With a mission and a passion to get homeless animals into their forever homes, Jennifer Allan Hagedorn founded Saving With Soul (SWS) in 2017. The nonprofit now has a 17.5-acre sanctuary for animals in Baker, Florida. 

A generous donor made it possible for SWS to purchase the beautiful land, nestled between cotton fields in Okaloosa County, to create The PUPStop. Volunteers repurposed buildings, painted murals and erected fences to transform the property into a unique pet adoption village that is open seven days a week. 

“It’s not a shelter. It’s a dog and cat adoption heaven,” says Hagedorn, who says they specialize in rescuing small dogs. 

The Good Life

The site houses more than 200 adoptable dogs and cats in all sizes, ages and backgrounds. Animals come from other rescues, owner surrenders and city and county shelters where they may have been euthanized. Upon arrival at The PUPstop, they are evaluated by a veterinarian and scheduled to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. If an animal is injured or sick, treatment is given. Hagedorn believes that animals deserve to have a comfortable and loving place to live while waiting to be adopted.  

A popular area of the rescue is The PAWds at PUPville. The PAWds (pods) are heated and cooled dog shelters with outdoor patios, picket fenced yards and big shade trees. People who visit are astonished that rescue dogs have custom-built homes. Each pod houses three to six dogs and is kept immaculately clean by volunteers.

In fact, the entire property is exceptionally clean. “If you walk into any of our buildings, you will not smell animal smells. Our buildings smell nice,” says Hagedorn. 

Visitors are welcome every day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., to interact with the dogs. Cats are free range inside their building, called PURR Central, and are also ready for visitors. 

How to Adopt

With more than 1,500 pets coming in and being adopted out of SWS each year, the population changes daily. A picture album of available animals at The PUPstop is updated every few hours on Facebook. There are also photos of the dogs and cats in private foster homes, another branch of the SWS rescue. 

Potential adopters can get a leg up on the process by filling out an online form. They can go to The PUPStop in Baker or attend a Saturday adoption event at another location. Featuring up to 50 dogs and cats, weekly adoption event locations are listed online. 

Families who are looking to adopt a second dog can bring their current fur baby to The PUPStop to scope out a potential sibling. It’s not required, but letting the dogs visit can help determine compatibility. In most cases, an adopter can take their new family member home the same day.

Be a Hero

Not everyone wants to or can adopt a pet, but there are volunteer opportunities every day to help SWS. Volunteers are needed at The PUPStop for dog walking, kitten cuddling, poop-scooping and general chores. For adoption events, animals need prepped with baths and photos and information about the animals needs posted. To start the process of volunteering, fill out the online application. 

“Volunteering with a rescue group in a high-kill region will change your life. You will feel amazing at the end of the day, knowing you saved a life, or two or three,” says Hagedorn.

Profits from The PUPShop in Baker also help save pets. The shelves are stocked with pet-themed gifts, PUPStop merchandise and more. In addition, items bought from the SWS Amazon Wish List are shipped directly to the rescue and financial donations are tax exempt. 

The Rainbow Bridge

SWS also has a space to honor the pets who have left paw prints on our hearts. 

The Rainbow Bridge is a sparkling structure, which is open day or night. People bring their elderly or ailing dogs for photos. Others hang a collar and tag on the bridge to honor a beloved companion’s memory or sprinkle ashes beneath the bridge. 

Beautiful handmade tags with collars can be customized at The Rainbow Bridge Store. You can go there to hang the tag yourself or staff will hang it for you and email a photo. The purchase includes a donation to SWS that helps care for animals with medical needs. 

“The bridge is in front of the property. You don’t have to come in and see us, you don’t have to make an appointment. You can stop in to see it, take a quiet moment to reflect, and then go on your way,” says Hagedorn. “This space was created with love—for healing, remembering and celebrating the bond that never fades.”

Everything at The PUPStop was created with a passion for pets and their dedicated parents. Everyone, whether in the adoption zone or not, is welcome to visit, interact and feel the love. 

Location: The PUPStop, 6407 Highway 189 N, Baker, Florida 32531. 850-343-9986. Facebook. Saving with Soul Pet Rescue is dedicated to ending euthanasia of adoptable pets in the NW Florida Panhandle by ensuring that dogs and cats are spayed or neutered. Contributions are tax deductible. For more information, visit PUPStop.org.