How We Started
Tails of Love began as a grassroots effort sparked by compassion and necessity. Most of our founding volunteers lived and worked on or near the White Mountain Apache Indian Hospital, where starving dogs routinely wandered the grounds in search of food and kindness. The suffering was impossible to ignore.
Moved by the daily reality of these animals, a small group of us came together to ask a simple question: What can we do? That question led to community meetings, collaboration with others who shared the same deep concern, and ultimately, the creation of Tails of Love Rescue.
With no formal funding—just dedication, heart, and help from our neighbors—we started by feeding dogs on the street, providing basic medical care, and rescuing the most vulnerable. Early on, we recognized that rescue alone wouldn’t be enough. Spay and neuter, public education, and partnerships would be essential to making lasting change. And thanks to the incredible support from volunteers, donors, and the local community, we've been able to keep growing and reaching more animals every year.
Who We've Become
Today, Tails of Love is so much more than a rescue—we’re a growing network of passionate individuals working together to make real change.
Thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, business partners, and fellow rescues, we've expanded far beyond our beginnings. With strong community backing in Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, and surrounding areas, and with partners like Animal Balance, Blue Ridge Veterinary Clinic, and Pack 911, we’ve been able to scale up our impact in meaningful ways.
We now conduct large-scale spay and neuter clinics and free vaccination drives on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. We've treated hundreds of dogs suffering from Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (TVT), a contagious cancer that often goes untreated. We’ve stepped in during hoarding crises and emergency medical situations—on and off the reservation—working side by side with fosters and volunteers to rehabilitate and rehome dogs who otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance.
Through the support of rescue partners and an ever-expanding team of fosters and volunteers, we’ve helped thousands of animals find safety, healing, and forever homes—and we’re just getting started.
