Our Purpose
Legacy Paws Rescue is a Catawba,NC-based registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 33-2211382) dedicated to providing a loving sanctuary for senior and special needs dogs. Spanning 5 acres, our serene rescue features Rainbow Bridge Island, a memorial space for mourning pet owners. We work tirelessly to ensure these furry friends receive the care they deserve, depending on community support for sponsorship, donations, and volunteers to achieve our mission.
Kylie came to me broken and scared. I sat on the floor for hours until she felt safe enough to close her eyes, then stayed beside her through the night so she knew she wasn’t alone. This is what rescue looks like at Legacy Paws — patience, love, and healing.
Our Mission
Because every overlooked soul deserves to be loved, comforted, and have a safe place to live out their golden years, Legacy Paws Rescue exists to provide a safe haven for senior dogs who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. We provide medical care, rehabilitation, and a loving place to heal, rest, and restore their trust in human companionship.
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.
🚨 OUR VISION 🚨
Legacy Paws Rescue didn’t start as a polished nonprofit. It started with ME, a Jeep, a bunch of dogs society gave up on, and a dream too stubborn to quit.
Right now, on 5 scrappy, beautiful acres in Catawba, NC — I’m fighting for the seniors, the broken, the “too hard” dogs. They finally get safety, dignity, and a chance to find the family they’ve been waiting for their whole life.
But here’s the truth: this is just the beginning.
👉 I’m building a self-sustained rescue — backed by sponsored projects like a dog adventure trail, tiny dog homes, wooded walking paths, and even a Rainbow Bridge Island where we can honor the ones we’ve lost.
👉 On this very property, I’m creating temporary dog homes that will not only house rescue dogs waiting for adoption, but also provide short-term safe housing for veterans, the elderly, and the homeless when surgery, sickness, or rehab would otherwise force them to give up their pets.
👉 Then comes the BIG vision: expanding onto a second property to rescue ALL animals, not just dogs. That property will include temporary housing for aged-out foster youth — giving them a soft landing, stability, and their own space. Each youth will be paired with a rescue dog to care for, building responsibility, trust, and healing as they prepare to take their next step in life.
👉 A rec center for kids to be kids (and actually learn the life skills school doesn’t teach).
👉 Rehab programs where broken people and broken animals heal side by side.
👉 A haven for abuse survivors who just need peace, safety, and unconditional love.
Legacy Paws Rescue isn’t just about saving dogs. It’s about FIXING THE HUMAN PROBLEM. One life at a time. One second chance at a time.
This is the legacy I’m building. And if you’re reading this… you’re already part of it.
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.
Our Successes
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Want to be the kind of dog parent every pup dreams of?
Start Here:
✅ Step 1: Take the Quiz
Find the rescue dog that actually fits your personality, lifestyle, and vibe.
No guessing, no mismatches—just the right dog for you.
✅ Step 2: Grab the Guide
Get our free Dog Essentials Guide—your no-BS playbook for raising a happy, healthy dog without blowing your budget or your sanity.
Here’s what you’ll get:
🐾 A perfect match made in paw heaven
📘 A guide full of practical tips, must-have gear, and secret poop wisdom
📬 Early access to adoptable pups, giveaways & rescue stories
✨ Real advice from people who actually get it
Start building your dream dog life—right now.
Humans Act Like Dogs, Dogs Act Like Humans?!
Ok… hear me out
What if we turned this into a fundraiser?
People submit videos of them swapping roles with their dogs, then donations = votes, and the winner gets a Legacy Paws merch basket.
Would you join in?
Vote below!