Potter's Angels Rescue began in 2009 in a converted barn in northern Vermont. Heather Bent saw too many dogs falling through the cracks of overcrowded shelters and rural surrenders, and started taking them in herself. Within a year, a network of fosters formed around her — and the rescue grew into the volunteer-run nonprofit it is today.

We are foster-based, which means we don't operate a kennel facility. Every dog in our care lives in a real home with a real family, where they can decompress, learn household routines, and show us who they really are. That means better matches, lower stress, and a smoother transition home for every dog we place.

Today our network covers Vermont and the surrounding New England states. We've placed more than 1,500 dogs since we started, and we're entirely volunteer-run — no salaries, no overhead, every dollar to the dogs.