ABOUT LEGACY PAWS RESCUE
A sanctuary for dogs and the people who need them.
Built by one woman, a dream, and a whole lot of love.
Imagine This...
A tiny dog home with a front porch made for sun naps.
A bed just their size.
A camera that lets the person who had to let them go still say, “Goodnight, sweet girl.”
To your left: a dog park with an off-road trail for muddy zoomies and Jeep rides.
To your right: a peaceful sanctuary filled with old souls soaking in their second chance.
And just past the creek? A sensory garden... with soft grass, wind chimes, and a little island where we honor the ones we’ve loved and lost.
This isn’t a fantasy.
It’s Legacy Paws Rescue.
And it’s happening—right now—in Catawba, NC.
Hi, I'm Domenica.
I started Legacy Paws Rescue in January 2025 because I got tired of watching the world give up on the dogs that need us most.
Seniors.
Special needs.
Dogs with trauma.
Dogs with bad knees, broken hearts, cloudy eyes, or scary pasts.
The kind of dogs people say, “You can’t save them all” about.
Well…
I don’t want to save them all.
I just want to save these.
🧡 Our Mission
Legacy Paws Rescue exists to give senior and special needs dogs what the world forgot they deserved—love, safety, and a peaceful space to heal. Whether they stay forever or find a new home, they’re treated like family from the moment they arrive.
And while they’re learning to trust again… so are the people who meet them.
This isn’t just a rescue. It’s a place where broken souls—dog or human—get to start over.
We’re turning five peaceful acres into something special—something built with love, vision, and community hands.
🛖 Dog Homes: No kennels- each dog will have their own custom tiny home with a porch, fenced yard, heating and A/C, and tech for staying connected care. Help Build a dog home.
🌉 Rainbow Bridge Island: On Rainbow Bridge Island, visitors can hang collars, tags, photos, toys, or handwritten notes on trees and memorial posts to honor the dogs they’ve loved and lost. Each memento becomes part of a peaceful space where love and memories are kept forever.
🏞️ The Sanctuary Side: Quiet space for reflection, grief support, and emotional healing. Visitors welcome to come withot pressure of adoption. Spend time healing alone, or heal together with one or two of our rescue dogs.
🌾 The Sensory Garden: Across the creek, this garden is designed to stimulate all five senses- for dogs and people. Take a walk through the garden.
🚙 The Fun Side: Dog Park, Haunted Trail, veteran off-road rides, and special events like dog yoga and canine enrichment. See what's coming.
👨👩👧👦 Programs for People: Support for Veterans, elderly pet owners, the unhoused, and first responders. Whether you need help or just a break- you belong here. See how we can help.
This isn't just my dream rescue anymore. It's restoration.
Now I want to build it with you.
What would you add?
A trail sign that says “You’re still needed”?
A tree swing near the creek?
A chicken coop? A haunted trail fundraiser?
Let’s imagine it together.
📩 Share your ideas.
📞 Text me: 318-422-3750
🛠️ Come out and walk it with me. I’ll show you the land. We’ll dream it out loud.
How You Can Help Today
🐶 Sponsor a dog or a dog home
🛠️ Help build fencing, ramps, and benches
👥 Join our founding board
🧰 Use your random skills (carpentry, grant writing, video editing… I’ll take it)
📢 Share our story
🚀 Help launch our invention that funds the rescue
☕ Donate your old blankets, shelving, Halloween decorations, or Go Pro
Meet the Founder
Let’s be real—I didn’t just stumble into rescuing animals and creating chaos. I was born for this.
It all started with a determined little girl marching through neighborhoods collecting donations for shelters, running her own DIY animal rehab out of whatever space she could claim (armed with Band-Aids, Goldfish crackers, and stubborn determination). If it had fur or gave me the “save me” eyes—I was already halfway to making it a bed.
Fast forward through a lifetime of service—including as a U.S. Air Force vet, Registered Nurse, mission worker, CASA advocate, and teen mentor—and that little girl never really left. She just got more dogs, more grit, and a whole lot more Halloween decorations.
Because yes—I’m that person. Halloween isn’t a season; it’s a lifestyle. Haunted trails? Count me in. Creepy vibes and epic pranks? Yes, please. But underneath the mischief is someone who knows what it’s like to grow up unseen—and who’s made it her life’s work to make sure no one else has to feel that way.
When a devastating car accident ended my nursing career, I took the detour as a sign. It gave me something I didn’t know I needed: time to build the dream I’d been carrying since childhood. Legacy Paws Rescue was born from that crash—and from every dog, kid, and underdog I’ve ever loved.
It started with Gretchen, the very first rescue who showed me what healing looks like through a dog’s eyes. And today, that legacy lives on through Kyra, our resident emotional support dog and full-time transformer Rottweiler (yes, she literally has two titanium hips). Kyra is not only my shadow and protector—she’s a daily reminder of why we fight so hard for the ones who’ve been through the worst and still choose to love.
Now, as I stand on the edge of turning 50—single, slightly feral, and totally focused—I’m diving headfirst into this next chapter with one goal: to leave a legacy that matters. Legacy Paws is more than a rescue. It’s my heart. It’s my purpose. It’s the forever home for every second chance I’ve ever believed in.
Much Love,
Domenica xoxo
Our Partners
At Legacy Paws Rescue, we know it takes a village (or maybe a whole pack!) to make real change happen. We’re beyond lucky to team up with some amazing humans and businesses who’ve helped turn our dream into reality.
This page is all about celebrating our partners—the big-hearted, animal-loving rockstars who’ve supported us through donations, services, and pure, unshakable enthusiasm.
But wait, there’s more! Alongside their profiles, you’ll find adorable snapshots of their beloved pets, because let’s be honest—our furry sidekicks are the real MVPs. We’ve also linked to their businesses so you can check them out and show them some love, just like they’ve done for us.
Together, we’re making the world a better place for rescue animals—one wag, purr, and happy tail at a time.
A heartfelt thank you to Jesse and Holly with Enviro-Tek Remediation for their incredible support of Legacy Paws Rescue—your kindness means the world to us and to your adorable pups, Mila and Chester!
Huge thanks to Patrick at Accelerated Home Loans for your amazing support—and to your awesome pups, Eva and Molokai, for making the team even better!
Huge paws-up for Kelly, our Rescue Coordinator extraordinaire!
And a tail-wagging thank you to Stand For Animals for making quality vet care affordable—because every pet deserves a happy, healthy life!
Founded by Emanuel "E" Gomez, a military service member, Empower City isn’t just a brand—it’s family. Fueled by passion, strength, and drive, their custom designs are perfect for everything from the gym to the garage.
We’re beyond excited to have E designing our logo, and who knows—a Legacy Paws dog clothing line might be next!
Watching E's wife, Alyssa, grow up has been both scary and amazing (kind of like raising a tiny tornado). Then E showed up, fit right in, and suddenly, I had another kid. Now, they both call me Mom 2.0—no upgrades needed.
Between wrangling their home zoo, they’re also gearing up for their first human baby. Huge congrats to our Legacy Paws family!