We Fight for the Underdog, Human and Animal
Since 2015, we've rescued forgotten dogs and paired them with people in recovery, so both can find their way home.
A Lifeline for the Forgotten
Blue Waters Dog Rescue is more than a nonprofit. We are a lifeline for the forgotten dogs no one else wants, and for the people who are fighting every day to reclaim their own lives.
We focus on rescuing large-breed dogs, especially misunderstood ones like bully breeds, who are so often labeled "too much" or "too broken" to be saved. Many come to us scarred, abandoned, or abused, never having known love, safety, or even a soft place to rest.
What makes us truly unique is how we heal. Our dogs are fostered by men and women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, living in sober homes throughout South Florida. These are people who once lost everything and struggled just to take care of themselves. When they are given the chance to care for a broken dog, something extraordinary happens.
The dogs give them a reason to get out of bed in the morning. They teach them how to trust again. They remind them that love doesn't require perfection, just patience and presence. In return, the people teach the dogs that not all humans hurt, that kindness still exists, and that they, too, are worthy of a second chance.
This is more than fostering. It's a sacred exchange, where the wounded rescue the wounded and healing goes both ways.
How It All Comes Together
While in our care, each dog receives love, safe housing, veterinary care, behavioral support, and time to heal. Our dogs are cared for 24/7 by a mix of dedicated staffing and volunteers. Lisa, our full-time "Dog Walker Extraordinaire," works under Wellness Director Stephanie. Each dog has a dedicated handler — often a resident of our partner, Blue Waters Recovery Foundation — who they live with in that partner's recovery homes. Veterinary care is provided through our partnership with Coral Ridge Animal Hospital (954-958-9582). All of this happens under the oversight of Tiffany Skuraton, our founder.
All of our dogs are tested for common diseases, assessed behaviorally, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered before they are adopted into permanent homes.
Our volunteers know common dog behavior issues and are available to advise foster caregivers and adopters. We have relationships with trainers we can refer people to. We hope to offer a training session at the time of adoption again soon.
We stay in touch with our adoptive families long after adoption day, because everyone who meets Blue Waters becomes part of our family. And the faster we find each dog a permanent home, the more lives we can save.
The Underdogs We Rescue
Many of our dogs are misunderstood bully breeds. See who is available now on our Adoptable Pets page.
Rescued Dogs Find Purpose with People in Recovery
We proudly partner with Blue Waters Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit that provides safe, structured sober living for people recovering from substance use. Residents who have reached certain milestones in their recovery take on the responsibility of caring for our rescue dogs, with walks, vet visits, and plenty of love, creating a healing environment for people and dogs alike.
Our dogs serve as emotional and recovery support companions inside these homes. We also work to educate the public about how wonderful rescued dogs are, especially bully breeds, and we provide training and resources on how to properly care for them.
"We want to save as many dogs as possible through rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing."
Hi, I'm Tiffany, founder of Blue Waters Dog Rescue.
Since I was a little girl, I could feel the pain of animals deep in my heart. I didn't just love them; I carried their hurt. I was the child who would cry at the sight of a stray and pray for every dog I saw alone. That empathy never left me. But as life unfolded, I lost my way.
What most people don't know is that I am a recovering drug addict. For years, I lived without direction, numbing myself to a world that felt too painful to face. On June 14, 2012, I fell to my knees, broken, hopeless, and exhausted, and begged God to save me. That moment of surrender changed everything.
In that surrender, I found purpose. I wanted to help people like me, people the world had given up on, and I wanted to rescue animals that had also been forgotten. I had a dream that one day, maybe 10 or 20 years down the road, I could run a little halfway house for six or seven women and offer them safety, structure, and love. Honestly, it felt impossible.
I had no money. No degree. A criminal record. Bad credit. No experience. People told me I was dreaming too big. But here's what I've learned: God doesn't choose the qualified. He qualifies the willing. He didn't need me to have it all figured out. He just needed me to be available. And so I was.
About two and a half years into my recovery, I was given the chance to open my first sober living home. Almost immediately, I knew what was missing: a dog. Someone to love the residents when they couldn't love themselves. Someone who wouldn't judge their past. So we brought in our first rescue, and what happened next was nothing short of a miracle.
These dogs, many of them abused, abandoned, and broken, began healing the hearts of people who felt the same way. When someone walks into a sober home, they often feel worthless. But when a scared, shaking dog curls up in their lap, needing love just as badly as they do, something shifts. They find purpose. They find connection. They realize they're not as alone as they thought.
That's how Blue Waters Dog Rescue was born.
In 2015, God moved mountains. A complete stranger offered me two empty buildings, with room for 50 more beds to help people in recovery. That opportunity brought people in recovery and rescue dogs under the same roof — and Blue Waters Dog Rescue was born from that partnership. Over the years, the dream has grown. Today, our partner Blue Waters Recovery Foundation operates recovery homes across South Florida, and Blue Waters Dog Rescue cares for 10 to 16 rescue dogs at a time. Two organizations, one shared belief: the wounded can heal the wounded.
Many people in recovery at our partner homes say, “If it weren't for that dog, I wouldn't be sober today.”
We are still here, still serving, still showing up, still believing in miracles. But we can't do it alone. Every bag of food, every vet visit, every warm bed, and every tail wag is made possible by people like you.
Tiffany Skuraton, Founder
Our Story in the Media
Rescue dogs boost sobriety at a South Florida recovery centerWatch on YouTube →CBS Miami · Miami Proud (Sept 2022)
Rescued dogs and people battling addiction on the road to recovery togetherRead the story →Against All Odds
A mini-documentary about our founder's visionWatch on YouTube →Hometown Heroes
A UMTV Special PresentationWatch on Vimeo →
Thank You to Our Partners
Together with our sponsors, supporters, and partners, we're able to increase positive outcomes in our communities.
Help Us Keep Going
Give to Blue Waters Dog Rescue. Not because we rescue dogs, but because those dogs help rescue people. Just $19 a month makes a difference, every month.