New Spirit 4 Aussie Rescue
Shelter * Love * Comfort
New Spirit 4 Aussie Rescue is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving Australian Shepherds and Aussie mixes in the United States and Canada.
What We Do
We evaluate Australian Shepherds and Australian Shepherd mixes from selected shelters and private owners no longer able to keep their Aussies. If we judge a dog suitable for placement with an average adopter, we foster it in private homes and get to know the dog. We then post the dog to our website and place it in an adoptive home where the energy levels, expectations and personalities are a good fit. Think of us as a "doggie dating service"!
What a Gift Tugger Was to the Vit Family!
What a Legacy he Leaves for New Spirit!
In early 2019, following our move from the suburbs of Philadelphia to a 15 acre farm in New Jersey, we decided that in addition to our two basset hounds, we needed a farm dog. Our research led us to the Aussie Shepherd breed and as serial dog adopters, we found the New Spirit 4 Aussie rescue group. In turn, our review of the available dogs led us to a two year-old, brown, handsome and sturdy fellow by the name of Tugger. Tugger was advertised as having moderate behavioral issues (he literally came with a binder addressing his challenges), but he was also extremely smart, high velcro and likely to adapt well to a farm environment. What could go wrong? The journey with Tugger began when my wife went to meet him at his foster home in Philadelphia. Tugger’s foster parent alerted her that under no circumstances should she look Tugger in the eye when meeting him. Nice start! Well Tugger yapped away, eventually calmed down and clearly needed a forever home, so our farm it was. Little did we know that after owning nearly ten dogs over the years, and we loved them all, Tugger would be the one that entered our hearts in a way no other did. Tugger ran the show. Guarding the driveway, chasing down our horses (from outside the fencing), tirelessly playing frisbee and keeping everyone who entered our house on their toes, Tugger was a true boss. He watched over my wife with an incredible level of loyalty, but once you knew the secret handshake with him, Tugger welcomed you in to his world, most of the time.
Over four and a half years, Tugger was a constant companion and huge personality at our farm. He never learned how to truly relax, but just loved his life with us. Unfortunately, Tugger was diagnosed with cancer in the Summer of 2023 and had to be put down shortly thereafter. While we enjoy the photos and videos of Tugger in action, the lesson for us is that on occasion, it is sometimes the toughest nuts to crack, the less than perfect dog, that can be the most rewarding.
We are pleased to make a donation in Tugger’s name to New Spirit and are currently enjoying Oscar (4) and Ranger (2), two New Spirit rescues that have followed Tugger to our farm.
Bill and Kathie Vit
Please accept our sincere gratitude for your generosity!
Don't want to adopt but do want to help?
Donate*
We depend on donations to supplement our adoption fees. Sometimes, the cost to rescue a dog far exceeds our adoption fee.
You’ll receive a letter acknowledging your gift for your tax records.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
(PayPal Account NOT Necesssary)
Volunteer
You can do a little or a lot: no experience necessary! Make reference check phone calls, do home visits, help with transporting dogs, fundraise, maintain web pages, help at rescue booths, or become a foster home.
Your fellow New Spirit volunteers will be there to help every step of the way!
Donate in Honor of or in Memory of A Loved One:
Raise money for New Spirit every time you shop on line!
* Florida residents are advised that New Spirit is not registered under the Florida Solicitation of Contributions Act (Chapter 469 Fla Statutes) to solicit contributions from Florida residents. Accordingly, nothing on the website should be construed as a solicitation from a Florida resident. That being said, nothing in Florida law prohibits any Floridian from contributing to any cause he or she supports, provided that it is a lawful activity, and done voluntarily. And by coincidence, no Pennsylvania law precludes New Spirit from accepting donations from out of state residents.