Founded in 2004 by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris, Bonaparte’s Retreat is named for one of Emmylou’s own beloved dogs. “Bonaparte had this really friendly demeanor,” she says. He “loved people, [was] very sociable, loved other animals.” And “once you have the experience of having a dog on the road with you, you don’t realize how lonely you’ve been without one. So he went everywhere with me. He was my constant companion for 10 years.”

When Bonaparte died suddenly in 2002, Emmylou was heartbroken. But her personal loss became the genesis of something remarkable. To honor the memory of her dear companion, Emmylou established Bonaparte’s Retreat in order to rescue shelter dogs and adopt them into forever homes. Today, Bonaparte’s Retreat focuses on rescuing dogs whose time has run out at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control.


Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 150232
Nashville, TN 37215

Call Us: 615-484-5193