Unforgettable Underdogs Dog Rescue

Unforgettable Underdogs Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit, volunteer run, foster-based, no-kill dog rescue serving the Northeast Wisconsin area. We are dedicated to rescuing the underdogs, those who have found themselves homeless. We strive to help dogs in public high-kill shelters, those that do not do well in shelters, dogs given up or abandoned by their owners or dogs being abused or neglected.

We find loving, responsible, committed permanent homes. An in-depth adoption process is used, which includes taking considerable care in finding perfect matches and educating potential adopters about the responsibilities of bringing a dog, especially their particular dog, into their life.

Dogs we care for are spayed or neutered, treated for any medical needs they have, and placed into loving foster homes until they find their permanent home. We aim to help distressed dogs, no matter the age, breed, or difficulty of the case. As our finances allow, we aim to take on the most underdog of the cases and help dogs in the most need.

We are determined to keep overhead expenses extremely low so that the greatest amount possible goes directly to the care of the animals. We vow to take a follow through interest in the dog’s welfare well beyond the adoption process.

Finally, it is our ultimate goal to work with area shelters and other local organizations in order to develop a network of supporters and volunteers in order to create a better world for homeless pets.
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We are four women passionate about saving the lives of the homeless ‘underdog’, with a common idea and approach to reduce overpopulation.

GLORIA BOYCE
Hi all! I’m Gloria… northeast Wisconsin native and animal lover to the core. My husband and I live in Appleton with our furkids – our dogs, “our boys”, are Remmy and Ruger and our cat is Mocha.

I guess my journey had a subtle start when I was 11. My grandpa was going to take me to see the new Robert Redford flick The Horse Whisperer. As we were leaving, a suffering moth (yes, you read that right… a moth) made its way in front of me and let’s just say that we were late to the movie while I tried to bring it water to revive it. Note to self: moths don’t like water.

All of my life, I’ve had a really strong passion for animals. My husband and I have always chosen adoption and have done everything we can to be responsible pet owners, but I knew it wasn’t quite enough. I decided to test the volunteering waters and met Sara Miller while researching an animal rescue transport going through my area. That chance meeting is what truly propelled me into the animal rescue world. She taught me how to foster and I was hooked. After fostering, I knew I wanted my journey to grow even more. I met some more great rescuers along the way, like Katie and Lacey, and the four of us joined forces to embark upon a journey to help the most underdogs of underdogs in our community.

I couldn’t be more excited and proud to start the journey with these amazing people. I look forward to working towards getting Northeast Wisconsin to be the no-kill community it deserves to be. It might take baby steps, but I know that with a little help and a lot of love, this community can be a safe haven for the underdogs of the world.

SARA MILLER
My name is Sara and my passion and purpose is saving animal’s lives. I am on an incredible journey in animal rescue, and have been fortunate enough to find 3 other women with the same drive as me. It took me a long time to find my way in the rescue world, and to know the great importance of people’s decisions around animals. It’s incredibly hard to admit, but I didn’t always make great decisions about rescue or for my pets. Because of that, I want to share those experiences and provide education as I see it around adoption (not buying!), all that is rescue, the importance of spay/neuter, being responsible pet owners, how YOU can take action, and whatever else I might find to help us achieve a no kill nation.

Up until February 2013, I did some rescue things here and there, volunteering for an adoption event or two, donating money and food, doing mini fundraisers for supplies. But when I turned 35 in February, I was fed up with letting my passion for saving animal’s lives go to the wayside because I was not taking action. So that is when I dove head first into true animal rescue.

Since February 2013, I have saved almost 70 animals from death’s door, have created a network of many hundreds of people to save others, spend much of my waking hours educating others about adoption, have fostered 5 dogs, have put in many hours transporting dogs across the state, and have spent a lot of time at the rescue doing various things. My journey into Unforgettable Underdogs is dedicated to Ava and Naomi. Ava was the first dog I saved, and Naomi is the incredible special needs girl who I helped save from being paralyzed in the back legs to running free today. Both have shown me more will to live, more resilience, more spirit, more struggle, and more fight than I can describe in words. They are the best examples of why I rescue and why I’ll never give up on any dog. They taught me never to judge what is on the surface because what is under might soon be a fantastic family member.

Gloria, Katie and Lacey all came into my life in various ways through rescue this year, and they have been one of the best support systems I could have ever asked for. I’m so excited to begin this amazing journey with them.

KATIE NECHODOM
Hi everyone! I am Katie Nechodom. My boyfriend and I live in Kaukauna with our two rescued dogs, Ruger and Diesel. I have lived in Northeast Wisconsin nearly my entire life. I am a die-heart animal advocate and Green Bay Packer Fan. I graduated from college at UW Platteville with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Biology. I am currently attending graduate school and UW Oshkosh for School Counseling. My life-long goal is to be able to incorporate a program with UU to help at-risk youth.

My rescue journey started back to when I was a kid. My dream was to become a veterinarian and I remember trying to bottle feed my lab who broken her leg. When I turned 16, I got a job working for Fox River Animal Hospital and would take care of the dogs and cats that were there for surgery or boarding. We promoted animals that were available for adoption through local rescues and humane societies.

During college, I spent a summer working for Bay Area Humane Society and then two years at Dubuque Regional Humane Society. I saw thousands of sad, scared, abandoned, abused, and neglected animals walk through the shelter doors. I listened to owners stories of why they needed to get rid of their beloved family member: moving, divorce, no time, new baby and behavior problems were the most common reasons. I’ve seen dogs that would spend month and month waiting for their forever home. It hurt me to the core, when I would see these dogs suffer every day because they weren’t the most “adoptable” dog.

In the meantime, I became a certified dog trainer though Animal Behavior College and started my own in-home dog training business. My goal is to keep dogs, especially adopted dogs, in their homes because I know first-hand what a shelter environment can do to a dog’s mental and physical health.

After college, I was introduced to Sara by a mutual friend because he knew of our passion for animals. We instantly were able to communicate our rescue struggles, the horrors we’ve seen, and the happy endings we’ve watched. It was the basis of our friendship and because of that, I was introduced to two more incredible animal advocates, Gloria and Lacey. We all share the common goal – of having Wisconsin become a no-kill community and to have no more homeless pets. Every homeless dog is an underdog and with your help, we can give these dogs a place to call home.

LACEY TUYLS
My name is Lacey and my passion for animals has always been a part of my life. I live with my fiancé Rick, in the valley. We have 3 dogs, Wesson, Melvin & Ruger, and we also have a Siamese cat named Gracie. I have volunteered and fostered for other organizations in the past, helping save over 25 cats and 20 dogs. However it has always been a dream of mine to have a rescue where I can give even more.

When I was a young girl I lived in the country and often fed the barn cats from neighboring farms that made their way to our house. We also always had a dog in our home, along with a wide variety of birds and a few cats along the way. In my mid 20’s I was blessed to adopt an amazing dog named Wesson. He was the start of my rescue career. He was a 9 month old yellow lab and little did I know he’d be the love of my life!

I also volunteer my time as a caseworker for Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, it’s so great to see dogs reunited with their people. I haven’t ever experienced losing one of my own dogs, and I hope I never do, but knowing I can support others when they need it most is something I really treasure. I also work part time at Clever K9’s in Kaukauna as a Dog Care Technician. Clever K9’s provides boarding, training, daycare, and has a great selection of food, treats, toys, and other pet items. I have been able to attend many classes, and learned so many things about dog behaviors that have driven my passion to learn more regarding dogs with special needs and behavior issues. When things aren’t so busy, Wesson and I join up with the Clever Flyer’s Flyball Team. It’s a great way to connect with your dog.

The most life changing experience happened in March 2013. Rick and I took a blind leap of faith and decided to privately foster a feral dog named Maybel. She was afraid of everything, and I mean everything! She had no vet care and was bounced around between foster homes and rescues… she had no sense of security in her life. Wesson and myself were the first to enter her circle of trust, with the other dogs and Rick following after a while. Wesson had brought to her a sense of peace that I couldn’t provide. She had a long journey and taught me more about love, trust, and life than any other foster dog ever has. She lived in our home up until November 2013 when an amazing couple fell in love with her. It is because of her that I want to do more for the “underdog” – the one that’s been overlooked because they are shy or afraid. I want to change more lives in her honor. While the time and commitment is much larger than fostering a “normal” social butterfly, the reward is beyond what I can even describe.

I’m so thankful to have been blessed with three amazing women that have the same love and dreams as I do, together we can make a difference in the lives of many dogs!