By Samantha Miller, News 8 WTNH

(WTNH) — Two Connecticut rescues were ready for their moment of fame in the 20-18 Puppy Bowl. Deidre Croce and Laura Wallace of the Spotty Dog Rescue talk about the importance of dog adoption.

Spotty Dog Rescue has been in existence since September 2012.

SDR is 100% volunteer-run and all dogs are housed in foster homes while they await adoption.

They are a “Rescue Without Borders”. SDR rescues dogs from local pounds as well as from the southern U.S and from our partner shelters in St. Thomas, St. Croix and Grand Cayman. The euthanasia rate in the islands is around 78% on intake and that includes highly-adoptable dogs. SDR believes that a life is a life and it shouldn’t matter where the dog was born. The organization recently rescued several dogs from Puerto Rico that were flown to the states by Love for Love City Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Kenny Chesney to provide assistance to people and animals affected by the recent hurricanes that devastated the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Hope (7 months and now goes by the name Mia) came from a high-kill shelter in GA. At the last minute, she was added on by the GA shelter, to a transport of dogs that we had chosen for rescue. She was under 5 lbs. and near death when she arrived and we immediately rushed her to an emergency veterinary clinic where is was touch and go for several days. Her incredible fighting spirit got her through and now she is a happy, healthy, thriving puppy. Once SDR commits to a dog, they do everything possible to ensure the dog gets the vet care it needs so it can be adopted out with a clean bill of health.

Xander (8 months. ) was only 4 weeks old when he was found wandering the streets of a rural S.C town with his mother Caroline, a senior dog with heartworm disease, and his brother. Caroline has clearly had a hard life and her body shows the scars and the evidence that she has been over-bred. She must have fought hard to protect her pups and she was a great mom to Xander and his brother Mookie. SDR has treated Caroline’s heartworm disease, a costly treatment, and she is now in a foster home waiting for her forever family to find her.

SDR is in great need of foster homes so we may save more lives. The organization provides the food, all supplies, 24/7 support and veterinary care for the dog and the foster provides the home and the love. Spotty Dog is always in need of volunteers as well. Foster and volunteer applications can be submitted online at www.spottydogrescue.org

For more on this story and video go to: http://wtnh.com/2018/02/01/connecticut-rescues-to-appear-in-the-2018-puppy-bowl/