Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue is all about “Saving Badass Dogs from Idiot Humans.” Founder Sara Alize Cross has rescued 900 pups from shelters down south and found them new homes in New York City. And she’s just getting started…
s READ MOREThe slogan for Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue says it all: “Saving Badass Dogs from Idiot Humans.” Sara Alize Cross founded the grassroots network of rescuers, fosters and volunteers in 2011 and has since found homes for some 900 dogs sprung from shelters in the rural south.
Two years ago, Cross, a documentary filmmaker, was scrolling through her Facebook News Feed and came across a picture of Fred, a mutt in a North Carolina pound. She rescued and rehomed him, but the pictures kept coming. “I have personally been to a few of these places and they are hell on earth,” Cross says of the animal-control facilities in the southern United States. “These are high poverty, low population areas that place no value on dogs’ lives. While the shelters in New York are horrible, people actually adopt pets so some of the dogs have a chance to get out alive. The kill rates at the shelters we pull from are over 90 percent, so if we don’t rescue these dogs, they will die.”
Fred was the first, but not the last. Cross teamed up with Johnny Bergmann (another documentary filmmaker), Kristin Wilhelm (a high-school math teacher) and Eva (the owner of doggie daycare Eva’s Play Pups) to form Badass. “For a long time Johnny, Kristin, Eva and I did everything—pulling the dogs, organizing transport, raising money, managing logistics, processing foster/adoption applications, doing home visits, checking references, driving dogs to the vet and crisis management—but in the past six months we have built up a great group and have divided up the work between us,” she says. “We all juggle two full-time jobs, so you can imagine that none of us are able to do anything but work and rescue!”
Social media is still at the heart of the operation. Cross has established connections with local volunteers in the south, who pull dogs from the pounds and get them veterinary treatment. When they are healthy enough to travel, the dogs are transported north, where fosters are waiting to give them names to match their big personalities like Frank Sinatra and Raquel Welch. Meanwhile food, transportation and vet bills pile up. “We run completely on donations so it’s always a struggle,” says Cross. “We have a dog now named Christy Turlington who was hit by a car. She will need multiple surgeries that will cost over $4,000 but she really wants to live and we will do what we can to make sure she does. I called the rescue Badass because you have to be a badass to get it done. Rescue is indescribably difficult. It is full of seemingly impossible-to-overcome obstacles, constant emergencies and heartache.”
Badass’ federal nonprofit status is pending, and Cross plans on opening a brick-and-mortar adoption center in Brooklyn within five years. “We hope to rescue 365 dogs in 2013, which would be one dog for every day of the year. I think we are well on our way to that goal.” Badass, indeed.
—
badassbrooklynanimalrescue.com
All images courtesy of Badass and Hilary Benas
For more info on how to donate, foster or adopt a dog click here
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
Inhalt Was bedeutet die Dual Registration Policy bei Iris? Häufige Gründe für versehentliche Verstöße So vermeiden Sie Probleme mit der Richtlinie Die Konsequenzen bei einem Verstoß Was tun, wenn Ihr Konto gesperrt wurde? Fazit: Fairplay steht im Vordergrund Iris Dual Registration Policy: Regeln und Konsequenzen Die Anmeldung in einem Online-Casino sollte einfach und unkompliziert sein….
October 13, 2026
Sommaire Comparaison du Bonus de Bienvenue: Mobile vs Bureau Procédure d’Inscription Mobile Pas à Pas Avantages Exclusifs de l’Expérience Mobile Détails Techniques et Conditions Importantes Problèmes Fréquents et Résolutions Conclusion : Vaut-il Mieux S’Inscrire sur Mobile ? Tortuga Casino Welcome Bonus for Mobile Signups: Any Difference? Vous vous demandez si l’inscription depuis votre téléphone mobile…
October 13, 2026
Sommaire Comprendre l’importance du processus KYC chez Spinsy Documents requis et formats acceptés Résolution des problèmes techniques d’upload Que faire en cas d’échec persistant ? Conséquences d’un KYC réussi et avantages Spinsy KYC Upload Failing Le processus de vérification d’identité, ou KYC (Know Your Customer), est une étape incontournable pour jouer sur des plateformes sérieuses…
October 12, 2026
MexVIP: De qué manera Funciona Su Bono de Bienvenida Para Jugar Con Buenas Condiciones La propuesta de MexVIP se entiende mejor cuando miras su mecánica de bienvenida: cómo se activa, qué parte del catálogo ayuda a desbloquear valor y qué reglas determinan el ritmo de la apuesta. Este enfoque es especialmente relevante para quienes quieren…
October 12, 2026
Live dealer studios have quietly become the most translation-friendly corner of online gambling, and Aussie players now expect to be greeted in English without fiddling with browser settings. In practice, the phrase “live casino language tables available” has become shorthand for a lobby that simply works the moment you load it, with dealers who speak…
October 12, 2026
Índice O Que é a Autenticação de Dois Fatores e Por Que é Importante? Pré-requisitos Para Ativar o 2FA na 1win Passo a Passo Para Configurar o 2FA Gerenciamento e Resolução de Problemas Comuns Benefícios da Autenticação de Dois Fatores para Jogadores Configurando a Autenticação de Dois Fatores na 1win A segurança da sua conta…
October 12, 2026
Contents Understanding the Vegastars Bonus Offer Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Your Bonus Wagering Requirements and Key Rules Timeline: From Deposit to Withdrawal Required Documents for KYC Verification Common Problems and Troubleshooting Vegastars First Deposit Match: Amount, Timing, and Rules Navigating the welcome bonus at a new online casino can be confusing. This guide provides a…
October 12, 2026
Why Players Look for Third‑Party WoW Gold Key Factors to Evaluate When Choosing a Site Comparative Table of Popular Options How the Purchase Process Usually Works Benefits of Buying Gold from a Trusted Vendor Potential Risks and How to Mitigate Them Where to Find a Reliable Marketplace Final Checklist Before You Click “Buy” Best Websites…
October 11, 2026
Sisal App Casino: Come Funziona Il Bonus Di Benvenuto E Cosa Aspettarsi Sisal app casino punta molto sulla fase iniziale: il bonus di benvenuto è pensato per accompagnare la prima settimana di gioco con una struttura chiara e regole pratiche. Se ti interessa soprattutto capire come si attiva, come si sblocca e come incide sul…
October 10, 2026
Revisión de Rojabet: promociones, juegos y pagos Esta revisión está enfocada en pagos y actividad diaria. Si lo que te importa es cómo funciona el retiro, qué métodos aceptan y qué condiciones acompañan a los bonos, aquí tienes un resumen claro y directo sobre Roja Bet. RojaBet se presenta como una opción con enfoque en…
October 10, 2026
