History
In 2001, in honor of Bandit – a neglected dog rescued in 1987 – BARK (Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9s) was founded.
Serving as a safe haven for dogs rescued from abusive and neglectful situations from the Richmond, Virginia area, the BARK kennels can be found in an idyllic farm-like setting in Ashland, Virginia.
A team of hard-working volunteers ensures all essential daily tasks of canine care are taken care of so the kennel can run smoothly. Tasks include intake, medical reviews, application processing, record management, community outreach, and daily kennel care tasks – including walking dogs and cleaning kennels.
Sadly, the kennels closed in 2019. However, the legacy of BARK is under new ownership and continues to serve the dog community in multiple facets.
Since Barkva has closed down, it is time to move the site to a new domain and continue on our journey over at meetyourdog.com
Authors
Jesse Hopping
Hi! My name is Jesse, and I am the main writer at meetyourdog.com! My love for dogs began when I was three years old. Max, a red Boston Terrier, entered my life and was the most loyal pal any little girl could have had.
I will never forget the hot summers spent exploring outside, from sun-up to sundown, with my furry buddy always at my heels. We did everything together. And, thanks to Max, from a very young age, I genuinely understood what “man’s best friend” truly meant.
In the years since Max, I have raised and fostered dozens of dogs. My devotion to these sweet creatures never wavering, only growing exponentially.
Volunteering with the Richmond VA SPCA and surrounding shelters has provided me the amazing opportunity to dedicate my time and heart to many shelter dogs.
Whether I am helping them heal and help them find happy, healthy homes, or bringing them into my own home when they have nowhere else to go, Max laid the foundation for what has become a lifelong purpose.
When I am not working at home to take care of my pack of furry friends, my goal with Meet Your Dog is to share valuable knowledge that I have gained over the years, along with products I find helpful, skills, as well as advice to help my readers nurture the best bond possible with their pets.
From my corner here on the internet, you will find researched and tested dog products, and useful dog advice, along with tips, tricks, and facts that have helped me heal and rehome many dogs.
Thank you for stopping by and welcome to Meet Your Dog. It’s PAWsome that you are here!
Since 2018, I have been a Certified Dog Trainer designation from CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, and have graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in English
Feel free to connect with me via Linkedin or email me at [email protected]!
My Dogs
Max: A red Boston Terrier, and Jesse’s first dog at only three years old, was gifted to her by her parents. Growing up, Max was Jesse’s favorite dog until the end. He is also the inspiration and the reason behind her love for dogs, especially Bostons.
Marlee: Marlee is a Bernedoodle who loves adventures, being outdoors, going to the groomer for pampering, and chewing on sticks. Her size (and coloring) of a Bernese, coupled with the super-sweet temperament of a poodle, doesn’t stop her from taking every chance to be the best lapdog ever.
Soda Pop: Soda is a 3-year-old tan Boston Terrier that is obsessed with just the yellow kind of tennis balls, and swimming. She knows how to sit, shake paws, and lay on command. She also loves everyone and everything. Including skunks.
Mabel: Mabel is a 3-year-old Boston Terrier with the traditional “American Gentleman” black and white tuxedo coat. She is also the namesake of Jesse’s other childhood Boston – Daisy Maybelline – and the laziest of Jesse’s bunch. Her favorite activity is sleeping, but don’t let her snoring fool you – one shake of the treat jar and she’s up and running.
Tootsie Pop: Soda’s partial namesake, Tootsie is a 5-year-old chocolate Boston Terrier. She may be the runt of the pack, but her small size never keeps her back! She is a fierce hunter and chases squirrels all day, every day. When she isn’t hunting or chasing squirrels, her favorite toy is a rope horse and she likes to give hugs (seriously!)
Adopting
At this time, we are not fostering any dogs at the moment.
We very much would love for you to adopt a pet to save all dogs and give them the life they deserve.
The first step in the adoption process is to fill out an application online.
We would recommend going to Adopt a pet to search for the pet of your dreams (or two!)
