Dash’s Epic Journey to Help Rescue Dogs 🐾

Follow Dash the Dachshund on his epic journey to raise awareness for rescue dogs across America! 🐾 From heartwarming stories of rescued dachshunds like Skittles, Marley, and Rocket to inspiring tales of fostering and adoption, this video celebrates the joy and importance of giving animals a second chance. Watch as Dash prepares for his adventure visiting all 50 states, complete with his custom bandana, backpack, and emotional support bunny, all while collecting rescue stories from amazing families and rescues. If you're passionate about dog rescue, fostering and adoption, this video is a must-watch! Join the movement, and let’s shine a light on the incredible world of rescue dogs. 🐶❤️

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Welcome

00:54 - I Love Dachshunds Facebook Page Origin

01:25 - Meet Lola the Dachshund

04:43 - Meet Marley the Dachshund

07:05 - Meet Rocket the Dachshund

11:05 - Dash Across America Concept

14:15 - How to Host Dash 

16:37 - Bon Voyage to Dash Celebration

18:25 - Marley Tries Bon Voyage Cake

21:00 - Dollar for Doxies Non-Profit 

21:08 - Trupanion Pet Insurance

21:54 - Dog Dental Care

24:34 - Rocket's Cake Experience

27:20 - Information about adoption

28:39 - Farewell

Dash Across America: A Journey to Celebrate Rescue Dogs

Welcome

Thank you all for joining us on this exciting journey! This marks my first Facebook Live event, and I'm thrilled to share a special new project with you—Dash Across America. This initiative follows Dash, our traveling dachshund, as he visits homes and rescues across the United States, spreading awareness about pet adoption and rescue stories. Our goal is for Dash to visit all 50 states, meeting incredible rescue dachshunds and their families along the way.

Dash’s first stop will be Chance of a Lifetime Dachshund Rescue in Massachusetts, and we can't wait to get started!

The Inspiration Behind I Love Dachshunds

To give you some background, I started the I Love Dachshunds Facebook page back in February 2012. It's been a joy sharing fun comics, adorable dog photos, and rescue stories with you all for over a decade. But my journey with dachshunds started even earlier, with my first pup, Lola.

Meet Lola: Our First Dachshund

Lola was our first dachshund, purchased from a pet store before I knew about the reality of puppy mills. Though we later learned about the harsh conditions of these breeding facilities, we’re grateful that Lola became part of our family. She is now nearly 17 years old and has been a constant source of love and laughter. While she was supposed to be a long-haired dachshund, we suspect she’s a mix of long-haired and wire-haired, given her adorable wiry snout!

Rescuing Skittles: Our First Adoption

Years later, we decided to adopt a dachshund and found Skittles through Connecticut Dachshund Rescue and Pet Services. Skittles, a dachshund mix, quickly stole our hearts with his playful personality. He might have had some Papillon or Pomeranian in him, but regardless of breed, he was an amazing companion. Unfortunately, he passed away in August of last year, but his memory and impact on our lives remain strong. Skittles was the reason we became passionate about rescue dogs.

Welcoming Marley: Another Rescue Journey

After Skittles, we adopted Marley, also from Connecticut Dachshund Rescue and Pet Services. Marley's previous owner had to surrender her due to family health issues, and she needed a loving home. The moment we met her, we knew she was meant to be with us. Marley is the sweetest, most cuddly dog we've ever had, and she has brought so much warmth to our home.

Rocket: A Surprise Addition

We weren’t actively looking for another dog, but when we saw Rocket’s face on Chance of a Lifetime Dachshund Rescue’s page, we felt an instant connection. Although not a dachshund, Rocket was in need of a home, and we couldn’t resist. He was originally found in a Georgia shelter before being fostered and transported to Massachusetts, where we adopted him. Rocket is an absolute sweetheart—playful, smart, and full of love.

The Birth of Dash Across America

One day, I had a thought: What if we had a dachshund that could travel across the country, sharing rescue stories and visiting rescues? I shared this idea on the I Love Dachshunds page, and the response was overwhelming. So, Dash Across America was born!

Dash arrived earlier this month, ready for his adventure. To prepare him for his travels, I hand-stitched a little bandana and created a backpack filled with essentials: a tiny compass, a toy camera, and his emotional support bunny. He also carries a travel journal where each host can add a note about his visit.

How to Participate

We’re looking for hosts in all 50 states! To qualify, you must either:

• Currently have a rescue dachshund

• Have previously rescued a dachshund

• Be a dachshund rescue organization

Each host will keep Dash for one week, take three photos or videos, and write a short journal entry about their experience. We will cover all postage costs, providing a prepaid envelope for easy shipping to the next location. If you’re interested in hosting, visit DachshundsBlog.com to apply!

Celebrating Dash’s Journey

To send Dash off in style, we hosted a Bon Voyage Party! I even baked a special dog-friendly cake using peanut butter, banana, whole wheat flour, and eggs. The recipe will be posted on the blog, and it was a hit with all our pups — Marley, Lola, and Rocket.

Supporting Rescue Efforts

While Dash Across America is about celebrating rescues, we also want to spread awareness about how you can help. Consider adopting, fostering, or donating to your local rescue.

Other Valuable Resources

If you need assistance with a pet emergency, Dollar for Doxies is a wonderful nonprofit that may be able to help with veterinary costs.

Additionally, we highly recommend Trupanion Pet Insurance, which has been invaluable in covering medical expenses for our dogs, especially given dachshunds’ susceptibility to IVDD and dental issues.

Join the Adventure!

We are so excited to see where Dash’s journey takes him! Follow along on Facebook and DachshundsBlog.com to stay updated on his travels. If you’re interested in hosting Dash or signing up for our newsletter, head to our blog and sign up.

Thank you for being part of this amazing community. Let’s make Dash Across America a journey to remember!

Bon Voyage, Dash!