Story & Lesson Highlights with Ashley Jacobs of OC

We recently had the chance to connect with Ashley Jacobs and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think many people don’t fully realize how hard it is to run a rescue. While some rescues are being more transparent about the struggles they face, most people just see rescues’ social media pages filled with images and videos of cute animals. This can make it seem like running a rescue is mostly feel-good with lots of puppy cuddles and fun!

The reality is that it is really difficult work, and it comes with tons of challenges. There are more dogs looking for homes than there are homes looking for dogs. We’ve reached a point where rescue alone is not going to solve the pet overpopulation problem. It’s a tough pill to swallow and can be very heartbreaking a lot of the time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley Jacobs, and I run a small, foster-based dog rescue called Diamond’s Friends Pet Rescue. We are focused on giving homeless dogs the second chance they deserve to find loving families.

I started the rescue in honor of my dog Diamond, who passed away in 2020. She was a fantastic foster sister to numerous dogs that I fostered for other organizations and was a friend to every animal she met. It is my hope that her legacy will live on and that many more dogs in need will get to be one of Diamond’s friends.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I was going to be a veterinarian! I loved animals and was convinced that a career in veterinary medicine was in my future.

In high school, I had an incredible opportunity to be mentored by a phenomenal veterinarian. This opened my eyes to the reality that I didn’t quite have the stomach for surgery. I also learned just how hard veterinary medicine can be from an emotional standpoint. I have such an immense respect for veterinarians because of that experience, and I feel they don’t get enough credit for just how hard their jobs are.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been so many times while running the rescue that I’ve felt like giving up! I’m guessing a lot of people in this line of work feel that way.

As a foster-based rescue, it can be extremely difficult to find foster homes that allow us to save dogs. Our rescue is fortunate because we have a few solid fosters who help us keep moving forward as often as their schedules permit. That said, it often feels like we are screaming into an abyss, asking for help but being met with silence.

It can also get discouraging when donations are slow, dogs aren’t getting adopted in what feels like should be a reasonable amount of time to find a good home, when we get owner surrender requests from people who could keep their dogs if they put in a little bit of effort, or we receive the euthanasia list emails from our overcrowded shelter partners.

What keeps me going is when we find those people who genuinely get our mission and want to help. We’ve been very fortunate to find some really remarkable people who are willing to go all in on making a difference in the lives of the dogs we rescue. We couldn’t do what we do without them, and knowing there are people out there like that keeps me from giving up when it gets hard.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. On the yes side of things, I am an animal lover and want to make a difference in the lives of animals. That is true both publicly and personally.

On the no side, I’m pretty introverted, so it’s not always easy for me to be “on” when interacting with people. I’d like to think I’m able to be outgoing and engaging with people in person, but I’m definitely way more introverted.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Not necessarily a story, but I hope that when I’m gone, people will remember me as someone who did her part to help make the world a better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.diamondsfriends.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondsfriendspetrescue/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyejacobs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondsFriendsPetRescue