Jenny Nordin ('02)
Jenny DB Nordin ’02– on rescuing dogs and finding them forever homes.
“Rescue, Respect, Repeat.”
Talking with Jenny DB Nordin ’02 about the non-profit she founded, Dog Gone Seattle, one senses two things right away: she has the calm but slightly weary manner of someone who has been through a lot of difficult experiences and knows how to handle them, and she has a passionate love for what she does - rescuing, caring for, and finding homes for dogs who would otherwise be euthanized. Though the vanloads of dogs arriving from as far away as California and Texas never seem to stop coming, Jenny and the volunteers she works with match a nearly overwhelming need with a bottomless well of energy, love, and compassion.
When asked about why her organization takes dogs from so far afield, she notes that in the Seattle area and much of Western Washington, shelters typically give dogs a longer time to find a good home, and many shelters locally do not euthanize animals in their care. Seattle area residents are noted dog-lovers, and there is a culture here that favors adopting over shopping for purebred puppies.
“Many shelters around the country are what we call ‘high-kill’ in that they routinely give dogs who are in their care only a few days before they are euthanized. Often this is due to budgetary or shelter capacity restraints. This means most of these dogs will never have a chance to be properly assessed, cared for, and brought into safe and loving homes.”
Sometimes, these dogs have been abused or neglected, and may have both medical and psychological issues to address. But the majority of these dogs are friendly, adoptable dogs at risk for losing their lives, simply because many municipalities don’t have the financial resources or physical space to accommodate the dogs in their care, resulting in high kill rates.
Fortunately, Jenny has plenty help in her desire to not only rescue these animals, but to end the cycle of neglect and abuse. Dog Gone Seattle does this by providing rescued dogs with necessary medical care, behavioral assessments, and short-term care in a large network of foster homes until placing them in “forever” homes in the greater Seattle area. Using the network of amateur and professional volunteers Dog Gone Seattle has attracted, prospective new owners are vetted carefully to prevent a repeat of what has already happened to these animals. In 2018, Dog Gone Seattle successfully rescued and adopted over 500 dogs.
Jenny reflects on giving up her day job in marketing and business development to formally found Dog Gone Seattle in 2016 and is thankful for the support of her husband and fellow alum Jon Nordin ’00. “It was a jump into the deep end for sure, but it felt like exactly what I was meant to be doing – a destiny that allowed me to impact the lives of animals and people every day. There are daily challenges and it is exhausting, but I love it!”
You can learn more about Dog Gone Seattle by visiting their website: doggoneseattle.org
You can also hear Jenny talk about her work in her own words:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVKnHHkaw5U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fg-b5E5Oo