to adopt over purchase, shelter euthanasia could be eliminated nationwide (Source: Best Friends Animal Society, 2024 — https://bestfriends.org/who-we-are/media/new-data-shows-if-6-percent-more-americans-chose-adopt-versus-purchase-pets-all-us)
More than 50% of shelters receive ‘leftover’ puppies from breeders who couldn’t sell them (Source: Shelter Animals Count, 2023 — https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/articles/2024-08/little-bit-luck/5-reasons-why-you-should-adopt-not-buy-your-next-puppy)
Progress is being made — euthanasia rates have dropped from 13% of shelter intake in 2019 to 8% in 2024. But with over half a million animals still losing their lives each year, every adoption, every foster, and every exposure event matters.
The Problem With Breeder-Based Puppy Events
Puppy yoga and puppy cuddle events have become increasingly popular — and that’s a wonderful thing. But not all puppy event companies are the same. Many source their puppies from commercial breeders rather than rescue organizations. Here’s why that distinction matters:
Breeder puppies contribute to pet overpopulation
Every breeder puppy born represents demand that could have been met by a shelter animal. With 5.8 million animals entering shelters annually, there is no shortage of dogs who need homes. Commercially bred puppies compete directly with shelter animals for the same adopting families.
The commercial breeding industry has a documented welfare problem
In 2025, the ASPCA documented 680 animal welfare violations at USDA-licensed commercial dog breeding facilities — and the USDA took action in zero cases. One in three active dog dealers did not receive a compliance inspection in 2025. Dogs were found suffering from illness and injuries without veterinary care, fed moldy food, and living in kennels infested with roaches and rodents. Source: https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-report-puppy-mill-cruelty-reveals-usdas-continued-failure-protect
’USDA-licensed’ does not mean humane
A USDA license is easy to obtain — in 2025, 100% of applicants who requested a license received one, including dealers with histories of violations, state animal welfare violations, or criminal records. A USDA license is a legal requirement, not a quality certification. Source: https://www.aspca.org/news/2025-good-year-be-bad-puppy-mill
Breeder puppies used for events are not adoptable
When a company brings breeder puppies to a puppy yoga event, those puppies are not available for adoption. They return to the breeder. Your guests fall in love with puppies who are not looking for homes — and the animals that ARE available in local shelters remain unseen.
It normalizes buying over adopting
Puppy events are incredibly influential. People who interact with puppies at an event are emotionally primed to want one. If the puppies are sourced from breeders, that interaction implicitly sends the message that purchased puppies are the norm. If they come from rescues, the opposite message is sent — one that can save lives.ue Puppies Only. Every Single Time.
The Kitten Paws Difference
🐾 Rescue Partners Only
Every puppy at every KPDD event comes from a vetted rescue organization or animal shelter. We establish formal partnerships with local rescues in every market we serve, vet their animal welfare practices, and maintain long-term relationships built on trust.
🌟 Your Event Doubles as an Adoption Event
The puppies at our events are not just cute — they are looking for forever families. Every guest who falls in love at one of our events is a potential adopter. We’ve seen countless connections made between guests and puppies that led to adoptions. That’s the whole point.
💰 $300,000+ Raised for Rescue Organizations
A portion of every KPDD event fee goes directly to the rescue organization that brought the puppies. Since our founding, we have raised over $300,000 for rescue organizations nationwide. Your event fee is a tax-deductible donation to our 501©(3) nonprofit.
📎 Certificate of Insurance for Your Venue
We provide COI documentation with up to $2M in coverage for your venue or organization. This professional infrastructure reflects our commitment to doing this the right way — for the animals, for our partners, and for you.
🌍 Available Nationwide
We partner with local rescue organizations in most major U.S. markets. This means the donation from your event stays local — supporting the rescue community in your own city.
What to Ask When Booking a Puppy Event
Not all puppy event companies are created equal. Before you book, ask these questions:
✅ Questions That Should Have Clear, Confident Answers
Where do the puppies come from? (The answer should be a specific rescue organization or shelter — not ‘a breeder’ or ‘we have our own puppies’)
Are the puppies adoptable? (If the answer is no, the event is not supporting rescue animals)
Does a portion of the fee go to the rescue? (A mission-driven company will say yes)
Can you tell me the name of your rescue partner? (A legitimate rescue partnership is transparent)
Is your organization a registered nonprofit? (KPDD is — many competitors are not)
Can you provide a Certificate of Insurance for our venue?
🚩 Red Flags to Watch For
The company cannot name a specific rescue partner
Puppies are a specific breed requested by the client (rescue organizations cannot guarantee breeds)
The company has its own ‘puppy program’ or ‘puppy inventory’
No mention of adoption, rescue, or animal welfare on their website
The company is a for-profit business with no nonprofit status or donation component
Pricing is significantly lower than market rate (this often means rescue coordination costs have been cut)
Our Rescue Partners
Every city we serve, every event we host — there is a rescue organization behind it. We are proud to partner with the following organizations:
Austin Humane Society (Austin, TX) — austinhumanesociety.org — Austin’s largest open-intake animal shelter, saving over 11,000 animals per year.
Pip’s Rescue Pack (Austin, TX) — Local Austin foster-based rescue specializing in puppies and small dogs.
Love-a-Bull (Austin, TX) — events@love-a-bull.org — Austin’s premier pit bull rescue and advocacy organization.
Heart of Texas Lab Rescue / HOTLR (Austin, TX) — hotlabrescue.org — Foster-based Labrador Retriever rescue serving Central Texas.
Pupstarz Rescue (New York, NY) — Foster-based New York rescue bringing puppies to KPDD’s NYC-area events.
PAWS Shelter (Austin, TX) — Local rescue partner for corporate wellness events in Austin.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The puppies return to their foster families or rescue organization after each event. They continue their journey toward adoption. Some guests who meet puppies at our events go on to adopt or foster them — which is exactly the outcome we hope for.
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Yes! If a guest falls in love with one of our puppies, we connect them directly with the rescue organization. The formal adoption process happens through the rescue, which ensures proper screening and placement. We’ve been part of countless adoption stories over the years.
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We research each rescue organization’s mission, animal welfare practices, and reputation before establishing a partnership. We look for organizations with strong community ties, responsible fostering practices, and transparent operations. We maintain ongoing relationships with our partners and only work with organizations we trust.
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No. Never. This is one of our core organizational values. Every puppy at every KPDD event comes from a rescue organization or animal shelter. We made this commitment at our founding and it will never change.
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Because we work exclusively with rescue organizations, and rescues work with the animals who need them — not with a specific breed inventory. The animals available at any given event depend on what the rescue has in their care at that time. We can promise you adorable, adoptable, well-socialized rescue puppies. We cannot promise a specific breed, and we’re proud of that.
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A portion of every KPDD event fee is donated directly to the rescue organization that brought the puppies to your event. Additionally, Kitten Paws and Downward Dogs is a registered 501©(3) nonprofit — meaning your entire event fee is a tax-deductible donation. We provide a receipt for your records.
Book an Event That Actually Makes a Difference
When you choose Kitten Paws and Downward Dogs, you are not just booking a puppy experience. You are supporting adoptable animals, funding rescue organizations, and sending a message that rescue puppies matter. And your event fee is fully tax-deductible.
Sources & Citations
ASPCA U.S. Animal Shelter Statistics (2024) — https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics
Shelter Animals Count 2025 Annual Data Report — https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/2025-report/
ASPCA 2025 Puppy Mill Cruelty Report — https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-report-puppy-mill-cruelty-reveals-usdas-continued-failure-protect
ASPCA: 2025 — A Good Year to Be a Bad Puppy Mill — https://www.aspca.org/news/2025-good-year-be-bad-puppy-mill
Best Friends Animal Society: Bring Love Home Campaign (2024) — https://bestfriends.org/who-we-are/media/new-data-shows-if-6-percent-more-americans-chose-adopt-versus-purchase-pets-all-us
Lucky Dog Animal Rescue: 5 Reasons to Adopt, Not Buy (2024) — https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/articles/2024-08/little-bit-luck/5-reasons-why-you-should-adopt-not-buy-your-next-puppy
World Animal Foundation: Animal Shelter Statistics 2026 — https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/animal-shelter-statistics
Humane World for Animals: Horrible Hundred Report 2025 — https://www.humaneworld.org/en/issue/horrible-hundred