Submitted photo.
Community celebration set for October 15 at The Velvet Ditch, followed by “A Round for Rescues” across Oxford on October 16.
Rescue Revival has named a local rescue dog, Tom, the 2026 Rebels For Rescue Pack Leader, the top dog of its Ole Miss fundraising campaign. The community is invited to celebrate with Tom at a Pack Leader Celebration on Thursday, October 15 at 5 pm at The Velvet Ditch in Oxford.
Tom was rescued from the Oxford Animal Resource Center as one of the last puppies left in his litter. He went on to complete a four-week board and train program with Mangum K9, and he is now training with his owner, Ole Miss counseling graduate student Liv Ford, to become a certified therapy dog.
Tom earned his title through the Pack Leader contest, where finalists were chosen through blind judging
(judges read owner-submitted stories without ever seeing photos) and the public voted by liking each finalist’s
post on @rescuerevivalusa with voting closing on September 28.
“Tom’s story is exactly why this campaign exists,” said Kimmi Rasky of Rescue Revival. “He went from one of
the last pups left in his litter to training as a therapy dog, and now he’s leading the pack for rescue dogs across
Mississippi. Every dollar we raise goes toward a transport vehicle that gives more dogs the same second
chance Tom got.”
The 2026 Rebels For Rescue campaign is raising $100,000 to fund a dedicated transport vehicle available to
Mississippi rescues, moving animals to life-saving veterinary care, foster homes, rescue partners, and forever
families.
The need is urgent: Best Friends Animal Society data shows Mississippi shelters euthanizing 9,186
dogs and cats in a single year, with only 22 percent of the state’s shelters reaching no-kill status. The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Mississippi 46th in the nation for animal protection laws in its 2025 report.
Rebels For Rescue is the Ole Miss side of a friendly fundraising rivalry with Mississippi State’s Hail Paws
campaign, which has already named its Pack Leader, Bully. The campaign is powered by fundraising teams, sponsorships, and Legacy Levels sponsorships ranging from $200 to $1,000.
The October 15 celebration at The Velvet Ditch will feature campaign merch, adoptable dogs, drink specials,
and an appearance by Tom himself. The festivities continue Friday, October 16 with “A Round for Rescues”:
Supporters who purchase a campaign t-shirt can wear it into participating Oxford establishments to unlock
drink and food specials all day.
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