Meet Tonya | Founder & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tonya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I honestly never though about running my own rescue. I was with a heeler rescue for 5 1/2 yrs, they had closed. then i worked with a couple of other rescues, and had decided i wanted to start my own and go back to working with cattle dogs and catahoulas. There is such a great need to help these dogs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I rescue cattle dogs and catahoulas in Maricopa County. What sets us apart from others is we are a breed specific rescue, rehab, rehabilitate, re-home and dedicated to this wonderful breed of dogs. What i’m most proud of and excited about is to see our dogs go from rags to riches. To see the way some of these dogs come to us is pretty sad and breaks our hearts.To get them healthy and adopted to a wonderful family keeps us going. How we got to where we are today is all the hard work we do into saving these dogs. has it been easy heck no, rescue is worse then a roller coaster ride. There are a lot of tears, sweat and blood put in to keeping a rescue going. How we over come the challenge is we keep fighting. even when the light at the end of the tunnel is no where in site, we keep pushing through and do our job. Even when it is hard we don’t give up. The lessons we have learned is how hard rescue work is. And how not everyone is in it for the same reasons as others are. But we have also made some great friends along the way, I want the world to know that rescue dogs are not all broken. And all they need is someone to love and care for them. I read post from people on social media and even have talked to people at events, how they would never adopt a rescue dog, how they all have problems one way or another. Like aggression issues, fear, not trained, and on and on. and they only will go to a breeder. then i think do you know why some of these dogs are like that? its cause humans have failed them. in one way or another. most of these dogs are thrown away like trash. how is that fair to not give them a chance. Now i do understand why some go to a reputable breeder. Like if they want to get in the show ring, or to continue a blood line ect. Rescue dogs are not broken. That’s what i want to world to know.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shout out goes to my wonderful foster homes and volunteers, adopters, and supporters. With out them this rescue wouldn’t be what it is today.

Website: azblueheeler.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/azhhhdr
Other: we do have a twitter account.