We recently connected with Brooke Fettig and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brooke thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Fur Eternity Rescue came from a deeply personal place. Growing up, I always had a connection to animals—especially dogs. I’ve always believed that animals, especially rescue dogs, have this incredible ability to heal and offer support during tough times. My first rescue experience was when I was young. My family found a stray puppy in the snow—skin and bones, terrified, and alone. We named him Bear, and he quickly became a part of our family. Bear’s story was the start of my passion for rescue work, and it inspired me to do whatever I could to help other animals in need.

As I grew older, I realized that my love for animals and my passion for making a difference could translate into something bigger. Together with my sister, Alyssa, who shared the same passion, we decided to start Fur Eternity Rescue. It wasn’t easy at first. Starting a nonprofit from scratch, especially relying solely on fosters and a community that didn’t know us yet, came with a lot of challenges. But we knew we had to make it work. We did everything ourselves—filing for the 501(c)(3), building a team, and connecting with potential adopters and fosters. It was exhausting, emotional, and often discouraging at first, but we kept pushing forward.

The turning point came when we learned about rural shelters in Oklahoma facing a crisis. Healthy dogs were being euthanized daily, and puppies as young as a few days old were losing their lives because of a lack of space. This crisis felt like a call to action, and it lit a fire in us to do more. We started networking online and working with shelters to find medical placements for dogs in need. The emotional toll was heavy, and there were many sleepless nights—often at emergency vet clinics until the early hours of the morning—but we knew this was worth it. We were saving lives.

It’s a tough job, but it’s one that fills me with purpose every day. I felt confident that Fur Eternity Rescue would succeed because we weren’t just offering a service; we were offering compassion and hope to animals who needed it most. Our focus on building strong relationships with shelters, fosters, and the community allowed us to make a real difference—and that’s what keeps me motivated.

Brooke , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Brooke Fettig, and I am the founder of Fur Eternity Rescue. I am 25 years old and a mother to two young boys. My journey into animal rescue started from a deeply personal experience with a dog named Bear. When I was young, my family found Bear—a scared, emaciated stray puppy in the snow. We couldn’t find his owners, so we brought him in, and he became my first official rescue. This experience had a lasting impact on me, teaching me the power of compassion, healing, and the deep bond that exists between animals and humans. Bear was my inspiration, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to rescuing dogs in need.

In late 2023, alongside my sister Alyssa, we decided to turn our passion into something more. We founded Fur Eternity Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from high-kill shelters and other urgent situations. We provide a safe haven for abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs, offering them medical care, rehabilitation, and eventually matching them with loving homes.

What sets Fur Eternity Rescue apart is our deep personal commitment to each dog we rescue. We don’t just see them as animals in need of a place to stay—we see them as family members, each with their own story and unique personality. We focus on building strong relationships with our fosters, adopters, and the local communities where we operate. We work tirelessly to not only save lives but to educate others about the importance of animal welfare, spaying/neutering, and responsible pet ownership.

For anyone considering adoption or wanting to get involved, I encourage you to reach out and learn how you can make a difference—whether it’s by fostering, volunteering, or donating.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the early days of launching Fur Eternity Rescue, we faced a significant setback that tested our resilience. About a month or two after we launched our nonprofit, our Facebook account, which we had been using to connect with supporters and build our community, was hacked. It all happened when we clicked on a link in a message we received—something we didn’t realize at the time would compromise our account. Suddenly, we lost access to our page, and all our followers, posts, and progress were gone. It was a huge blow, especially considering how much effort we’d put into growing our presence and connecting with potential adopters and donors.

Rather than give up, we took it as a challenge and quickly regrouped. We created a new account and set to work rebuilding our following, reaching out to the supporters we had previously engaged, and letting them know what had happened. The setback was discouraging, but we learned valuable lessons about the importance of cybersecurity and the power of perseverance. By staying committed to our mission, we not only regained our following but also grew our community stronger than before. This experience showed us that while obstacles are inevitable, resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to start over can turn even the toughest challenges into opportunities for growth.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most challenging moments that forced me to pivot both personally and within my work was when we unexpectedly lost our beloved Great Dane, Luna, just after Christmas this past year. Luna had been a constant source of support for me and my family, and her passing was devastating. We rushed her to the emergency room, but it was already too late. Despite efforts to send her for further testing, six pathologists could not determine the cause of her sudden illness. This left us with many unanswered questions, adding to the emotional toll.

This loss forced us to reevaluate how we manage the rescue and our home environment moving forward. With Luna’s passing, we had to make adjustments in our daily routine. We had several fosters in our care, and we needed to ensure that they received the proper attention and care without overwhelming ourselves. As a result, we had to postpone meet-and-greets and temporarily adjust how we approached our adoption process to give ourselves space to grieve and reorganize.

It hasn’t been easy, and there have been many lessons learned along the way. But we’ve grown stronger through it, developing new strategies for managing our rescue operations during tough times. We’re still learning to adjust and move forward, but this experience has taught me the importance of flexibility and compassion for myself and the animals we serve. Despite the setbacks, we’re moving forward with renewed strength and a deeper understanding of how to balance personal and professional challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.fureternityrescue.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KDR3W13yA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Jazmine (Lively Sharp Photography) Brooke Fettig (Fur Eternity Rescue)