About
Our Story
UP Pups, dba The Unstoppables Project, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 to advocate for disabled dogs.
Our Founder, Laura Lee Franks, was inspired to start The Unstoppables Project after her experience fostering, then adopting, a blind labrador retriever mix puppy named Maverick. When she brought Maverick into her home, he had no idea how to navigate life without sight. With training and dedication, Maverick’s confidence soon began to soar, and he and Laura Lee both realized that he was unstoppable!
Read more of Maverick’s story here.
Laura Lee’s time with Maverick was both the most difficult and the most rewarding experience she’s ever had with an animal, and The Unstoppables Project honors Maverick by advocating for dogs like him. After all, disabled dogs don’t need our pity, and they don’t need to be coddled. They, like all dogs, simply need a human who is willing to learn about them and help them develop the resilience required to live a full, amazing life.
The Unstoppables Project is not a rescue; rather, it aims to shine a light on disabled dogs like Maverick — the rescues and organizations that work with them, and the humans who foster & adopt them — in three primary ways:
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Advocacy: Our website and social media serves as a hub for all things disabled dogs, from sharing adoptable dogs to providing resources, rescues, trainers, etc.
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Education: We’re dedicated to normalizing life with disabled dogs by providing honest communication aimed at demystifying this experience.
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Financial Support: Funds we raise support our yearly Grant process and ultimatley are distributed to other non-profits who have disabled dogs as all or part of their missions.
Want to get involved? Click here.
Statement of Values
Ethics
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We will operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, doing nothing for the sole benefit of Board Members or Volunteers.
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We will strive to meet the highest ethical standards and will follow all applicable laws.
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Inclusion
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We will capitalize on the richness inherent in differences.
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We will implement our mission without discrimination towards the humans involved.
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We will treat each other and our community with courtesy and respect, showing tolerance for ideas and opinions different from our own.
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We will actively seek and welcome diversity for all organizational roles.
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Actions
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We will hold each other accountable to this Statement of Values.
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We will lead and model integrity beyond reproach.
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We will keep accurate records.
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We will be fiscally responsible and have a clear, impartial process for gifting money.
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We will foster relationships with individuals, non-profits and organizations who center on disabled dogs, collaborating whenever possible.
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We will challenge each other to strive for excellence and to instill our work with imagination, creativity and curiosity.
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We will be of benefit to our Board, Volunteers and Community by passionately working for tangible, lasting results in support of our mission.
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