Unconditional Inc.

We work toward a world where people see the value in senior and special dogs, and ensure each has a chance to find a loving home.

We have been active in animal welfare for 20 years. The journey to the idea of Unconditional began when we adopted Carlo, a stray pug with a missing rear leg. Carlo taught us that disabled means different — not sad or limited. In fact, he was the most exuberant and wildly personable dog we had ever had! Carlo inspired us to dig more deeply into the plight of senior and disabled dogs, and sadly we found out that our misconceptions were common. In SoCal, senior dogs are the only population being left behind in shelters, and disabled dogs are routinely euthanized.

We adopted more ’special’ dogs – including StanLee, a senior in a wheelchair; Levi, also in a wheelchair; Tomas, a blind senior with impaired mobility; Asher, a senior who had suffered terrible neglect; Oona, a lively girl with a wheelchair; and Harper, a tiny super-senior with mobility challenges found alone on the streets of Los Angeles. They are all fantastic and loving companions, full of spirit and fiercely loyal (and strong!). We decided we had to do something. In speaking with other rescues, we concluded that we needed a new model — a place purpose-built to help these special dogs recover and shine. Designed in collaboration with leading shelter medicine researchers and rescue entrepreneurs, Unconditional will be a model that can be replicated in other cities.

No adoptable dog should be denied a chance to bring their hearts to a home simply because they are older or different!

- Amy& Julian Mack, Founders

Our journey, marked by dedication and community support, has seen remarkable milestones that shape our path forward.

Our Achievements: Foundations for a Brighter Future
* A New Home for Hope: The construction of our adoption center isn't just about building walls; it's about creating a place where our community can come together and rally around the shared mission of helping senior and special dogs. This center, currently underway on Laguna Canyon Road, symbolizes our commitment to being a beacon of hope for countless dogs awaiting their forever homes.
* Saving Lives: Through our Foster Program, we've established a strong foundation for our Adoption Program, ensuring that as soon as our doors open, we will be fully equipped to connect loving dogs with caring families, enriching lives on both ends of the leash.
* Solution to Medical Care: Rise Pet Health is the for-profit sister entity to Unconditional that provides emergency and specialty veterinary care to the public. Rise opened its doors in August of 2023 and provides free medical care to the dogs in our care. The inception of Rise Pet Health is a testament to our innovative approach. This venture isn't just about providing top-notch care for pets; it's a strategic move towards making Unconditional financially sustainable, ensuring our ability to help dogs for years to come.

Our Goals for 2025: Expanding Our Reach
* Building Our Team: As we eagerly anticipate the grand opening of our shelter, our focus is on hiring a dedicated team of both paid team members and volunteers. This team will be the heart and soul of our operations, driving our mission forward with passion and care.
* Educating and Supporting the Community: In 2025, we will be increasing our educational programs, with particular focus on reaching the senior humans in our community. Our goal with this outreach is threefold -- to promote the adoption or fostering of senior dogs; to ensure that the senior humans in our community have a care plan for their dogs should they not be able to care for them ; and to provide a community for senior humans looking to connect with people and dogs in a positive and motivating manner.
* A Home for Every Dog: Our ultimate goal remains as clear as ever – to increase the number of adoptions. Every dog that finds a loving home is a success story that fuels our resolve to do more.

Join Us in Making a Difference
Unconditional is more than just a shelter; it's a movement. A movement powered by compassion, innovation, and a relentless drive to make a positive impact in the lives of dogs and people alike. Together, we can create a world where every dog is cherished and loved unconditionally.

Donations: Contributions directly support our life-saving programs, helping us rescue and rehome more dogs. You can donate via our website, by emailing donate@unconditionalrescue.org, or through our OCCF Nonprofit Central profile.

Grants: Grants from foundations, corporations, governments, and individuals are crucial, directly funding our operational and programmatic expenses. Each contribution makes a significant impact in our efforts to provide a safe haven for dogs in need.

Capital Campaign: In early 2025 we will be launching a Capital Campaign to raise needed funds for construction of Unconditional. Email us at amy@unconditionalrescue.org to learn more.

Orange County, CA

During my 20+ years of work in animal rescue, I have had the honor of being part of teams doing extraordinary work. Together, we have reduced the euthanasia rate through spay/neuter initiatives and we helped facilitate an extraordinary number of adoptions (and even helped make adoption cool!) So many dogs have benefited from the work of the organizations I’ve been a part of – as well as the work of many other wonderful rescue groups.

Despite those great efforts, I saw that very little was being done to address the growing number of senior and special needs dogs who are left behind and ultimately euthanized in shelters. And that really got me. Not only are these dogs some of the most deserving – many of them have been loyal family members for years only to be discarded because they slowed down or their family tired of them – but they also make wonderful companions! The relatively lower energy and loving nature of senior and special dogs makes them great choices for people of all ages, from busy families to senior citizens.

Unconditional is more than a rescue; it is a paradigm shift. These dogs are being overlooked, and we will change that. The need here is so great that incremental change will not have sufficient impact during our lifetime – we must innovate and think big if we want to help these wonderful dogs. Through data-driven strategies, the implementation of groundbreaking pilot programs, and a fresh approach to the adoption of senior and disabled dogs, we are building a solution that promises real change.

Our model is bold – build an 8,000 sft rescue in Laguna Beach that looks and feels more like a home, with the purpose of drawing people in and encouraging them to spend time with our dogs (knowing that is the key to having them fall in love!). To overcome the burden of medical costs for our dogs, we built Rise Pet Health. Rise is a 24/7 emergency and specialty veterinary hospital located just a short drive from Unconditional. While it serves the public in a for-profit manner, Rise provides free medical care to the dogs at Unconditional enabling us to reduce our operating budget by ~50%. This is a game changer -- and makes our bold model highly sustainable.

I am thrilled to invite you to join us in this revolutionary mission. Your contribution, regardless of its size, is a step toward a better life for these most deserving dogs. Thank you for believing in us.

Together, we will change the lives of senior and special dogs!

Amy Mack
Founder & President, Unconditional