Meet Blake Van Es of #LovePup/#LoveUp/Dog Rescue Spot in Arcadia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Van Es.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Blake. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
#LoveUp…about 17 years ago we found a need to help families in our community during Christmas time. Johnjay & Rich used their radio show to solicit donations and we created a program called Christmas Wish. People would write letters to J&R about a friend or family member in need and our foundation would pick one and satisfy their need with Christmas gifts and necessities. One Sunday, Johnjay and I were in church and they were talking about Foster Care. We have a personal connection to adoption. Once we found out how broken our system was, we decided we needed to help our community all year, not just at Christmas. At the same time, Johnjay and NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner were texting about our son’s football game and Kurt accidentally texted LoveUp instead of Love it. Johnjay mentioned on the air Monday morning and it quickly became a thing. Now the LoveUp Foundation services our Foster kids through DCS and helps the general community by “Loving Up”

#LovePup…we have always been that family that takes in stray dogs in the neighborhood. About 4 years ago, someone reached out to Johnjay on Social Media about a dog they found and they had a moving truck in their front yard and couldn’t help it. Johnjay called me and I picked the dog up. That day, Johnjay put the story on social media and a ton of people wanted the dog and also wanted us to take their dogs. It was organic, just happened. We now have an Executive Director and an amazing Board that helps us with all the day to day.

Dog Rescue Spot…When #LovePup really got started, I realized that there was a need for small rescues like us to have a virtual office. That’s when I met the technical mastermind behind our project, Juan Urbina. He helped develop the site which now has over 600 rescues. On the front end, we have Find Your Soulmate with is a human to canine matching program. You answer a few question and you are connected with a rescue that matches your lifestyle in your area. On the back end, rescues can sign up for a Free account and they get a website, place to post their dogs, input each dogs financial information, adopter info and basic information about the dog. In addition, the rescue has a place to put contacts and can send them group emails at no charge, print financial records and participate in a member only forum. Our slogan is, Created by a rescue for all rescues.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a learning lesson for sure. We are so blessed with the platform we have with the radio station and Johnjay’s social media, but that also comes with lots of people reaching out to us, not always for the right reason.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about #LovePup/#LoveUp/Dog Rescue Spot – what should we know?
We are known for helping Kids and helping dogs. I’m very proud of all the work we do!

#LoveUP…we secured the national Heart Gallery program for Arizona. It’s an honor for us to provide this service to our community. Each Quarter we take pictures of the Foster Kids that are readily available for adoption and we post them on our Heart Gallery which goes around to very public places in order to get exposure for the kids.

#LovePup…we just launched #LovePup It’s Hip to Chip with MCACC on May 1, 2018. All dogs adopted at both county shelters will be chipped upon adoption. Our partners at Lerner & Rowe paid for the program. This program was something we created to get to the root of the homeless dog community. If they are chipped, they can find their way back to their families with a quick scan. We have already had one success story, a dog slipped out of its collar when getting out of the car of its new home. A few hours later a kind citizen found him, went to scan him and delivered him back to his family.

Dog Rescue Spot…We have adopted over 400 dogs through our program and we just launched. During the floods and fires these last few months, we have been able to provide Fosters for our rescues through our Foster program that is only available to members. We are helping rescues that is what we do!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Johnjay is not only my husband but he shares my passion to help kids and dogs. His amazing kind heart and generosity has kept us moving forward. We would never have come this far without his passion and determination.

Jake, Kemp and Dutch my three boys who have helped out every step of the way. The dog shelter is in our house, they feed dogs and clean crates every day. So blessed to have them in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: loveupfoundation.org
• Email: lovepupfoundation.org
• Instagram: @dogrescuespot

Image Credit:
Family picture with kids in chairs and dogs – Monica Wayne Photography

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