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“Every year, over 3 million dogs enter shelters. Roughly one in five is surrendered by their owner —
often because they can’t afford food.Around 10% of all dogs entering shelters are euthanized
due to space, illness, or lack of adoption.That’s hundreds of thousands of dogs that could
stay with their families if we step in.”

This is preventable.

No Dog Should Lose Their Family Over a Bag of Food.

The Canine Crusade of America (CCA) is a registered Texas nonprofit corporation created to stop unnecessary owner surrenders before they happen — by delivering dog food directly to families in temporary financial hardship.But we are still in the building phase.And we need your help to launch.

🚀 Help Us Build the Lifeline Before More Dogs Are Surrendered

CCA is currently in its founding phase.Before we can begin delivering food nationwide, we must build the legal, technological, and operational foundation to do it responsibly.We are raising funds to:

  • Secure our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

  • Website upgrades & create our application platform

  • Establish legal and administrative infrastructure

  • Develop our intake and verification systems

  • Hire essential startup support

  • Build partnerships with shelters, veterinarians and businesses

  • Cover operational costs

This is the ground floor.You’re not just donating to a charity.You’re helping create the solution.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

About Us

“Owner surrenders are one of the leading reasons dogs enter shelters,
and many of these pets are at risk of euthanasia.By helping families feed their dogs, we can help prevent
these heartbreaking outcomes and reduce pressure on shelters.”

Built on Love. Driven by Prevention.

The Canine Crusade of America is a registered Texas nonprofit corporation created with one clear purpose:

To prevent unnecessary dog surrenders caused by temporary financial hardship.

We believe no family should have to give up their dog because they fell on hard times.Not for a bag of food.
Not for a short season of struggle.
Not when prevention is possible.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

Process

“Your donation helps keep dogs with the families who love them. Every dollar helps prevent surrenders and keeps dogs out of shelters, where tens of thousands are euthanized each year.”

HOW THE PROGRAM WILL WORK

Once fully operational, CCA will:

Step 1: Accept Confidential Applications

Families facing temporary hardship will apply through a secure online system.

Step 2: Quick Verification

Applications will be reviewed promptly and professionally.

  • Review of income or assistance documentation

  • Confirmation with your veterinarian

  • Signed self-attestation

Our goal is to keep the process fast, professional, and stress-free so families receive help immediately.

Step 3: Once Approved

Approved families will receive dog food delivered directly to their homes for three months.No lines.
No public pickup.
No shame.Just compassion, dignity and support when it’s needed most.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

FAQ

Are you a registered nonprofit?

Yes. The Canine Crusade of America is a registered Texas nonprofit corporation.

Do you currently have 501(c)(3) status?

Not yet.

Are donations tax-deductible?

We are a nonprofit organization incorporated in Texas and our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is pending with the IRS as we go through the process. If approved, your donation may be tax-deductible retroactively to our date of incorporation.

How is this program funded?

  • Our program is funded entirely by monetary donations.

  • Every dollar helps us purchase dog food for families in need.

  • Donations also cover essential administrative costs, including program coordination, outreach, and operations.

  • This approach allows us to deliver food efficiently, directly, and safely to families in need.

Since we do not have our own warehouse, we do not accept dog food donations.

What are funds being used for right now?

  • Secure our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

  • Website upgrades & create our application platform

  • Establish legal and administrative infrastructure

  • Develop our intake and verification systems

  • Hire essential startup support

  • Build partnerships with shelters, veterinarians and businesses

  • Cover operational costs

We are building the organization the right way — with accountability, structure, and sustainability.

Why focus on prevention?

Because once a dog enters a shelter, the risk of euthanasia due to space limitations, illness, or lack of adoption increases.Prevention is humane.
Prevention is cost-effective.
Prevention saves lives.

Are you currently accepting applications?

Not yet.We are in our founding phase and actively raising funds to secure and complete our infrastructure.With your support, we aim to launch as quickly as possible.If you need dog food assistance, please join our mailing list to be notified when applications open.

When will you start accepting applications?

Our goal is to launch services as soon as possible.The launch date depends entirely on how quickly we are able to raise necessary funds.Every donation brings us closer to launch.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

Happy Tails

COMING SOON -
THE HAPPY TAILS THAT WE HAVE KEPT
AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Help us add to our "Happy Tails Gallery" with your donation.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

Contact Us

Type use one of the following phrase(s) in the Subject Line below
in order to help use direct incoming emails to the proper person."Dog Food" - if you need to be notified when we start
accepting applications for assistance."In-Kind Sponsor" - if you would like to donate special services such as printing, website building, etc."General Question(s)" - if you have questions that were not found in our website, please ask."Join Mail List" - if you would like to join our email list to receive new information on The Canine Crusade of America.

Thank You!

Thank you for contacting
The Canine Crusade of America.Please allow up to 48 business hours for a reply.Have a blessed day.

Donations

Join the Crusade.Every donation helps us build the foundation of
The Canine Crusade of America and move closer
to launching a program designed to keep dogs
with the families who love them.Choose your level of support and become part of the crusade.

$25

Crusade Supporter

Strengthening the foundation of our mission.

$50

Pack Member

Standing with others committed to keeping
dogs with their families.

$100

Crusade Advocate

Helping advance the mission to prevent unnecessary surrenders.

$250

Pack Guardian

Providing meaningful support for the work ahead.

$500

Canine Champion

Helping move this mission closer to reality.

$1,000

Crusade Leader

Providing powerful support for building
and sustaining our mission.

$2,500

Founding Crusader

Helping bring The Canine Crusade of America to life.

Other Amount — Choose Your Impact

Every contribution, no matter the size,
helps move this mission forward.

MONETARY DONATIONS ONLYTo eliminate warehouse costs, CCA operates
through a direct purchase model.We do not accept dog food donations.We welcome in-kind support such as:
• Printing services
• Apparel production
• Advertising

Our Mission

To keep dogs with the families who love them by delivering food directly to households experiencing temporary economic hardship — preventing unnecessary surrenders, abandonment on the street and reducing shelter overcrowding before it happens.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

Our Vision

A future where no dog enters a shelter simply because their family faced financial difficulty.A future where prevention replaces heartbreak.A future where families and dogs stay together — for life.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

Our Values

Compassion/Dignity/Impact/Collaboration

Compassion

Every decision we make is guided by care for both pets and the people who love them.

Dignity

Families receive support with respect, without judgment or hassle.

Impact

We focus on real solutions that help prevent surrenders and reduce stress on shelters.

Collaboration

We partner with shelters, veterinarians, social service agencies, and community organizations to reach families who need help the most.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

Why We Care

The Canine Crusade of America was not created from theory.It was created from lived experience.Our founder has adopted every one of her dogs through shelters — bringing them home as puppies and committing to them for their entire lives.To her, they are not pets.They are family.Like many families, she has faced seasons of economic hardship. She understands the quiet fear that can creep in during difficult times — the worry about how you will provide, the stress of unexpected expenses, and the thought no dog owner ever wants to have:“What if I can’t afford to keep them?”That fear changes you.It forces you to realize how fragile stability can be.And it reveals something deeper:Most owner surrenders are not about lack of love.They are about lack of resources.CCA was born from the belief that love should not be separated by circumstance.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

Why Prevention Matters

When dogs are surrendered due to financial hardship:

  • Shelters become overcrowded

  • Illness spreads

  • Adoption rates slow

  • Euthanasia risk increases

But what if we intervened earlier?What if a simple delivery of dog food could prevent the surrender entirely?Prevention is humane.Prevention is cost-effective.Prevention protects both families and shelters.That is the heart of The Canine Crusade of America.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

Where We Are Today

CCA is currently in its startup phase as a Texas nonprofit corporation.We are building the legal and operational foundation necessary to launch responsibly and sustainably.This mission is deeply personal — and we are committed to doing it the right way.

Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.

This Is More Than a Program

It’s a promise.A promise that families going through temporary hardship deserve support — not separation.A promise that dogs who are loved should not lose their homes because of a short-term crisis.A promise that prevention is possible.

Be a Founding Supporter. Help us launch.

Founders Letter

Why did I start The Canine Crusade of America?The answer is simple.Because I know what it feels like to worry about having to give up a dog(s) you love.Every dog I have ever had the blessing of welcoming into my home has been rescued from a local shelter or from the street. Either way, I make a commit to them for life.Not for a season. Not until it’s inconvenient. For their whole life.They are not pets to me.They are family. My family.Like many families, I have experienced seasons of economic hardship. Times when unexpected expenses, life changes, or financial instability created stress I never anticipated. During those seasons, there was a quiet fear that sat in the back of my mind — the fear of not being able to provide.And if you love your dog like family, one thought can become overwhelming:“What if I can’t afford to keep them?”That thought changes everything.It forces you to confront how fragile stability can be.It makes you realize how quickly love can collide with circumstance.And it opens your eyes to something most people don’t see:Many dogs surrendered to shelters are not unwanted.They are deeply loved.Their families are simply out of options.The Canine Crusade of America was born from that understanding.I believe no one should have to walk into a shelter and hand over a dog they love because of a temporary financial crisis. I believe prevention is possible. I believe a bag of dog food should never be the reason a family says goodbye.That belief is what led me to form CCA as a Texas nonprofit corporation.We are currently in our startup phase, building the legal and operational foundation needed to launch responsibly and sustainably. This is not something I want to rush or do halfway. If we are going to step into families’ lives during vulnerable moments, we must do it with integrity, structure, and accountability.This crusade is deeply personal to me.I know the bond between a family and their dog.I know the comfort they provide during difficult times.I know they are not just animals in a home — they are part of it.The goal of The Canine Crusade of America is simple:Keep dogs where they belong — at home.Prevent unnecessary surrenders before they happen.Relieve overcrowded shelters by helping stop the intake at its source.And protect the bond between families and the dogs who love them unconditionally.We are at the very beginning of this journey.
A very important journey.
And beginnings matter.If our crusade resonates with you, I invite you to stand with us at the start.Become a Founding Donor of The Canine Crusade of America.With gratitude,

Regina Melgarejo
Founder
The Canine Crusade of America
A Texas Nonprofit Corporation