Dog Star Rescue’s New Building: Progress, Partnerships, and a Dream Coming to Life

At the end of 2024, Dog Star Rescue reached a milestone we’ve been dreaming about for years—we officially purchased our very own building! After years of operating out of borrowed spaces and temporary setups, we now have a place to truly call home. But the journey didn’t stop at the closing table.

Over the past several months, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, navigating permits, finalizing plans, and partnering with the town to get everything lined up. And finally… we broke ground!

One of the biggest projects has been transforming our kennel area, where our dogs will spend their time before finding their forever families. This space needed a major overhaul to meet our standards of care and cleanliness, and Aldrich Construction Company stepped up in a big way. Not only have they been an incredible supporter, but their crew has walked us through every step of the renovation process with professionalism and care.

Their current focus? Trench drains! These essential additions are being installed throughout the kennel area and will allow our volunteers to quickly and thoroughly clean and sanitize the space. Cleanliness isn’t just about appearances—it’s the foundation of our commitment to keeping our dogs safe and healthy while they wait for adoption.

But it hasn’t all been heavy equipment and construction crews. Our volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the front of the building. With nothing but determination—and more than a few scraped knuckles—we pulled up old carpeting, patched and repaired walls, and brought fresh life into the space with a brand-new coat of paint.

And speaking of paint… we’re beyond excited to announce a new partnership with Sherwin-Williams! We invited one of their local representatives to tour the building and hear about our mission firsthand. Not only did they leave inspired, but they also offered to donate 30 gallons of paint and painting supplies to help us finish the job!

This collaboration is more than just color on the walls—it represents the power of local partnerships. Sherwin-Williams shares our passion for community impact, and with dozens of locations across the region (including their newest location right here in Bloomfield!), they’re the perfect partner for a DIY-driven organization like ours.

Please join us in thanking Sherwin-Williams for their generous donation and continued support. And when it’s time for your next home project, be sure to support those who support Dog Star Rescue!

We’ve still got a way to go before our new headquarters is ready for full use, but every day brings us one step closer. We can’t wait to welcome our dogs—and all of you—into a space that reflects the heart of our mission.

🌤️ With the weather finally warming up, we’re also getting ready to turn our attention to the outside of the building! One of our biggest goals is to expand our Star Yard—our outdoor play and enrichment space for the dogs—by an incredible 500%. This will give our pups more room to run, play, and decompress while they wait for their forever homes.

👉 If you or someone you know works with fencing, we’d love to connect! Please reach out and help us make this dream yard a reality.

💪 Want to get your hands dirty or help in any way? We’d love to have you! Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] to get involved.

💛 For more ways to support our vision or donate to our building efforts, visit: https://dogstarrescue.org/capital-campaign/

Thank you for being part of this journey—brick by brick, brushstroke by brushstroke, and now, post by post!

With sincere gratitude,

Nichole Fortenbaugh

Executive Director, Dog Star Rescue