The Ones Still Waiting
Thirteen dogs went home from HLCR in the last month with several more settling into foster to adopt homes. That's a number worth celebrating, especially at a time when many shelters are seeing the opposite. We're deeply grateful to every one of those adopters, and to all the supporters who went on walks, shared posts, donated, and cheered these dogs on.
Fran, Luna, Delgato, Gus, Dusty, and Tippy have spent more than twelve years combined at HLCR. None of them are here because they're 'bad dogs'. Each one asks a little more of an adopter, and each has a great deal to give back to the right person. Here they are, the delights and the challenges, told honestly.
Meet the Six
Luna: Impeccable Manners, Relentless Curiosity
Quick Stats: 10 years · 50 lbs · Husky and bluetick coonhound mix · In our care since March 2023
Luna has the manners of a well brought up houseguest and the instincts of a cat burglar. She's fully potty trained, crate trained, easy in the car, and pleasant on a leash. She gets along with dogs, cats, and kids. By most standards, she's a model citizen.
She is also a gifted problem solver, which is a polite way of saying she climbs gates, rushes doors, opens doors, and has been known to inspect the kitchen counters. That's the husky talking, with a coonhound's nose for following through. Luna was adopted once and returned shortly after because her adopter couldn't keep up with the climbing, not because she was unpleasant.
At 10, Luna is a super senior with some extra care needs. She's had masses removed that may have been cancerous, and she lives with skin and respiratory allergies that call for a special diet. She'd thrive with people who can give her a secure home and yard, a little room to investigate, and patience with her quirks as she ages. She has spent a good share of her senior years so far waiting for those people.
Fran: The One-Dog Show
Quick Stats: 6.5 years · 50 lbs · In our care since April 2023
Fran arrived from Hill Country Humane in rough shape. She was heartworm positive, worn down from several litters, and had been living alongside a large, aggressive male dog. She completed heartworm treatment with us, and the dog who came out the other side is a delight. She's funny, affectionate, and playful, with plenty of boxer in her personality, and she greets people like old friends she hasn't seen in years.
Here's the honest part: Fran does not share. She has a strong prey drive toward small animals, she has attacked other dogs, and she will try to climb a fence if something interesting is on the other side. She needs to be the only pet, with a secure yard and an adopter who has experience with strong willed dogs and boxer traits.
At three and a half years, Fran is our longest continuous resident. She has watched a lot of dogs leave. She's still waiting for a home where she's someone's one and only pet, which, if you ask her, is exactly how it should be.
Delgato: Big Bark, Gentle Soul
Quick Stats: 3 years · 60 lbs · Shepherd mix · In our care since December 2024
If you met Del through a kennel door, you'd probably leave with the wrong impression. He's barrier reactive, which means fences and doors bring out a lot of barking. Loud and high pitched noises frighten him. He's selective about other dogs and doesn't get along with large males or bossy personalities.
Meet him outside that kennel and you'll find someone else entirely: gentle, fun, and eager to please. He knows some basic commands, loves to play, is gently affectionate, and will happily wade into any water he can find. He gets along with smaller dogs and older kids. Like Fran, he came to us heartworm positive (from the Humane Society of New Braunfels) and pulled through treatment.
Delgato needs a calm, assertive person who can help him relax and feel secure. In return, you'd get an affectionate, loyal companion for both home and on the road.
Gus: A Dog's Dog at Heart
Quick Stats: 2.5 years · 60 lbs · Black shepherd · In our care since July 2025
Gus looks like he wandered out of a nature documentary, and he carries himself that way too. Found as a stray near Spicewood, he's reserved with new people and is selective with cuddles. Trust with Gus is earned slowly, and that's alright.
What surprises people is how much he loves other dogs. A calm, confident canine companion helps him feel secure. He enjoys toys and walks. He also comes with real challenges: his recall needs work, so a secure setup is a must. He gets anxious when left alone or kept indoors, even with other dogs around, and his stomach is easily upset.
Gus would do best with a calm, assertive adopter and one or more dogs with that same steady confidence. He needs someone who doesn't expect affection right away. For that person, the day Gus decides you're the leader of the pack will mean a great deal.
Dusty: Big Happy, Much Speed
Quick Stats: 4 years · 55 lbs · Lab and cattle dog mix · In our care since July 2025
Dusty came to us from Lampasas Animal Shelter, heartworm positive, and made it through treatment here at HLCR. You'd never guess he'd been sick. He loves people, loves to please, and loves to show off, whether that's a favorite toy or his command of the basics. Walks, play, and car rides are the highlights of his day, and he has handled several field trips beautifully.
His enthusiasm is both his best feature and his biggest challenge. This guy has a lot of energy! Sometimes when Dusty gets overexcited at the shelter, he can react to other dogs. He does better with confident female dogs than with males. He has a great deal of love to give, and he does know how to chill at the end of the day, preferably next to you or even on your lap. He's an excellent car rider and has very good house manners. An active family who want a friendly, energetic playmate is right where Dusty belongs.
Tippy: Wired a Little Differently
Quick Stats: 4 years · 40 lbs · Border collie mix · In our care since October 2025
Early in Tippy's life, before her skull had fully hardened, something injured her head. The injury left a space in her brain that filled with fluid, a condition called hydrocephalus ex vacuo, and over time it wore down the bridge that lets the two halves of her brain talk to each other. Messages between her brain and body now travel a bit like a phone call with a weak signal: most get through, some arrive late. The result is some tremors and mild trouble with balance and movement.
The good news is that her vet has confirmed the pressure in her skull has returned to normal, so she isn't in any discomfort. A daily dose of gabapentin keeps her tremors in check. Her home will need a few simple adjustments. Tippy can't manage stairs, so they'll need to be gated, and nonslip rugs help her keep her footing on smooth floors. She can't swim either, so any day near the water calls for a life jacket.
Tippy also has a personality all her own. She can be standoffish and a little odd, and she can get possessive. In a tense moment, a dog who panics or matches her energy will only set her off. She seems to prefer male dogs or larger, confident females who can calmly hold their ground and set boundaries without escalating things.
With people, Tippy is a different story. She loves her walks, she's relaxed and easy to live with indoors, and she's genuinely affectionate. More than anything, she just wants to be with someone. For an adopter with patience, a couple of baby gates, and a good sense of humor, Tippy has plenty of living left to do.
Between them, these six have been through heartworm treatment, surgery, returns, and a lot of waiting. They've stayed friendly, playful, and hopeful through all of it.
How You Can Help
Adopt. If one of these dogs sounds like a fit, reach out. Our team will answer, talk through their needs honestly, and set up a meet and greet. See all of our dogs at www.hlcr.org/adoptable-dogs.
Foster. Not ready for a lifetime commitment? A few weeks in a home gives a dog a real break from shelter life and teaches us how they behave in a home, which makes their next match a better one. Learn more at www.hlcr.org/foster.
Sponsor. Help cover food, medical care, and training for one of these six by giving directly at www.hlcr.org/donatenow. Just note the dog's name in your gift.
And if someone in your life would be right for these good boys and girls, or any of our adoptable dogs, send them this post. Plenty of good matches start with a friend saying, "This one made me think of you."
Thank You
Thirteen dogs went home this past month because people like you shared, called, and showed up for them. Thank you for supporting our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome the dogs we know and love. We ask so much of dogs who are simply doing their best, and in return, they offer us endless patience and unconditional love. They deserve that same patience and grace from us. These six have waited a long time—let’s make the next good month theirs.
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