HLCR Community

As you probably well know by now, Flynn came to us from a hoarding situation and has had a long road with anxiety. He's the last dog we have left from that group, and we are so proud of how far he's come.

These days, Flynn is coming inside to hang out with the other dogs and the people here, taking treats, and going on walks, even with people he doesn't know well yet. For a dog who was once scared of just about everything, that's a really big deal.

Flynn is a small, fluffy two-year-old who is curious, playful, and dog-friendly. He does best in a calm home with a confident dog already in residence. Older kids are fine; he just isn't ready for a high-energy household yet.

If you can give Flynn some patience and let him come to you on his own terms, he will absolutely be…

Remi was found on a back road with her two sisters, left behind and waiting for someone to notice. A devoted foster opened their home and their heart, giving her the care and patience she needed while we waited for the right family to find her. They did.

Bailey came to us through different circumstances. Her owner was no longer able to care for her, and rather than let her face an uncertain future, a loving couple stepped in and made her part of their family.

Today, both girls are exactly where they belong.

Happy Adoption Day, Remi and Bailey. You were never forgotten, and you will never be again. To your new families, thank you for being the answer these two were waiting for.

If you've been thinking about opening your home to a dog who needs one, we'd love to introduce you to some wonderful pups looking for…

We are over the moon to announce that Red, our spunky and spirited PomChi girlie, has officially been adopted! Looking at her now as one of the funniest, silliest, and most spirited dogs to ever grace HLCR... It’s hard to imagine where her journey began. Red came to us from a heartbreaking hoarding situation, carrying the weight of a difficult past.

Red’s transformation is a testament to why we do what we do. It wasn’t an overnight success; it was the result of:

• Time and Patience: Providing the extended care that many shelters simply can't offer.

• A Loving Foster Home: A huge thank you to her incredible foster family, who showed her what it means to be safe, cherished, and part of a family.

• Unwavering Support: Because of our supporters, we can give dogs like Red the time they need to heal and let their true personalities…

If you have been following along, you know Flynn's story is not a simple one. But today we have something to share that everyone needs to stop and read.

Flynn was one of 49 dogs rescued from a horrific hoarding situation. Of those 49, six came directly to HLCR needing serious intervention. Flynn was among them. And while his five companions have since found their forever homes, Flynn is still with us. He's the last one standing.

When Flynn arrived, he was a ghost of a dog. Terrified of everything. Terrified of everyone. Courageous for his siblings, he wanted nothing to do with human hands, human voices, or human presence in any form. For a dog who looks like a tiny golden retriever, with a face that makes you want to scoop him up immediately, the distance he kept was heartbreaking. So we didn't push. We didn't rush. We let…

This is Stella, and if you followed her journey, you know how far she has come.

Stella came to HLCR last summer with a nasty skin infection. She was uncomfortable, she was vulnerable, and she needed someone to show up for her. Our volunteers did exactly that, and slowly but surely, this beautiful girl started to heal. And then her person walked in.

When her adopter saw her online for the first time, he said it simply and immediately: "When I saw her I said, that's my dog."

Stella, you came to us needing so much care, and you leave us so completely loved. That is everything we could ever hope for.

To Stella and her new family: we are wishing you the most wonderful life together. You all deserve every single bit of it.

If Stella's story moved you, there are more dogs just like her waiting for their…

Our guy Fang stopped in with his foster dad to say hello and show off his brand new legs! This right here is what HLCR is all about 😍

We're celebrating three very special dogs and the incredible journeys that brought them to their forever homes.

Ozzy arrived in our care heartworm positive, facing a long road to recovery. Edgar came to us from a hoarded home shared with over 100 other dogs, having never known what it meant to be truly seen. Freya was so overwhelmed with parasites when she arrived that she could barely lift her head. Each of them had every reason to lose hope, and not one of them did.

Now, all three are thriving with loving families who were searching for their perfect match and found exactly that.

Happy Adoption Day, Ozzy, Edgar, and Freya! You fought hard to get here, and you deserve every single good thing coming your way. To your new families, thank you for opening your hearts and your homes. We could not have dreamed up better endings for these…

Not too long ago, I couldn't stand up. My back legs just wouldn't work, and honestly, the world felt really small from where I was lying. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. But then, something changed. Actually, a lot of somethings changed. There was surgery, and then a whole lot of rest (crate rest, which between you and me, is not exactly my favorite thing). Then came physical therapy, which was hard, and a wheelchair that actually made me feel pretty cool. Through all of it, the people around me just kept showing up. Day after day. Patiently, lovingly, stubbornly refusing to give up on me. And today? Today I stood up on my own to eat breakfast. It feels pretty awesome! I know I'm just a dog... But I also know that what happened to me did not happen by accident. It happened because people…

Tulip and George came to HLCR in rough shape. We're talking serious health issues that had us worried and pulling for them from day one. But these two had other plans. They dug in, let us help them, and slowly but surely started to thrive.

We have a soft spot for all dogs in need, including seniors. They're patient and grateful and so deeply themselves. Tulip and George are no different. Watching them go from fragile to flourishing has been a huge reminder of why we do this work.

And now they're off to their new families, who took one look at these two older souls with complicated histories and said yes anyway. That kind of yes means everything.

Tulip, we know your new home has the perfect cozy lap with your name on it. And Georgie, we know you will feel safe and have a reason to smile every…

When Kit came to us, the world was a very big, very scary place. She was one of 49 dogs pulled from a hoarding situation, dogs who had never known what it felt like to play, be safe, and feel good every day as a dog. Despite her skittishness, underneath all that fear was a puppy who wanted to be brave. And slowly, steadily, she was.

She learned that hands reach out to pet, not to startle. That loud noises pass. That dinnertime comes every single day without fail. And now, Kit is home. A safe, loving home where she can be Kit the Brave that we at HLCR always believed in.

To everyone who shared her post, donated toward her care, or cheered her on from afar, thank you. You were part of this, too. And to Kit and her new family, we wish you all the love and…

Ruby is a cattle dog. She's smart, particular, and took her time trusting people. She became our longest resident not because something was wrong with her, but because she needed the right person. That person turned out to be someone who already knew her, who'd spent many hours learning how she thinks and what makes her feel safe.

Three years is a long time. Long enough to wonder if this dog would ever leave. Long enough to doubt whether we were doing enough, whether anyone would ever see what we saw in her. There were days when her kennel card felt like a reminder of failure.

But what matters is that we kept showing up. We kept introducing her to people. We kept believing she was worth the space she took up and the time she needed. Her foster took her home on a trial basis. Then a week turned…

Brazilian author and songwriter Paulo Coelho said, "The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them." I think a little walk around a new place is a simple yet extraordinary thing for Thor, who was adopted from HLCR last month. Likely displaced after the catastrophic floods of July 2025, Thor was picked up by Saving Shelter Strays in Bandera that same month. We discovered he was heartworm positive so a months-long treatment and recovery began. Heartworm positive dogs must be kept calm as to not overwork their delicate hearts infected by parasites, so Thor didn't get to enjoy walks or outings for a long time. I often saw him sitting or laying in his yard, silently watching other dogs go for walks with volunteers. Though we did things to raise his spirits, it was clear he longed for the enjoyment of just a…