Critters 4 U Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Gloucester, is focused on helping homeless dogs and cats who have been abused or neglected.

Angel Recoy of Dutton, president and founder of the rescue, is dedicated to helping these animals receive the medical care they need and finding them new homes. She mainly rescues neglected pets who have special needs, require surgery or medical care, have been chained up, used as bait dogs, or are victims of hoarding or breeding situations.

Recoy will rescue these animals, get them medically stabilized and retrain them to live in homes with people.

There are also several people who have opened their homes to foster these pets until they can be adopted. Recoy said many foster pet parents fall in love with the animal they are fostering and end up adopting the pet themselves.

One pet that is currently being fostered by Rena Slugg is a Yorkie named “Blondie.” Blondie is between six to eight years old and was rescued from a breeder in early ...