Four years ago, we walked into our county dog shelter and took a leap of faith. Her name was Nina — a scrappy little Boston Terrier mix, about two years old, with an unknown past and a cautious heart. The only thing we knew for certain was that she seemed to like us. That was enough.
The first months were gentle ones. Nina had learned to be careful with her trust, and we respected that. She came around slowly, on her own terms — until the day we brought her to Kelleys Island.
She sniffed her way up and down the shoreline, ears up, nose working overtime. And then, without warning, she ran full speed into the lake. First swim. No hesitation. In that moment, we watched something remarkable happen — her fears simply washed away. Nina had found her freedom, and she never looked back.
We called it “Happiness Unleashed.” And just like that, Island Dogs was born.
At Island Dogs, we believe every dog deserves to feel what Nina felt that day — the freedom, the joy, the pure unbridled happiness of being fully loved. And we believe every person deserves the kind of unconditional love that only a dog can give. Every dog deserves a best friend. Every friend deserves a best dog.
That belief drives everything we do. When you purchase Island Dogs apparel or original artwork, 15% of net proceeds goes directly toward our mission — supporting local organizations that help dogs find loving homes, funding programs that help people discover purpose through their bond with dogs, and inspiring our community to celebrate the happiness that our four-legged friends unleash in all of us.
We’re proud to share that we’ve already made our first contribution to Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in nearby Port Clinton, supporting the veterinary care they provide to sick, elderly, disabled, and sometimes misunderstood dogs. They’re doing extraordinary work and we’re honored to partner with them.
Our collection includes t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and hats, alongside original wall art featuring 21 iconic Kelleys Island images by resident photographer Daniel Hazard. Rendered in the bold, timeless WPA art deco style made famous by the National Parks Service, these posters are as beautiful as the island that inspired them.
You can shop the full collection at islanddogsstore.com.
In the company of our four-legged friends, happiness finds its most genuine expression — as boundless as the horizon before us
