For Aleks Zak, rescuing dogs isn’t just a passion — it’s a calling. After years of fostering and seeing firsthand “the horrible crisis that our shelters and city are currently experiencing,” she founded Pawsitive Beginnings, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to saving puppies and their mothers from high-kill shelters throughout the Los Angeles area, giving them the care, medical attention and love they need to thrive.
Zak says the mission is simple: rescue, heal and rehome as many dogs as possible. So far, the organization has placed more than 300 dogs into loving homes and sponsored “countless lifesaving surgeries, from open heart to C-sections.”
What sets Pawsitive Beginnings apart from other rescues is its specialized focus on neonatal care. “Our approach is very scientific and medical in nature,” Zak explains. “Neonates are so frail, and we cannot miss a thing when they first come into our care. They also experience so much more disease than most, since their tiny immune systems pick up absolutely everything at the shelter.” The nonprofit has even pioneered advanced treatment protocols to combat parasites and viruses that can threaten puppies’ lives. “Our mission is always to give them the best care, the most love, the best start in life, and to make sure their moms can decompress, learn to trust and finally have the family they deserve.”
That mission comes with immense challenges. If a dog is pregnant, “suddenly, instead of caring for one dog, we have 10 times the costs, 10 times the adopters to find and 10 times the medical care and recovery time,” Zak says. “Finding fosters for entire families is extremely difficult. Taking on one dog is already a big commitment — now imagine fostering a nursing mom with 10 puppies who need care for at least eight weeks.”
Despite these obstacles, Pawsitive Beginnings is committed to giving every puppy and their mother the best possible start by designing a thorough and welcoming adoption process. “We believe in getting to know people firsthand rather than making quick judgments from a written application,” Zak says. “We schedule meet-and-greets to ensure it’s the right fit for both the adopter and the dog. From there, it’s just a virtual home check, adoption contract and fee.”
Zak emphasizes that adopting a rescue animal is not a decision to be taken lightly. “You’re bringing in a new family member; not a toy, tool or entertainment prospect for your children,” she says. “You are making a serious lifelong commitment — not just contractually, but morally. We love our dogs with all our hearts, and we only expect their adopters to do the same.”
The impact of Pawsitive Beginnings can be seen in the lives it’s saved. “We’ve had our ‘graduates’ become service dogs, appear in music videos seen worldwide and travel the globe,” Zak shares. “Rather than focusing on just one success story, we see every single dog that comes through our rescue as an example of hope, love and resilience — things we always need more of.”
Moving forward, Zak envisions more adoption events and training to create a safe and friendly environment. “We love our community and neighborhood so much — nothing brings us more joy than seeing our graduates walk by our houses every day and stop by to say hello.”