Sage’s Sanctuary
Sage’s Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) organization providing funds for medical needs and essential supplies to local rescues caring for stray and abandoned Bully breeds in and around Detroit.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Matthew 25:35-36
Save Advocate Give Educate
Sage’s Story
In 2013, while volunteering at a dog rescue adoption event, my kids and I met Sage. She had just come into the rescue after being pulled from a kill shelter. She was only about a year old but had already endured a lifetime of abuse. She was emaciated, shot in the back with a bb gun, her ears were torn and she had a gaping wound on one of her front legs. One of the rescue staff was holding her down while another was trying to wrap the wound. She was absolutely terrified. After the volunteers let her go, she ran right to me and my kids. The rescue staff told us they had nowhere for her to go and she would be hard to place because of her breed and her condition. They desperately needed a foster. I was working fulltime and raising two kids by myself along with two of our own rescue dogs. I had never fostered before and didn’t think I could do it. That night I couldn’t stop thinking about her. So we picked her up the next day! She started coming to work with me everyday and we became inseparable.
We ended up adopting Sage and she continued to go to work with me everyday for the next 5 years. Because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of others, she shied away from most people but she was loved by many. If you were one of the few she let in, she made you feel very special. She broke stereotypes and was proof that it is not the breed that is the problem but the humans behind the abuse. Because of Sage, my former place of employment allows all of their employees to bring their dogs to work to this day. She was the first!
Sage was the OG Bully for us. We have since adopted 4 others and rescued and fostered countless more. There is no more loyal, loving or misunderstood breed than the Bullies. Sage was a true testament to that. Sage taught me what it meant to truly rescue a dog and to be rescued by a dog. She taught me to educate myself and others and advocate against breed discrimination. Unfortunately, Sage passed away in 2024. She was my true soul dog and I miss her everyday. I wanted her legacy to live on and therefore I founded Sage’s Sanctuary in her honor. My hope is that with your help, her story has the power to save others.
Together, we can make miracles happen for dogs like Sage everyday. We rely on the generosity of dog lovers like you to provide essential care and support for abandoned and stray bully breeds in and around Detroit. Your donation can help us cover the costs of veterinary care, spaying and neutering, food and essential supplies and behavioral training, ensuring that these neglected dogs receive the care they need to thrive.
Our Mission
Save
Save as many innocent bullies as we can. Heroes aren’t born, they are everyday people who choose to save a life. Whether you donate, volunteer, foster or adopt make the choice to save a life today.
Adovocate
Advocate against unfair and discriminatory breed specific legislation. Shift the focus to promoting and ENFORCING legislation that will hold irresponsible dog owners and abusers accountable for their heinous behavior.
Give
Give to support the needs of others. Whether you give once, weekly, monthly or become a regular sponsor, your financial gift helps us make a positive impact in the lives of these dogs every day.
Educate
Educate yourself on unethical dog breeding practices and the importance of fostering and adopting shelter dogs. When you foster or adopt a shelter dog, you are actually saving two lives. The life of the dog you pull from the shelter and the life of the dog that gets to fill its space.
In Detroit and the surrounding areas, 70-80% of the shelter and rescue population is made up of Bully breeds. Many come in heartworm positive, injured, emaciated, or with some other medical ailment. Many come in physically and emotionally abused at the hands of humans, covered in wounds and old scars. We are dedicated to donating funds to the incredible local rescues and shelters caring for these sweet souls so they can provide them with the medical services and supplies that they need.
Why HELP
Transforming Lives
With your support, we can rescue animals from overcrowded shelters, provide them with medical care and rehabilitation, and get them into loving forever homes.
- Promoting Animal Welfare
- Community Engagement and Education
- Addressing Overpopulation and Homelessness
Every dog deserves a loving home. Help us make that a reality.
Happy Supporters, Happy Stories
I'm an animal lover but have a serious passion for dogs. Blue, our adopted Pittie has been the light of our lives. It is a joy to see him run to the gate when I pull into the driveway or when my husband let's him out the door and says "Go get Momma". He runs as fast as his little legs will allow him.
I love fostering because you're providing a dog with a second chance and hopefully allowing them to shed their past trauma. When they find their forever homes and adopters send updates and pictures, it feels so good to know that you have a made a positive impact on the pups life.
I was always told that pitbulls were dangerous animals that should not be around human beings. That thought lasted a long while until I became familiar with Sage's Sanctuary and what it does with the breed. I have now seen first hand that pitbulls, if treated properly, are wonderful dogs who can bring a lot of happiness to a family. I am proud to be a Sage's Sanctuary supporter.
We began our foster journey a few years ago and it has truly changed our lives for the better. Knowing you are saving the life of an animal who truly needs help is indescribable. Seeing them happy with their forever family is the best feeling. The genuine love you receive from your fosters is worth everything.
From unwanted to unbelievable, adoption is beautiful. To have the privilege of adopting an unwanted, scared, hurt or sick dog and transform them into a confident, happy and healthy animal is amazing! The bond built is unexplainable. With each dog adopted the lessons taught by them to me are truly life lessons which can't be learned without taking a chance on a soul in need.