After loosing both of our Golden Retrievers in less than a year to cancer we decided to adopt a rescue in need and not go the pure bred route out of fear of another heart-wrenching experience with cancer. We adopted our first rescue Tex from a rescue located out of Texas. He was found wondering the streets and was pretty feral. Just getting him to come inside the house was a challenge daily. With much patience and love we’ve won the fluffy guy over and learned what a rescue dog is! Missy B Haven was also adopted from a rescue based in Texas. Through adopting our dogs we came to realize places like Washington seem to lack the amount of dogs people are interested in adopting while other states have issues of over crowding and euthanasia related to lack of space. This just seemed crazy to us so we decided to help foster some dogs from Texas while forever families were found in Washington. After waiting and having a few potential fosters fall through a crazy idea surfaced while on vacation in Kona, HI. There seemed to be an abundance of dogs in need of adoption so we decided to inquire with the local shelter to see if there was any need to help relocate some pups in hopes of having a better chance of finding a forever home. We adopted our first rescue as our own and with the help of Three Little Pitties we found that sweet girl a home here in Washington. We were hooked! That turned into many great relationships with other like mined humans and many dogs relocated. We took in our last Poi Dogs back in early 2020 then Covid-19 hit and things came to a standstill for months. We decided to reach out to a few shelters in Eastern Washington to see about teaming up. Most recently we’ve been working with Yakima Humane Society and Tri-Cities Animal Shelter. It has opened our eyes to the desperate need for help here in our state just on the other side of the mountains.
Mission Statement: Help ease the stresses of overcrowded shelters. We take in dogs from overcrowded shelters currently in the state of Washington and Hawaii. They are often the harder to place dogs. All dogs are fostered in homes with loving families that help us gain a better understanding of the dog. We then have a better idea of the ideal forever family for each dog.
Poi Dog Rescue, a non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of Washington State, is funded by grants from the Holland Family Foundation, donations from families adopting animals, donations of countless hours of volunteer time, and donations including in-kind contributions from individuals and businesses.
Poi Dog Rescue is a rescue partner of Aloha Ilio Rescue. Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in Hawaii. Poi Dog Rescue seeks to alleviate some of the problem by funding air transportation from Hawaii, providing care before adoption, adoption marketing, and adopting dogs into permanent homes in Washington.
All financial and physical resources received are used for dog travel costs, medical care and housing for dogs during their adoptive process, and for the record keeping, compliance, and technology costs of maintaining the rescue. Most overhead costs are provided as in-kind contributions to allow financial resources to be used for animal care. No officers or board members receive compensation for their service to the rescue.
Poi Dog Rescue is recognized as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the US Code. Contributions to Poi Dog Rescue are tax deductible for most US persons and businesses.
Poi Dog Rescue of Bellingham is registered, as required by law, with the Washington State Secretary of State Charities Program. To verify registration, and see additional information about Poi Dog Rescue including verification of IRS 501(c)(3) determination, visit the Washington State Secretary of State website at https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities or call them at +1 800-332-4483.
Each and every dog pictured on the Poi Dog Rescue website was rescued and rehomed by the founder of Poi Dog Rescue.
Leadership:
Alisha Holland, founder, President and board member
Travis Holland, Secretary and non-voting board member
Meg Hindman, board member
Sharon Doyle, board member
Hollie McGee, board member
Poi Dog Rescue documents (in pdf format):
Certificate of Incorporation (Washington State Secretary of State)
IRS Determination Letter of non-profit status (Internal Revenue Service)
Veterinary verification of care (Fountain Veterinary Hospital)
Articles of Incorporation (filed with Washington Secretary of State)
Bylaws (filed with Washington Secretary of State)
last filed IRS Form 990 (annual financial report)
