Rockstar Canine Rescue gives at-risk dogs a second chance

Rockstar Canine Rescue and Sanctuary is giving at-risk dogs a second chance at life and a brush with fame.

The Phoenix-based non-profit partners with touring musicians to pose with adoptable dogs, helping them find homes. Each photo shoot has led to successful adoptions. The group will also host its sixth annual DOGtoberfest, Arizona’s largest Halloween pet festival, on Oct. 18 at Montgomery Park.

Above are pictures of Rockstar Rescues and Sanctuary pups with various rockstars visiting the Valley.

Director Jamie Benfield and adoptable pup Lizzo joined “Arizona Horizon” to share how the rescue combines creativity and compassion to save canine lives.

Rockstar Canine Rescue is a decompression and rehabilitation facility. Their goal is to take dogs from county shelters at risk of being euthanized for serious injuries and illnesses and rehabilitate them to be ready for a brand new home.

When speaking to Benfield about the origin of the name, she included “Rockstar” because “she thought it was cool” and wanted to stand out. That was until it dawned on the name isn’t enough. Benfield said, “We’re called Rockstar Rescue. I reached out to rock stars, and the very first rock star that responded to do a photo shoot was Ozzy Osbourne.”

Other notable musicians who have done photo shoots with Rockstar Canine Rescue and their dogs are Alice in Chains, Rush, and Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses, to name a few.

With the photo shoots including these famed musicians, Benfield finds it as a way to compete with the competition of other shelters and allow their dogs to get a better chance of being taken to a new home.

“It’s a niche in the industry. It’s something that no other rescues were doing or that they know of are still doing, and I just think it brought a whole new group of people.”