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!

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; 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:

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.
Education: We’re dedicated to normalizing life with disabled dogs by providing honest communication aimed at demystifying this experience.
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.

About The Unstoppables Project