For Animals in Need

The Unicorn Foster Squad was created in 2019 by Brittany Fleming as a structured, data driven approach to supporting the most behaviorally complex dogs in sheltering. The program was originally piloted with large breed dogs who had documented behavior needs—dogs often considered “unadoptable” in many systems. These dogs became known as “Unicorns.”

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The early results were significant. Length of stay for participating dogs was reduced by more than half, demonstrating that with the right framework, coaching, and support, high need dogs can succeed in foster homes and move successfully into adoptive placements. Over time, the program continued to evolve and became a proven model for improving outcomes for dogs who traditionally struggle the most.

In 2021, Brittany co created and taught the Unicorn Foster Squad Implementation Bootcamp, which introduced shelters and rescues across the country to the same practices that made the program successful. More than 40 organizations completed the training during its first year.

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For the past three years, Brittany has been teaching and implementing Unicorn programming nationwide through Save the Unicorns, providing both in person and virtual training to shelters, rescues, and municipalities. The program continues to be a leading model for supporting behaviorally complex dogs and increasing lifesaving rates in communities across the country.