The Small But Mighty Las Vegas Team Powering Dozens of Animal Rescues Behind the Scenes

Tucked just behind the scenes of Las Vegas’s rescue community is a group that doesn’t run an adoption center, doesn’t boast a high follower count, and doesn’t shout its own name at every event — but whose work is deeply felt across dozens of organizations and hundreds of animals in need. Meet Resources for Rescues, the unsung powerhouse that’s changing how Southern Nevada thinks about animal support, one bag of pet food, green screen photo booth, and giveaway wheel at a time.

This isn’t a rescue group in the traditional sense. They don’t house dogs, and they rarely take animals in themselves. Instead, they focus on the people and groups doing that work, and make sure those front-line teams never have to do it alone. Their mission is rooted in filling the gaps: food pantries for struggling families, giveaways that boost health outreach, meals in the park for the unhoused, supply drives for feral cat feeders, grants for smaller rescues. It’s not about spotlight. It’s about infrastructure. And that’s exactly what makes them indispensable.

“We’re here to help,” the team says, and they mean it in the broadest, most community-driven way possible.

A Post-Pandemic Pivot That Sparked a Movement

The heart behind Resources for Rescues is its president and founder, a veteran of foster-based rescue for over four decades. But after COVID-19, something shifted. The needs of the community changed, and so did the way this lifelong animal advocate wanted to help.

Rather than continuing to foster in the traditional sense, she dreamed up something more expansive: a way to support all the rescues, not just the dogs and cats under her own roof. With a tiny team — just two full-time volunteers and a few part-timers — Resources for Rescues began quietly funneling resources to smaller groups who were running on fumes. They became the ones you called when your rescue needed food. When your fundraiser needed volunteers. When your budget came up short and your animals still needed supplies.

The idea clicked. Fast. What started as a support hub for Las Vegas rescues quickly turned into a broader community resource. They now serve groups in California and Arizona, donate to local schools and shelters, and provide weekly contributions to a community breakfast for the unhoused. That nimble, responsive approach, rooted in real-time need, has helped them grow into one of the most reliable allies in the Las Vegas nonprofit space, despite their small size.

Not Just Pet Food — People Food, Too

One of the most impactful arms of Resources for Rescues is their quarterly pet food pantry, where Las Vegas families struggling to make ends meet can receive food and supplies to care for their animals. But what really sets them apart is their recognition that animal care doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it’s linked to human well-being. And that’s why they show up at events like the weekly community breakfast for unhoused residents, donating not just dog and cat food but water, snacks, hygiene products, and even mobility aids for people who need them.

From drinks at citywide events to ready-to-assemble furniture for foster youth support groups, if it can be donated — they’ll find a way to get it to someone who needs it. Their guiding principle is simple: donations should never go to waste. And they live by it.

“We’re constantly seeking out new groups to which we can donate,” they told us. “If it’s something we can’t use, we’ll find someone who can.”

A Carnival Game for a Cause

What Resources for Rescues may be best known for publicly, though, are their unforgettable green screen photo booths and carnival-style games at local events. In a sea of standard rescue tables and info flyers, their booths are magnets for families, kids, and community members who might not otherwise stop to learn about rescue work. It’s fun. It’s bright. And it’s strategic, bringing people in through joy, and leaving them with awareness.

From their appearances at Walk for Wishes to their community outreach events at Petco and Petsmart, they’ve found a niche that makes giving back feel approachable. They’ve even used these creative offerings to support healthcare access, like spinning-wheel games that encouraged women in underserved communities to complete mammogram screenings during the “Mammorama Extravaganza.” That year, more women got screened than ever before.

It’s proof that animal welfare doesn’t have to be rigid or one-dimensional. It can be creative, cross-sector, and tailored to meet people where they are.

Building a Broader Future

Even with growing influence across multiple states, Resources for Rescues is still in what they call a rebuilding and rebranding phase. Their website is getting refreshed. Their social presence is expanding. And their future plans include setting up formal grants for small rescue groups, scaling their online auctions, and deepening their partnership network across the western U.S.

But what’s most refreshing about their approach is how intentional it is. They’re not rushing into scale. They’re building a foundation — one partnership, one breakfast, one pet food bag at a time.

“We’re fairly new,” they say, “so building a strong foundation and clearly honing our mission is first and foremost.”

That clarity, and the humility to grow with purpose, is part of what makes Resources for Rescues such a trustworthy presence in the community. They’re not in it for the glory. They’re in it for the work.

The Mission in One Line

If you ask them to sum it all up, it comes back to one phrase: “We’re here to help.” Whether that help takes the form of food for a feral colony, a giant inflatable duck at a fundraiser, or a bag of kibble delivered to a motel where someone’s trying to keep their dog safe — they show up.

They don’t ask for much in return. Just the chance to make someone’s burden a little lighter.

To learn more, donate, or follow their upcoming December events benefiting local rescue groups, visit resourcesforrescues.org or follow @resources_for_rescues on Instagram.