In 2002, my neck was broken while performing a stunt during the filming of a television show. I spent the next 15 months recovering from that traumatic injury. Not being one to dwell in self-pity, I started thinking about things I liked to do and what I cared about. Animals! I have always been an animal lover, worked at a boarding kennel as a teenager, had rescued homeless pets from shelters, and was very interested in teaching people how to be responsible pet owners. So, I began volunteering at an animal shelter close to my home in Sanford, NC.

As I learned more about the animal overpopulation crisis, I began visiting shelters across the country as I traveled to appearances for the WWE. I also found time to visit classrooms and started talking to fans about animal welfare. One thing was the same in every city; great animals were dying in shelters by the thousands. The other commonality was that most people I talked to, with the exception of shelter volunteers, weren't even aware that there is an overpopulation crisis. So, I decided to take action and ADORE, Amy Dumas Operation Rescue & Education, was founded in 2003.

The purpose of ADORE is the same as most other animal welfare groups; stop animal overpopulation so we can stop the needless euthanasia of adoptable pets. ADORE does not shelter animals as traditional rescues do, instead we "rescue" homeless animals by educating pet owners and children, and by working with animal control shelters and county governments to change animal laws. I try to use my celebrity status in the entertainment industry to reach out to a large number of pet parents and children. ADORE has very limited administrative costs, so 99% of donations to ADORE and funds raised at ADORE events go directly to help homeless animals by addressing the root of the problem.

Pet owners who allow their animals to breed, whether by accident or intention, are the number one cause of pet overpopulation and big part of the reason a million animals are euthanised across the US every month. I know that it is imperative to teach about spay/neuter to control overpopulation. But, since at least a third of animals in shelters/rescues are there because the families didn't take time to give proper training, didn't ID, or weren't ready to make a lifetime commitment, I also focus on teaching about responsibiltiy, proper care, and the importance of solving behavior problems. In order to get the word out to more people, ADORE often purchases animal related educational materials for classrooms and organizations. We also donate money for continuing education classes for animal control officers, and to income-based spay/neuter programs. ADORE is also active in helping animal control agencies increase adoptions, promoting volunteerism, and working with county governments to change animal ordinances in rural communities.