Old Dominion Humane Society Earns ‘Best Pet Rescue’ Award

Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS), the nonprofit dog rescue, was voted “Best Pet Rescue” in the Free Lance-Star’s annual “Best of the ‘Burg” 2025. For the second consecutive year, ODHS took top honors in the newspaper’s annual reader poll that celebrates the best the community has to offer.

Chrissy Hamilton, founder of ODHS, began the no-kill rescue in 2013. Since its beginnings, nearly 8,000 dogs have been rescued. Led entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to making sure the puppies and dogs are provided with care, they take them to the veterinarian to be spayed/neutered and for other medical needs, microchipped, socialized with hikes, strolls and outings, placed in foster homes and matched with forever families.

“ODHS is proud to receive this award recognizing the hard work that goes into caring for the rescue dogs every day,” said Hamilton. “It’s been a labor of love throughout the years, and I love the fact that I see the dogs’ progress every day. It’s amazing to see how the dogs we’ve rescued from hoarding, neglect and mistreatment situations begin to blossom and become comfortable in their surroundings thanks to the fosters and volunteers who nurture them.”

Hamilton was a student at Massoponax High School when she found her niche through a small animal care class taught by Heidi Martin. It was her favorite class and the place she felt most at home.

Hamilton said her motivation and inspiration to continue the mission to rescue dogs is witnessing their progress and hearing stories about them after they’ve been adopted. She loves seeing the dogs in photos on vacations with their forever families, including one pup that was sitting on a yacht.

“Dogs deserve better, and they deserve all the happy endings,” said Hamilton. “It’s my hope that people will become part of the solution in saving the rescue dogs instead of just looking at it as a sad situation.”

Now in its 12th year of existence, ODHS continues to be a safe haven for dogs that are unwanted, surrendered, neglected, mistreated and rescued from hoarding situations. ODHS began with only a few volunteers, and the number has now reached more than 300 dedicated people. The Fredericksburg facility has doubled its original size and encompasses a puppy side, Little Dog Land, a larger side, Intake (for new dogs to ODHS that need to be vaccinated and examined before entering the general population), a grooming room and a lobby.

Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS), the nonprofit dog rescue, was voted “Best Pet Rescue” in the Free Lance-Star’s annual “Best of the ‘Burg” 2025. ODHS rescues dogs from neglect, mistreatment and hoarding situations, including a large-scale rescue in Patrick County, Va., in June. Before two-year-old Klaus (in photo) arrived at ODHS, he lived outdoors with dozens of other dogs in crates with little to no water, food or human contact. Trying to escape his dismal situation, Klaus tried unsuccessfully to chew through his crate. His fosters say Klaus is sweet, quiet, keeps a clean crate and has learned to walk on a leash. He takes treats gently and gets along with the other dog in the foster’s home. ODHS works to match dogs like Klaus with forever families, because they deserve to have a second chance at a great life.