Once Loved Dog Rescue provides care, shelter and forever homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Their main work involves removing dogs from pounds, where they are at risk of being euthanised after 7 days if no-one has claimed them, and moving them into foster homes where they can be cared for until permanent homes are found for them. Based in Axminster, Devon, they mostly cover the Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Avon areas, but they do home dogs to other areas if the home is right for a particular dog.

Once Loved Dog Rescue is an independent, self-funding organisation, and the costs of saving the dogs they take in are high, so donations are always welcome. Each dog is required to be initially placed in emergency boarding kennels for assessment before going to foster homes or adoptive homes. All of the dogs are vaccinated (including for kennel cough), neutered or speyed, and microchipped.

Foster carers are always needed, as this means that more dogs can be saved.