Hillary Wolf Saba has a long list of accomplishments, including competing at the Olympics, earning a bachelor’s degree and having a fulfilling acting career. The 2001 UCCS grad has also made a significant impact on the lives of countless dogs in her journey as a volunteer with the National Mill Dog Rescue (NMDR).
“Two years ago, my son’s youth baseball coach asked the parents to plan a community service outing for the team so the kids could give back to the Colorado Springs community. That is when I found National Mill Dog Rescue,” she said. “I fell in love with the organization and their mission to rescue, rehab and rehome commercial breeding dogs.”
Since then, Hillary has volunteered with the organization on a weekly basis and has even gone on several out-of-state rescue missions, saving over 500 dogs.
“I so deeply believe in the work they do to save these deserving pups, but selfishly it also brings me joy to be a part of their mission,” she said. “There can be 100 dogs barking and kennels to be cleaned, but all I feel when I’m at the rescue is joy. Joy to show these dogs love and care they have never experienced.”
From the initial rescue of each dog to their physical and emotional rehabilitation, Hillary said she has witnessed the transformative journey for many of the animals.
“One of my favorite things to do at NMDR has been taking long-term residents out for a ‘dog’s day out,’” she said. “I like to pick dogs who have been waiting to be adopted for a long time to help highlight their personalities through videos and photos. Some dogs don’t do well in the shelter environment, but the minute you get them outside of their kennel they truly open up.”
Her adventures with the dogs often include a drive to get a “pup cup” and a burger, have some quiet time in the car, and go for walks out in nature.
She also shares these special moments on social media in hopes of educating the public about the horrors of the commercial breeding industry. And while she’s not a huge fan of social media in general, Hillary said several acquaintances have even adopted dogs from NMDR, thanks to these efforts.
“Commercial dog breeding is a supply and demand business. If people knew that their puppy’s parents were stuck in a rabbit hutch their entire lives, with no socialization, enrichment or medical care, they wouldn’t support that business,” she said.
Her advice is to never buy a puppy if you can’t see how their parents are living. Through a course Hillary took at a university in Utah, she learned that if only seven percent more people adopted instead of purchasing dogs, the U.S. would not need to euthanize healthy dogs.
“I learned so much about how we can all help move towards ending dog euthanasia in our country,” Hillary said. “Instead of getting angry at shelters for having to euthanize healthy dogs due to space, you can become a foster, donate, volunteer and/or choose to adopt your next dog. These are all ways to be a part of the solution, rather than complaining about the problem.”
She explained that her time at UCCS cemented her connection to the Colorado Springs community. As a former elite athlete training for the Olympic Games, Hillary said her coursework at UCCS opened her heart and mind, fostering a lifelong commitment to learning and volunteerism.
This connection, she said, has been a driving force behind her work with NMDR.
Leave a Reply