Devotion. Commitment. Responsibility.

As you all know, Ava is back.

Cowboy still needs to come back — but right now, we don’t yet have anywhere for him to go.

Both were dogs I was pressured to “move out and place by the end of the month.”

And now, both are in need again.

Both were traumatized by the experience of being with people and in environments not suited for them, and both will need time, decompression, and healing.

Finding the right match — the right family, the right environment, the right lifestyle — takes time.

And it takes deep understanding.

Of drive levels. Nervous system capacity. Perceptions. Personality. Sensitivities. Comforts and discomforts.

And not only does this involve getting a strong sense of the dog — but also the human(s), family, home, lifestyle, and environment they’d be going into.

During the time these precious souls were with me, I got a strong sense of who each of them were individually. The homes and families I placed the first three in were not rushed. We had the luxury of time. And I exhausted myself raising, caring for, and finding the best fit for them — checking social profiles, doing home visits, having real conversations, and most importantly — listening.

This is part of responsible rescue.

Rushing to place and move is not.

I knew this. But I didn’t have a choice.

And this is where my guilt lies.

I’m no longer able to operate as I once did. I’m not in a home I own any longer. I moved in with another family and into their rental home. But I’m working as hard as I can to create an environment where everyone can reintegrate, decompress, and heal.

Too many well-intentioned people in the rescue world simply don’t understand behavior or dog psychology. And yet, that understanding is essential for anyone who handles, fosters, trains, or adopts a dog.

Because when placements fail, dogs pay the price — emotionally, physically, and sometimes with their lives.

They get bounced around, adding to any sense of insecurity, instability, and uncertainty — unable to build roots or find grounding. While this can potentially build resilience for some, it’s confusing, disorienting, and deeply destabilizing for the great majority — especially the more sensitive dogs.

Proper placement isn’t just a personal responsibility.

It’s a social one. A public one.

And teaching, guiding, and training — both ends of the leash — is, too.

When we don’t understand behavior — in dogs or in ourselves — we create confusion, frustration, and conflict that ripple far beyond the home.

I’ve started a new GoFundMe to help with what’s ahead.

I wasn’t able to raise enough to cover Ava’s board and train, so I’m doing my best to step up to the plate myself.

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/fe85babe3

Given that I need a hip replacement and my mobility is extremely limited, part of their rehabilitation involves getting a treadmill. It will not only help burn off energy I physically can’t meet right now, but it’s also an incredible tool for nervous system decompression, behavioral healing, and pack integration.

Treadmills do far more than build strength and endurance — they build balance, calm, and neutrality.

They’re incredibly therapeutic, and excellent for reactive dogs — even in aggression cases — providing a structured, controlled way to safely release energy, frustration, rebuild trust, and restore nervous system balance.

They…

- reduce overstimulation (providing a controlled space where a dog can focus on a single task while distractions and triggers are strategically and thoughtfully reintroduced).

- help develop self-control:= (when moving at a consistent pace and in a certain “mode” or “zone,” dogs practice focus and restraint — key skills for staying calm around other animals).

- channel and direct pent-up and compounded energy.

- release stress and foster calm, allowing for a mindset that can generalize to other environments.

- create positive associations (over time, dogs begin to associate treadmill time with calm, controlled activity — helping them carry that same composure into other areas of life).

- support physical and emotional health.

Treadmills help dogs rebalance, rebuild, and relearn neutrality — both in body and mind.

Bringing Ava and Cowboy back into my care will also involve me moving — something I wasn’t prepared to do.

All of this… ALL of it… is to honor the commitment I made to Ava and her babies nearly one year ago.

They’re each incredible dogs — all very different, with different needs, perceptions, and sensitivities.

And since Cowboy was never neutered, this is another added expense I wasn’t prepared to cover.

All of this feels incredibly overwhelming — but I am deeply grateful to everyone who’s helped us even get to this point.

It’s heartbreaking that finding good, committed, responsible, loving homes feels so far-fetched right now.

Adoptions are at an all-time low — not just for this particular crew, but everywhere. I’ve spoken with several people in rescue, and this is the reality across the board.

But the mission hasn’t changed — if anything, it’s only deepened. These dogs, this work, the stories in the book… they’re all part of the same purpose. To educate. To awaken. To heal.

I continue to receive such amazing feedback from the new book, and it’s been deeply humbling.

After five years of extreme hardship, I’m slowly finding my confidence and footing again — and, believe it or not, these dogs and my commitment to them are helping.

Hearing how the book is landing with people — and seeing it so warmly recommended by both canine professionals and pet parents alike — has been profoundly affirming.

If you want to know how you can make a difference…

LEARN.

Grow.

Foster.

Donate.

Share.

All of these are forms of support for those in the trenches — the ones doing the work, and doing what many won’t inconvenience themselves to do.

It’s not just about pulling dogs off euthanasia lists or bringing them off the streets and calling it rescue.

No — responsible and effective rescue involves far more.

It’s learning. Growing. Stepping up. Following through.

It’s committing to commitments — even when it’s inconvenient or hard.

It’s about not expecting someone else to do the work, but stepping up yourself when you see a need — especially when that need speaks to your heart.

Because when we all turn away, everyone suffers.

Nothing gets spoken to. Nothing changes.

As I say in the book: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

100% of ALL profits and proceeds from the new book, new clients, and digital trainings are going directly towards supporting Ava and Cowboy’s care, rehabilitation, and future:

The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training’s Missing Link —

Amazon: https://a.co/d/7hFPUuq

Signed & Personalized Copies (with bookmark & highlighter): kimberlyartley.com/books-and-ebooks

Dog Mom University Courses: dogmomuniversity.thinkific.com

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/fe85babe3