Our Sanctuary
Tails of the Forgotten Paws is not a traditional shelter.
We are a working sanctuary/rescue, active, lived-in, and built around the real needs of our dogs.
Our environment is not quiet or staged for daily life. It is a large, hands-on space where dogs run, play, decompress, and live within a structured but natural routine.
The photos shown here are intended to highlight the layout and structure of our sanctuary.
To clearly show these spaces, images are taken during quiet, controlled moments when dogs are secured and areas are temporarily still.
This allows us to present the setup and environment without visual clutter.
However, this is not the day-to-day reality.
Our sanctuary is active from morning to night, dogs rotating through play yards, volunteers moving between areas, and daily care happening continuously.
What you are seeing is the foundation, the spaces that support that work.
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A Little Walk Through Our Sanctuary
Our sanctuary spans five acres and is made up of multiple yards, buildings, and wooded areas spread throughout the property.
What you see here represents a portion of our sanctuary, but it provides an accurate look at how our space is designed and how our dogs live.
Much of what you see has been created using donated, repurposed, or hand-built materials, built with purpose to support the daily needs of the dogs in our care.
Because our sanctuary is active and continuously evolving, we will continue adding updated photos and areas over time.
Our goal is to provide a transparent and honest look into our environment as we grow and improve.
We also plan to offer a full video walk-through in the future to give an even more complete picture of daily life here.
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Front entry path leading into the sanctuary
​Front office area and main entry point
This is the front portion of our sanctuary as you first come in.Our space is warm, lived-in, and designed with the dogs in mind. While it is not a polished or formal facility, it is intentionally built to feel safe, comfortable, and as close to a home-like environment as possible.Many of the features you see here are created using donated, repurposed, or hand-built materials, put together with purpose to support daily care and function.We invest our time, energy, and resources into what matters most: the animals themselves, their care, their needs, and their quality of life.This is a true country sanctuary/rescue, where dogs are given the space to decompress, settle in, and simply just be dogs. Every part of this space serves a purpose, whether for comfort, safety, or simply creating moments of calm within a busy, working environment.
View from the front looking into the first play yard and senior camper area
View from the front looking toward the back of the shop and additional dog areas
This is a partial view looking into our first play yard from the front of the sanctuary.
The yard itself extends well beyond what can be captured in a single photo and is one of several areas where dogs rotate throughout the day for exercise, enrichment, and social time.
The camper you see houses our senior dogs, providing them with a more comfortable, quiet space tailored to their needs, it is HOME for the animals here.
The building shown in the next view is the back side of our shop, where additional dogs are housed with access to larger kennel areas, allowing them to move freely in and out throughout the day.
Beginning of one of our many wooded trails, leading from the main yard into the wooded areas.
Rock path leading further into the woods toward additional kennel areas, storage kennels, and one of our little sitting areas where you can pause, sip coffee, and spend time with some of the dogs. :)
One of the small sitting areas along the trail. Little sitting areas are used throughout the sanctuary
As you move beyond the main front yard, the sanctuary extends into wooded areas connected by trails like these.
These paths lead to additional kennel spaces, quieter areas, and different parts of the property used throughout daily care.
The layout is intentionally spread out, allowing for separation when needed and helping reduce stress by giving dogs space away from constant activity.
Along these trails, you’ll also find small sitting areas placed throughout the property. These are not decorative, they are functional spaces used daily.
They provide safe places to sit while working throughout the sanctuary, whether carrying supplies, moving between areas, or spending one-on-one time with dogs, especially seniors or those who benefit from a quieter, more controlled environment away from the main kennel activity.
In a rural setting like ours, sitting on the ground is not always safe due to ticks, insects, and other environmental factors, so these areas also serve a practical purpose for both volunteers and animals.
Many of these spaces are created using donated, repurposed, or hand-built materials. We make use of what is available, building each area with intention to support the daily needs of the dogs and the work that happens here every day.
These areas may appear calm in photos, but they are part of an active, working sanctuary and are used constantly throughout the day.
More trails leading further into the wooded areas of the sanctuary, connecting kennel spaces and sitting areas, we love our little sitting spots, and so do the dogs 🙂
Open area within the woods where dogs can explore, play, or simply relax in a quieter part of the sanctuary. If there is such a thing as quiet. :)
One of the larger wooded living areas where some of our sanctuary dogs reside
Another sitting area tucked into the back woods, offering a quiet (kinda sorta) :) space within the sanctuary
Extended wooded areas & sanctuary spaces, as the sanctuary continues into the wooded areas, these trails connect additional kennel spaces, larger living areas, and quieter spots throughout the property.
The layout is intentionally spread out, allowing for separation when needed, reducing stress, and creating a more natural environment for the dogs in our care.
Our kennels are designed with shade and weather protection in mind. We use tarps and coverings to provide consistent shade during the summer and to help protect against rain and wind, keeping the dogs as comfortable and dry as possible.
From sunup to sundown, dogs rotate through large play yards in compatible groups. This gives them time to move freely, explore, and decompress, while ensuring each dog receives dedicated time outside of their kennel as part of a structured daily routine.
Because of the number of dogs and the way our rotation system operates, we function by appointment only. This allows us to maintain a calm, controlled environment and ensures the safety of both the dogs and any visitors.
This is one of our favorite trails, winding through the woods and leading back to additional sanctuary areas. These paths are part of daily life here, where the dogs experience fresh air, space, trail walks, and the natural environment around them. It’s peaceful, and a reminder that this isn’t a traditional shelter, it’s a place where they can simply be dogs.
This is a portion of our second play yard aka exercise yard, (we have three) along with some of the kennels located further back on the property. While not all of it can be captured in a single photo, this space is part of the daily rotation where dogs spend time outdoors, moving freely in safe, structured groups.
Additional kennel panels located throughout the back of the property. These areas are part of the overall setup that allows us to safely manage space, rotation, and daily care for the dogs while maintaining a structured environment.
A portion of our third play and exercise yard, used as part of the daily rotation where dogs spend time outdoors in a safe, structured environment.
Another section of the second play and exercise yard, with additional kennel setups located throughout the back. These areas are part of the daily structure that allows for safe rotation, space, and individual care.
A different view of the third play and exercise yard. In the distance, you can see the front side of our shop where dogs reside, along with an older camper currently used for storage that we plan to renovate in the near future. Like many areas here, it’s a working space that continues to grow and evolve over time.
Another view of the property at night. It’s well-lit so we can safely care for the dogs around the clock, and it’s one of our favorite times of day out here. We will be adding more photos soon. :)
Another one of our several quiet sitting areas tucked back along the trails down in the woods, where you can relax, spend time with the dogs, or just enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Whether it’s sitting for a while or stretching out in the hammock, it’s a place to slow down and simply be, with the dogs of course. )
A glimpse into daily life...These photos offer a small glimpse into daily life here, the real spaces where the dogs live, play, heal, and rest.
This is a working sanctuary and rescue, and we are constantly maintaining, repairing, building, and improving as we go.
Everything here has been created with purpose. Much of what you see has been built using donated, repurposed, or hand-built materials, shaped over time to meet the needs of the dogs in our care.
This sanctuary was not created overnight.
It has been built slowly over many years, piece by piece, using whatever resources were available at the time. Fencing, kennels, buildings, and spaces were added gradually, often one section at a time.
This has been a continuous process of growth, adaptation, and long-term commitment, not a single investment, but a lifetime of work.
What you see today reflects years of dedication and a choice to invest in something greater than ourselves.
And even now, it continues to evolve.
It may not be fancy, but it is deeply cared for, and more importantly, it is a place the dogs can feel safe, settle in, and simply be dogs.
Thank you for taking a moment to step into their world. It truly means more than you know.