SPEAK! for the Unspoken is a registered 501(c)(3) pet rescue located in the Columbus, Ohio area. We are a small foster based rescue, devoted to animal rescue and specializing in special needs rescue and education. We focus our rescue efforts on special needs dogs and cats, specifically double merle Australian Shepherds that are born with vision and/or hearing deficits due to their poor breeding. We believe special needs dogs are capable of living happy and healthy lives, and until the careless breeding stops, we will continue to find these special dogs the homes they deserve.

Our motto is special needs, good deeds. We see possibilities, not disabilities. We adopted our motto “special needs and good deeds” to incorporate all of the animals outside of the ‘special needs’ category that we are able to help. We are a foster based rescue so all of the animals in our program are living and cared for in a loving home.

SPEAK! is committed to proving that “special needs” dogs are just as capable as “normal” dogs. Special needs dogs, such as double merle australian shepherds, are the result of irresponsible merle to merle breeding. Many other breeds also contain this recessive gene and when bred improperly, can result in blindness, deafness, or both. Twenty-five percent (25%) of puppies born as a result of this type of breeding, are born with sight or hearing deficiencies.

It’s dogs like these that hold a special place in our heart! We work hard to educate the public about irresponsible breeding and we foster and rescue the special needs dogs to make sure they can live a happy life regardless of their impairments.