Today, To The Rescue!, a charming dog shelter simulator game developed by indie game studio Little Rock Games and published by Freedom Games, released for the PC and Mac platforms, and is set to release for the Nintendo Switch in early 2022. To The Rescue! allows players to experience the rewarding yet occasionally tricky job of running their own shelter. You play as the owner and caretaker of a dog shelter, where it is your job to care for the dogs by providing them with food, water, and medicine if they become ill. As your shelter grows, you will also meet many different breeds of dogs with unique personality traits and preferences.
To The Rescue! includes many cool game features that add to the player’s experience. You can name and pick your character and dog companion, as well as naming your shelter. There is also an in-game shop where you can purchase supplies needed for taking care of the dogs, such as a variety of pet food options, leashes, and even different types of aprons for your own character. If you happen to run low on funds, you can hold fundraisers, organize adoption events, and even receive donations from patrons. With your additional funds, you can upgrade your shelter to include more space for more dogs.
An in-game feature that is also included is the option for euthanasia. On To The Rescue!’s official website, the developers explained that they wanted to raise awareness about the issue of euthanasia in animal shelters, where they stated, “We don’t want to pretend that it’s not potentially part of the job. It’s not glorified or presented as an easy way out, but it’s an important part of the experience.” They have also stated that they will include an option to take away the euthanasia game mechanic for players who want to opt out of that feature.
If you want to see what it is like to run your own dog shelter and pet all the dogs, you can find To The Rescue! on Steam for $19.99, where 20% of the game’s profits will be donated to The Petfinder Foundation to support animal shelters. Currently, the game is on sale for $15.99 until the special promotion offer ends on Nov. 9, 2021.