6dogrees – a 501c3 – is a small, grassroots rescue focusing on saving local & CA death-row dogs. Why CA? We save “red listed” dogs meaning those with less than 12 hours to be rescued. A good percentage of these dogs end up on the euthanasia list by no fault of their own. Pet stores are over selling dogs, backyard breeders, & puppy mill dogs are a big part of the problem. As they breed the new trendy dogs, these “less desirable” dogs are discarded. The dogs end up in the streets and shelters.
We help many dogs in California because 800 dogs per day are dying there. The lack of spay and neuter, and education also adds to the problem leaving many agencies with very limited resources to help the animals.

Our beginnings
Karleen used her bonus check money from her job a few years ago to launch a sustainable rescue idea with a “Save it forward” concept. Maintaining her full-time job, Karleen now spends most of her free time rescuing dogs and finding them a forever home.

It can cost $700 to save even a healthy dog. When dogs are adopted they are fully vetted spayed/neutered and microchiped. 6 Dogrees rescue uses all of the adoption fees for the dogs welfare, vetting & boarding. We are doing business as a “not for profit rescue” All adoption fees, donations go directly to saving red listed euthanasia dogs. For every dog we adopt out we rescue one more and pay on the additional vet bills of sick dogs for pay-it-forward rescuing. We feel by remaining small we can better manage and care for the dogs that need us. 6dogrees is a passionate rescue based off love and volunteers.

My name is Tammy Ross.  My partner, Wayne, and I have been fostering for 6dogrees Rescue since March 2014.  To date we have fostered 243 dogs in our home and look forward to helping many more special pups find their forever homes.   While in our care, the fosters are treated like our family; they are nurtured and loved unconditionally.  Each dog will stay with us until we know they are ready physically and emotionally ready to be adopted.  We receive immense joy from watching them heal and blossom.

In early 2014 we lost our beloved American Eskimo, Brutus, to an aggressive cancer.  Shortly after his death I knew we had the means to a love and add another four-legged family member to our pack.  I found a puppy that was being fostered by 6dogrees Rescue and reached out to Karleen.  Due to the age of my other dogs, Karleen discouraged me from adopting a puppy.  She shared it would be a tough transition for my older dogs (this was the first of many lessons Karleen has taught me over the years).  Karleen then encouraged me to consider fostering.  She shared that over 800 dogs are euthanized each day in California due to over population, most highly adoptable.  While I was concerned that I would never be able to let a foster be adopted due to becoming attached, Karleen guided me through the process, each step of the way.  It has been the most rewarding endeavor in my life, and a true passion project.  I do my best to stay in touch with each of the families that adopt my fosters.  This allows me to have a window into their world and watch the dogs flourish with their new families.  It is an amazing gift.

We affectionally named our home, Camp Littles.  Primarily because all the dogs we foster are under 20-pounds, and most under 10-pounds.  Our home and yard were designed with the dog’s comfort and safety in mind.  Over the years we have fostered litters of puppies, pregnant mommas, two dogs with distemper, many with kennel cough, several with broken bones, and most traumatized from being in a high-kill shelter.  As our personal pack has aged, we have transitioned into welcoming more senior dogs, and special needs dogs.  We help most find their forever homes, however, those that do not find their forever families outside of Camp Littles are welcomed as permanent pack members and added to our family.