More than 3,000 dogs have been placed into homes through Ruffus Rescue since the Atlanta-area organization began operating in the early 2000s. The rescue was founded by Harriett Patterson and, following Patterson’s passing in March 2018, has continued under the volunteer leadership of Karen Griffin and Carla Cohen, both of whom worked alongside the founder during her tenure and remain active in running day-to-day operations.
Adoption events are held every Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at City Dog Market, located at 4244 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30319. A previous adoption site at a Pet Supplies Plus location on Cheshire Bridge has since closed, with the Peachtree Road venue now serving as the primary public-facing adoption location for the organization.
The adoption process is structured to prioritize appropriate matching between individual dogs and prospective families. Interested adopters complete an adoption application and submit it to the organization at kmgriffin@aol.com or cc2037@yahoo.com. Following application review and approval, adopters enter a one-week trial foster period. During this fostering window, Ruffus Rescue supplies the adopter with food, a crate, and toys at no charge. If the placement proves successful after the trial period, the adoption is finalized for a fee of $250.
All dogs made available for adoption have been spayed or neutered, tested for heartworm, and brought current on vaccinations before placement. This pre-adoption veterinary preparation is standard across all animals the organization places, ensuring adopters receive dogs already cleared for health at the time of finalization.
Donations to support ongoing rescue operations are accepted through PayPal and by credit or debit card. The organization’s motto is “Looking Forward and never looking back.” Ruffus Rescue operates entirely on a volunteer basis, with no paid staff reported on the site.
Direct contact options include Karen Griffin at 404-271-4691 and Carla Cohen at 404-545-7829. The organization holds its weekly adoption events at the Peachtree Road NE location and serves dog owners and prospective adopters throughout Atlanta and surrounding communities in the metro area.