Lee Asher's Rescue Pups At The Asher House Get The VIP Treatment After $100K Raising Cane’s Donation

Raising Cane's is proving it's got just as much heart as it does flavor thanks to its donation to Lee Asher and The Asher House.

On National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, the chicken finger chain made a major move for animal lovers everywhere, donating a whopping $100,000 to The Asher House, the beloved pet welfare nonprofit founded by viral animal rescuer Lee Asher. And yes, there were happy tears… and happy tails.

Lee Asher, who has more than 12 million followers across social media, was joined at the Portland-area event by his wife and five of his adorable rescue dogs, Patrick, Butters, Cali, Matilda, and Tommy, each dressed to impress in Cane's bandanas and pup-sized hats.

The furry crew enjoyed chicken fingers and endless belly rubs as fans swooned over the surprise celebration. But the real star of the day? The heartfelt message behind the money.

"This donation shows the importance of never giving up," Asher said during the event, for which The Blast was present. "Not long ago, we didn't even know how we were going to fund the sanctuary. We weren't this big presence online. Back when I first started, my biggest fear was: how are we going to afford this? And now… this is a beautiful reminder that when you stay true to your mission, amazing things can happen."

The donation came from Raising Cane's limited-edition Golden Plush Puppy campaign, launched in March to celebrate the company's "golden birthday" of turning 28 on the 28th. The all-gold collectible pups, modeled after the brand's famous yellow Lab mascot, Cane III, sold for $9.99, with 100% of the proceeds going to pet welfare orgs across the country.

The Asher House, based in Oregon, currently provides sanctuary to over 200 rescue animals, from dogs and cats to horses and llamas, many of whom were saved from euthanasia lists.

Asher, a former finance exec, famously traded in spreadsheets for slobbery kisses after taking a two-year cross-country RV trip with a van full of dogs. That journey became the basis for his hit Discovery+ series "My Pack Life," and the beginning of a mission that's since changed thousands of lives, human and otherwise.

"In a world with so much negativity, having someone like [Raising Cane's founder] Todd Graves step up and bring light into the world, it means everything," Asher said. "There are a lot of businesses that say they care, but not many show it like this."

To date, Raising Cane's plush puppy campaigns have raised over $8 million for pet causes. The brand has also donated more than $13.5 million total through adoption events, donation days, dog parks, vaccination clinics, and more. They currently work with over 9,000 pet welfare organizations nationwide.

"A business's mission should be just as important as its profit," Asher emphasized. "The art of living is giving. If you're ever in a dark place, go do something kind. You'll feel better. That's what I try to live by, and that's what Raising Cane's is doing."

He also didn't shy away from calling out the toxic sides of the rescue community, saying, "Unfortunately, a lot of people in animal rescue can be really judgmental, even cruel. It pushes people away. What we need are kind, compassionate voices, not just for the animals, but for the people trying to help them."

For Lee Asher, the true heartbeat of The Asher House isn't just the animals, it's the people who love them.

"The reason The Asher House is so successful is because of our community," he shared. "We want people to feel like they belong, like they're not crazy for loving animals as much as they do—or for letting all their dogs sleep in bed with them."

And Asher means that literally.

He and his fiancée Sarah sleep on what they call a "family mattress," often sharing it with 20 to 30 rescue dogs at a time. "We show everything in our videos because we want people to feel connected," he explained. "There's no success without community, not a community built to sell, but one built on belonging."

And while Asher says his mission is far from over, he hopes this is the beginning of a legacy that lives long after him.

"My dream is that one day, no dog ever has to die in a shelter," he said. "That there's always an Asher House sanctuary ready to welcome them and give them love for the rest of their lives. Even if I'm not around to see it, I believe in the community we've built. I believe we'll get there."

With renewed support and a growing community behind him, Asher continues to expand his mission to give every rescue animal a second chance and a place to call home.

Make sure to follow The Asher House on Instagram.