Texas Humane Heroes saves the day for 2,400 dogs and cats each year
Leander animal rescue helps Hill Country pets find forever homes
A sleek black mixed breed named Daisy bounds around the play area at Leander’s Texas Humane Heroes, a no-kill, private nonprofit organization with dog and cat adoption centers in Leander and Killeen. Everyone at the shelter loves Daisy, according to Marketing Manager Christine Rankin, and thanks to the organization’s efforts, Daisy is one of many animals that has been given a second chance at finding her forever home.
Daisy’s adoption status is pending right now due to an active heartworm condition, Rankin said. “She’s a perfect example of what we are doing here. We give animals, some with preexisting health conditions, the opportunity to find a family of their own.”
Started in 1979, Texas Humane Heroes has grown to partner with more than 75 shelters in more than 35 Texas counties. These partnerships allow the organization to rescue homeless animals from municipal shelters with some save rates as low as 5 percent. Its ultimate goal is to take that 5 percent chance of life and turn it into a 100 percent chance of an animal finding a loving home.
“The more animals we bring over to our organization to save, the closer we are to reaching that goal,” Rankin said. “Our business is to save lives and find happy homes. We continue to utilize all of our resources to make our mission successful.”
In Leander, Texas Humane Heroes has dedicated 22 acres off of East Crystal Falls Parkway to their cause. The property holds separate buildings for cats and dogs as well as areas for dogs to play, interact with potential owners and meet a family’s current dog to ensure the household is a good fit.
While the organization has plenty of space, Texas Humane Heroes wouldn’t be where it’s today without their dedicated volunteers, Rankin added. Helping hands are always needed to walk, groom and interact with the animals. Volunteers also help the organization with its low-cost spay and neuter clinics as well as low-cost shot clinics that take place on the fourth Saturday of every month.
“Extra help from the community and programs like our low-cost spay and neuter are truly benefitting our entire community,” Rankin said. “Keeping all animals healthy is how we keep our community balanced.”
And all the hard work is worth it. The organization finds homes for about 2,400 animals each year. Sending a cat or dog to its perfect home is Rankin’s favorite part of her job, but Texas Humane Heroes’ work is never done.
“Our team is incredibly compassionate, and we care for these animals as if they are our own,” Rankin said. “It’s a big decision to adopt, and we never want to rush the process. We always strive to go the extra mile for our animals and to match them with a family that’s best for them and vice versa. To me, that’s the best thing about our organization: how much we care.”
To apply to volunteer with Texas Humane Heroes, visit humaneheroes.org.