Who Will Let The Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions

Help Us Write a New Story for America’s Homeless Dogs

Our nation’s dog shelters are in crisis - but one simple act you can do today can help change that.

Our new book, Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues, written by award-winning WWLDO Co-Founder, Cara Achterberg, is the result of years of providing on the ground support to dog rescue and shelter leaders at more than 150 dog rescues and shelters across 13 states.

The book is a community resource – both a primer on what is happening and an invitation to get involved, perfect for any dog lover. For the shelters, it’s also a blueprint for creating a shelter that provides shelter in the truest sense of the word. It’s about saving the dogs, but also about saving the people who have struggled too long without the resources and support they need.

Now we need your help to get this practical, hands-on book into the hands of heroes at shelters around the country, so they can keep the doors open and save more dogs’ lives.

With your help, this book will start a new conversation about how we create sustainable shelters where dogs can heal and move on to better lives with new families.

Our Glowing Reviews

Who Will Let the Dogs Out goes beyond just raising awareness—it presents practical, achievable ways that every community can transform its shelter system to save lives. Whether you’re a seasoned rescuer or a compassionate animal lover, this book will inspire you to be part of the solution.

Finally, a book that explores the dire situation confronting animal shelters throughout the South and across the United States! Cara uses clear, accessible language to educate readers about the escalating crisis of pet overpopulation, drawing from hundreds of interviews and experiences from the trenches of animal rescue. As an animal advocate, I greatly appreciated Cara’s nonjudgmental approach as she sought to understand what is happening, and just as importantly, what can we do about it!

Community and collaboration over competition. The only way out of the current animal welfare crisis is working paw-in-paw for the greater good. Cara’s book explores the current animal welfare crisis and the creative way people are banding together to save as many lives as possible. As much as she highlights the positive aspects of sheltering, she accurately and transparently shares the struggles we are facing every day.

This hopeful and optimistic book provides a blueprint for how to believe in and enact the kinds of changes our country’s animal shelters, particularly those in the South, so desperately need. Filled with heartwarming examples of how, by seeing obstacles as opportunities, a shelter with a creative and resourceful leader can change its narrative from being a place where dogs die to a place where dogs thrive, become adoptable, and move quickly from the shelter into forever homes, Who Will Let the Dogs Out provides solutions, ideas, and resources that any shelter committed to doing better by the dogs in its care can put into practice.

Who Will Let the Dogs Out is the perfect balance of heartbreaking and hopeful, underscored by the knowledge that things can get better for dogs in need if we pitch in and work together. Achterberg’s well-researched book doesn’t flinch from the harsh realities of the shelter world, but counters the darkness with a road map that can bring about positive change for the animals (and people!) trapped in the shelter system. A must-read for anyone who loves dogs and wants to make a difference.

This book gives hope to those who tirelessly dedicate their time and efforts to animal welfare. The ‘Try This’ sections provide practical and actionable concepts that will inspire real change across the South. Having volunteered with several of the organizations featured, it’s inspiring to see them paving the way.

It’s harder than most people realize to walk into animal shelters in some parts of America. I’ve left some of the worst ones outright weeping. Cara Achterberg has been there and back many, many times. She has walked the walk, scooped the poop, and smelled the suffering. Her book is an honest compilation of what she has seen and learned, the good as well as the bad, and it’s written in a way that provides a guide for how we can all do better by the dogs who need our help. Cara offers solutions to common and pressing problems, based on real-life examples that made things better. Her book is a welcome addition on the bookshelf of any dog lover who wants to make a difference.

This is a must-read for dog lovers! Though it tackles tough issues, the book is decidedly optimistic throughout. It presents our current sheltering challenges as opportunities, offering practical and visionary solutions that will change—and in many cases save—the lives of dogs.”

WHO WILL LET THE DOGS OUT: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues is a powerful guide that empowers readers to make a real difference in the lives of animals and their communities. With practical solutions, inspiring success stories, and expert advice, this book is essential for anyone passionate about animal welfare. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or just starting out, this book offers relevant insight to help shelters thrive and save lives.

Cara and Nancy are doing important work with Who Will Let The Dogs Out and shining a light on a problem that definitely needs solutions. I'm so grateful that Cara has taken the knowledge she’s accumulated from countless shelter visits and research and crafted this resource of ideas on how shelters and communities can make a difference and improve the lives of our homeless companion animals. Everyone can do something, and this book provides practical ideas on how to get involved.

Cara combines the reality of animal sheltering in the Southeast United States with the promise of effective solutions when the community is involved in the discussion and call to action. This is not a “finger pointing” book, but a collaborative effort to showcase best practices with community engagement.

Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues is an inspiring and deeply moving tribute to the tireless work of animal rescues across the country, and we are honored to be a part of this important narrative. This book not only shines a spotlight on the challenges rescues face but also celebrates the resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication of the volunteers who give their all to save animals in need. Through thoughtful storytelling it captures the heart and soul of organizations like ours—SGER—and reminds us all of the vital role we play in giving animals a second chance. Whether you’re a long-time advocate or new to rescue, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of love and hope for our four-legged friends.