Small & Gutsy Features The Farm Dog Rescue: Open Your Heart, Rescue A Dog!

In this episode of Small & Gutsy, Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff sits down with Keri Burgess, founder of The Farm Dog Rescue, and Nancy Zare, a dedicated volunteer foster parent, to discuss the critical work of dog rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible adoption in Martin County, Florida.

The Farm Dog Rescue is a no-kill dog rescue organization that has made it a mission to rescue and adopt dogs, educate the community, and help animals in need. Beyond individual rescues, the organization is focused on addressing the larger issue of pet overpopulation through spay and neuter programs and policy advocacy.

Throughout the conversation, Keri and Nancy share powerful stories of transformation—from chained and malnourished dogs finding forever homes, to the importance of careful vetting and placement, to the unique "Seniors Helping Seniors" program that pairs older dogs with older adopters. They discuss the realities of rescue work, the emotional rewards of fostering, and why focusing on the present rather than a dog's traumatic past is so important.

Key topics include:

• Owner surrenders, and why 95% of Farm Dog Rescue's dogs come from families who can no longer care for them
• The critical role of foster families in rehabilitation and placement
• How legislation and spay/neuter policy are needed to reduce pet overpopulation, particularly in the southern states
• The importance of pet trusts for senior pet owners
• Nancy's journey from volunteer to experienced foster parent and the confidence it builds
• Why quality placement matters more than quantity of rescues
• The "Seniors Helping Seniors" program: pairing senior dogs with senior adopters
• How to focus on a dog's potential future rather than its traumatic past
• The systemic issue: "You cannot kill your way out of pet over-population"

Guest Bios

Keri Burgess – Founder, The Farm Dog Rescue

Keri Burgess is a passionate animal advocate and rescuer with over 20 years of experience in animal welfare. As the founder and president of The Farm Dog Rescue, she has devoted her life to saving and rehabilitating dogs in need. Her journey in rescue began as a foster, and over the years, she has volunteered for numerous shelters and organizations, gaining invaluable experience. 

In addition to her rescue work, Keri is a full-time realtor and owner of a real estate coaching company, where she helps professionals grow and succeed in their businesses. Her business acumen lends itself to both running The Farm Dog Rescue as a sustainable nonprofit and selling real estate—balancing compassion with strategy to ensure success in both fields.

Nancy Zare – Volunteer Foster Parent, The Farm Dog Rescue

Nancy Zare is known as the "LinkedIn Whisperer" and is the creator of the Likability Sales System. She is a renowned business consultant who shows professional business owners how to generate warm, organic leads on LinkedIn and turn them into clients. She has authored seven books, including an Amazon International Best Seller.

As a volunteer foster parent for The Farm Dog Rescue, Nancy has fostered 38 dogs in just a few years. 

Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff – Host, Small & Gutsy

Dr. Laura is the host and founder of Small & Gutsy, a podcast and 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to spotlighting smaller nonprofits and social enterprises under $10 million. Her mission is to raise visibility for these organizations and connect them with volunteers, donors, investors, and job seekers.

Key Takeaways

1. Owner Surrenders Are the Primary Need: The Farm Dog Rescue receives 10-15 owner surrender calls per day, with 95% of their dogs coming from families who can no longer care for them—not from shelters.
2. Quality Over Quantity: Farm Dog Rescue prioritizes careful vetting, behavioral assessment, and thoughtful placement over rescuing the most dogs possible. Their average hold time is 12 days, with some dogs placed in as little as one hour and others taking up to a year.
3. Fostering Is Transformational: Foster families like Nancy don't just help dogs—they help themselves. Fostering builds confidence, teaches new skills, and provides deep personal rewards.
4. Policy Change Is Essential: The real solution to pet overpopulation is not no-kill shelters—it's spay/neuter legislation and responsible breeding policies, which have already reduced overpopulation in northern states.
5. Pet Trusts Matter: Many seniors assume their family will care for their pets if something happens, but this often doesn't happen. Pet trusts ensure dogs go to appropriate rescues and forever homes.
6. Seniors Helping Seniors Works: Pairing senior dogs with senior adopters creat