Spark

The spark that ignited the Mutual Rescue initiative happened in the summer of 2015, when Carol Novello and David Whitman first met—thanks to their mutual friend Sally Hazard Bourgoin.

Mutual Rescue was launched on February 14, 2016, with the release of a short film called “Eric & Peety” and a national call for stories of mutual rescue.

From hundreds of inspirational stories, Mutual Rescue judges selected five for filming that year: “Kylie & Liza,” “Tracy & Jack,” “Josh & Scout,” “Jessi & Andi,” and “Mike & Abbie.” Several other top contenders were later featured in Novello’s book Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too. 

First Film

“Eric & Peety” is Mutual Rescue’s 2016 début documentary short film about Eric O’Grey and his rescue dogs, Peety and Jake. Viewed more than 100 million times and cited by The New York Times as California’s most-viewed news-source video of 2016, it has generated conversations, comments, reviews, broadcasts, podcasts, screenings, translations, talks, workshops, interviews, articles, and awards—motivating innumerable people worldwide to embark on their own mutual rescue journeys.

Today

To date, Mutual Rescue has created over 30 short films; made essential resources like foster program toolkits and Spanish language materials easily accessible to animal shelters; published a book; presented at numerous conferences and events; awarded over $250K in cash grants to animal shelters; and encouraged individuals and businesses to support their community animal shelters through adopting, fostering, volunteering, and donating. 

Watch “The Love Is Mutual”

Our Mission

Mutual Rescue is dedicated to inspiring change at a local level through our global impact. We continue to work with animal shelters all over the world so more animals are saved and, in return, animals save more people. 

We are building our base of corporate support to benefit community animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the United States and Mexico. Contact us if you’d like to connect on ways to sponsor or partner with Mutual Rescue.