The Take a Licking Challenge was created with one mission: to help save dogs.
Every day, we see rescues being forced to pause intakes because they simply don’t have the funds to cover medical care. The need for foster homes is also critical—without fosters, many dogs can’t be saved.
At the same time, there are loving families who want nothing more than to keep their dogs, but overwhelming veterinary costs leave them with heartbreaking choices. In some cases, taking their dog to the shelter or surrendering their pet is the only option to save its life. We believe that no family should have to give up their beloved dog due to financial hardship.
Sophie’s Gift, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has spent the last three years helping families cover emergency medical expenses to save their dogs. Through fundraising events, auctions, and community support, Sophie’s Gift pays veterinary hospitals directly—and for full transparency, posts invoices and receipts for every dog helped.
While Sophie’s Gift has primarily focused on pugs, the Take a Licking Challenge expands that mission to include any breed in need of life-saving care.
Leg Up 4 Dogs is launching initiatives designed to inspire individuals—especially kids—to get involved in saving dogs’ lives.
We believe in the power of kids to make a real difference in the lives of dogs.
By empowering individuals and communities, we aim to create a world where every dog has a loving, caring home.
We’re also developing helpful guides for dog owners to prevent pets from ending up in shelters in the future.