Commuters in Clermont County may have noticed paw-shaped bumper stickers on the road that read, Who rescued who? Behind this playful slogan are real stories of healing, hope, and transformative love.
Every May 20, National Rescue Dog Day recognizes the millions of dogs across the country waiting for their second chance at a home. Rescuing animals from a shelter is life-changing for many families, as a simple act of adoption can blossom into a heartfelt journey that benefits both the dog and the owner.
Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue, one of the largest foster-based rescue groups in Southwest Ohio, is leading the “pack” in this mission.
The nonprofit’s founder and Executive Director, Emily Gear, never imagined her life would revolve around rescue work.
Louieslegacy.org
As a child, Gear disliked dogs and asked friends to put theirs away during visits. However, her feelings changed during a period of personal struggle and emotional growth in her twenties. When asked to watch a basset hound named Flash, Gear responded ‘This is exactly what I need.’
A week with the pup inspired her to begin searching for her own dog on Petfinder, where she found Louie, an unusual basset hound-husky mix with one blue and one brown eye. Her search marked the foundational moment of a career that would save over 1,400 animals.
Emily and Louie
Still, Louie’s transition into home life wasn’t easy. Gear soon learned he was heartworm-positive.
Louie required extensive treatment, constant monitoring, restricted physical activity, and daily care to avoid life-threatening complications. Alongside caring for Louie, Gear began prioritizing her own wellness journey.
“Taking care of him every day brought me out of my place of personal grief and depression,” she explained. “I had someone to get up for in the morning, and a purpose to keep going.”
In 2006, Gear began volunteering with rescue organizations and learning the realities of cramped shelters, euthanasia, and abandoned animals across the country.
Over 5.8 million dogs and cats across America enter intake shelters annually. These facilities euthanize over 600,000 animals on average per year. The data indicate a growing problem with overcrowding in rescue shelters.
Louieslegacy.org
Tragedy struck Gear in 2009 when Louie escaped her yard through a chain-link gate and was hit by a car. While recalling the event, Gear teared up. “It was hard not to blame myself, and it took me months to recover.”
On September 8, 2009, Gear launched Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue out of her home in Cincinnati.
The organization operates in the Cincinnati area and New York City, saving dogs and cats through an entirely foster-based model. Unlike many traditional shelters, Louie’s Legacy does not house animals in kennels. Instead, rescue animals live inside foster homes where they receive individualized care, training, socialization, and love.
Gear believes this model has a positive impact on the animals’ health and emotional well-being, helping them recover from trauma and adapt to domesticated life. Foster families offer insights into each animal’s personality and needs, ensuring successful transitions and fewer returns.
Louieslegacy.org
Louie’s Legacy manages hundreds of foster homes, providing medical care, transportation, behavioral support, and rescue efforts from overcrowded shelters and puppy mills. Despite economic challenges and lower adoption rates, the organization saves hundreds of dogs each year.
“The goal every year is to save more animals,” Gear said. “Because for these animals, it really is a time game. They don’t have time in the shelter.”
Gear’s mission to connect adoption families with vulnerable dogs earned attention from other animal rescue foundations in the area. She continues to post Adopt-A-Pet Weekend events on her website to encourage more locals to explore pet ownership options and connect with valuable donations.
In a twist too strange to make up, a puppy named Chandler was adopted from this event and renamed to “Louie”, becoming the beloved mascot for Unleash Love, another local organization dedicated to the health and well-being of animals and the community.
Louie and Gear’s story of second chances highlights why National Rescue Dog Day matters to Clermont County and beyond. While rescue dogs find safety and stability through the adoption process, humans often discover the means to their own healing journeys and remind them of that bumper sticker, “Who rescued who?”
Gear hopes more people will consider fostering, adopting, or volunteering with rescue organizations. She urges those exploring the process to research legitimate nonprofits with strong veterinary ties and ethics.
This National Rescue Dog Day is a wonderful reminder that compassion has the power to transform lives in unexpected ways.
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