Looking for a Forever Home

Apache, Copper, Ricky, Abby, Eve and Ethel of Barrio Dogs Houston were all rescued and now are looking to find their forever homes. In the meantime, Pet Paradise JFK has become their wonderful temporary home! If you would like more information on these guys please visit: www.barriodogs.org.

Huge thanks to Pet Paradise JFK for caring for the Barrio Dogs!

Scout is Adopted!

Scout joins Shaggy in the backyard of her new home

A rare story of opposite rescues now joined together. The story starts with our first rescue, Shaggy, who lived homeless for close to a year in an undeveloped property in the middle of the high-rent Galleria area. The other rescue, Scout, had a different life as part of a pack of homeless dogs in the Warehouse District of Downtown Houston.

Shaggy's and Scout’s paths crossed when they were boarded together after their rescue. During their brief meeting in boarding, you would have thought they had known each other their whole life. They played together with expressions of happiness and joy, the way it’s meant to be for these lovely creatures. Sadly, their rescue life took them into different directions. But by an act of faith, their paths crossed again.

Shaggy was very lucky and was adopted soon by a wonderful owner. Scout waited close to a year. We experienced an unfortunate situation when we almost lost Scout. Remembering their prior relationship, Shaggy’s owner heard of the story and she decided to take Scout into foster care.  

Their reunion was huge. They seem to remember instantly where they left off. Better news came a few days ago, when Shaggy’s owner decided to adopt Scout as well. These two rescue girls from different lives are now a rare chance of happiness that not many receive.

Please allow us to thank the many involved in this happy ending: Laura Radler, Wulfe & Co., Karen LaBarba, Linda Sullivan, Lone Star Animal Recovery, Kelle Mann Davis, Gulfgate Animal Hospital, AC Boarding & Grooming, Natural Pawz – Sage, Ernie Zenteno, Mike Dominquez, Holly McDonald, Carole Yunkers and the many supporters and donators for these precious rescues. We thank you. 

The Kitties Get A Condo

Thank you so much to our friends who responded to our recent request for funds to buy kitty condos for Dharma and Grace, rescue cats who had been living at AC Boarding and Grooming for almost a year. Through the generosity of our friends, we were able to buy the condos for the kitties, which improved their chances of being seen and adopted. Apparently, soon after the kitties moved into their new condos, someone adopted them! The condos will most likely house new rescues soon. Thank you again; we very much appreciate all of your support!

I am an Animal Rescuer

This is a terrific video for and about animal rescuers and their friends.

It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village

When I was first approached by Linda Sullivan about the homeless dog Shaggy, I have to admit I was in disbelief. I have worked in the Galleria area for close to twenty years and can easily say I have never seen a homeless dog in this area.  Our work with Barrio Dogs of Houston is primarily education and raising awareness in low-income communities on animal welfare. . .a community far different from this area.

I had to see it for myself and during a drive out there during my lunch hour with a fellow rescuer, there was no homeless dog to be found. I took a chance and asked some construction workers if they had ever seen a homeless dog in the field.  They immediately replied “yes” and during that conversation, they spotted her and said “There she goes right now”. 

Wow. To see this dog in this open field surrounded by traffic and the hustle and bustle was unbelievable. And what was more unbelievable is to find out that she had been living there close to nine months, maybe more.

We immediately set up a dog trap but found out within a few weeks that she was one tough cookie and to try to capture her would require the experts. I was fortunate enough to meet Kelle Mann Davis & Douglas Worthy with Lone Star Recovery who were a huge part of finally capturing Shaggy.  However, please know it was many others who made this happen, including Karen LaBarba who would write Barrio Dogs continuously to let us know Shaggy still needed to be saved. Also, the emails and stories that we received on this one dog were amazing; we heard about her from the bus stop riders, business owners and residents who were feeding her and trying to save her.

For Barrio Dogs, it is a big mission for us to educate, empower and transform communities to make a change for animal welfare in low-income communities. It is a very hard struggle for us to make this change. In Shaggy’s case she had the opposite: an entire community supporting her. She is one very lucky dog and Barrio Dogs is very fortunate to have been part of her story. We have made some wonderful friends along the way and are thrilled to have been a part of this wonderful group of caring individuals who wanted a better life for Shaggy.
 
Gloria Zenteno
Founder & President of Barrio Dogs

Barrio Dogs Grand Kickoff - Thank You!

Barrio Dogs Grand Kickoff on April 10, 2011 was a great success because of your support. We would like to thank Gwen Juarez Photography for these photos and many more in the slideshow on the sidebar to the right.

 

Special thanks to SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), Natural Pawz, Life+Dog, Houston PetTalk Magazine, Dogtopia Houston, Pet Paradise - JFK, Councilman James Rodriquez, Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino, Rescue Education Ambassador Dog Chloe, Students from Browning Elementary, Sancho featuring Artie Villasenor, Miltonio Decoronado with Lords of Kool, Norma Zenteno Band, and to all of our fabulous volunteers, friends, family and everyone that donated towards our cause. Our sincere thanks!