Texas
The great experiment. Leaving behind everything I knew for the wild west and the freedom to meet it head on. In time, my learning curve began to level out.
Years
1999-2025
The 3 fools, SLV, Amelia, and Dave. Besties
Amelia, January 2013, August 2025. An immense heart for children and kittens.
Lou and JustDave
JustDave and Amelia, summer 2013
Lou and Dave picking green beans
Rescue dog, cattle dog Arya
JustDave
Just Dave, our last camping trip together. August 2024
With the Vallhunds at Lake Superior, summer 2025
With Dave at Madeline Island, Lake Superior summer 2021. A familiar beach.
Sticklet, (SLV) the day she learned that catfish bait smells worse the second time around.
Tiny turtle rescue from the pool to the pond
Sticklet, spring 2015
Bastille's last kiss
Dave loved Scentwork class
Hamilton the tiger, rescued from commercial use and poor care, Texas 2007
The Corgi Farm, early days. 2005 or 2006
The yellow doghouse where Sticklet found her joy again. October 2009
Fletcher and Liam. "I only need one cane."
Fletcher and Liam, 2022
Joey Dodson and his mare Chic. Photo by Carrie Dodson, used with permission.
Even the wrens love a good school bus.
Cecil the Lilac Crowned Amazon.
Gus the best boy. December 2013 to present.
Gus and Archie. Pals
One of the two "Granny Goats" with stories all their own. She was impressive in so many ways.
Baby Dave, day one
Bastille at his best and last home
Bastille first day at shelter
Bastille's new baby
Bastille, the picture that inspired his new family
His purpose, all along.
JustDave, spring 2025. The last picture I would ever take of my true love.
Dave at agility class, 2013
He always loved a car ride.
Our very first title ribbon, Canine Good Citizen, 2022. Dozens more came after, but the first was immense for us both.
Leprechaun juice.
He loved to fly.
He loved the dirt.
Joey Dodson and Jack Bruner, gathering horses and cattle for veterinary work during the 2009 Hill County livestock seizure. March, 2009
Lake Superior with the Vallhunds, summer 2025
Hamilton the tiger, safe and being cared for until transfer to an accredited sanctuary.
Hamilton the tiger. He righteously hated humans. Safe transfer to an accredited sanctuary was accomplished within 6 weeks after his arrival at the shelter and successful court case.
"Step inside." Hamilton the tiger, 2007 or 2008
Dave loved Wisconsin.
After his recovery from a debilitating back injury, Dave worked every day to regain strength to run again. His first running steps were on the beach at Madeline Island where I, too learned to run.
Texas or Oklahoma? Joey Dodson's cowboy heaven.
Even Amelia loved dirt.
Summer tanager, photo taken from my writing desk. summer 2023
Parker the Vallhund. Helping me learn to live with part of my heart.
Volunteer crew celebrating together after the successful closing of the Pilot Point Arabian horse case, November 2009
Joey Dodson, in the 4-wheeler
Amelia
Sticklet and a good ACO from the City of Irving, TX
The rat invasion of 2015
BillTheDog. 2001
A re-purposed ammunition container used to rescue Tunis sheep during a flood event, 2007 or 2008. Volunteer Resa (Busy Bee) was proud of her discovery and how it eventually was used to help animals.
SLV, corgi with charisma
Detective Steve Shaw working to prepare seized horses for veterinary examination February 2009
Donkey documentation 2007
Donkey rescue 2007
My buddy Faaris, his last year.
Joey stretching fence to repair the gap
Houston. The one and only photo he ever allowed
BFF Linda, 2022
Never happier than when covered with mud
SLV at the ocean, 2013
The leash that saved a thousand lives. Muscle memory
Preacher Man. The voice of reason.
Rescue friends Sam and Shelly 2014
It takes a village. Rescuing sheep in a flood. Charles and Cliff, on right. Good hearts.
Every niece met their first farm animals here. With luck they will remember one day.
A client at a Native American veterinary wellness clinic, Utah or Wyoming, 2002
From near death to hope. A village of strong hearts can make miracles.
Part of the volunteer team, Pilot Point, 2009
We both learned so much about what it takes to keep a good team together so animals can benefit. Friends always. Samantha.
A gift from the volunteers. Treasured always.
Recovery, a picture of health after weeks of care.
Simon, day one. We thought he would die, he sure tried. His owner lost their job, the entire family was hungry.
Simon, day one.
Simon after a week of careful feeding. His sparkle was visible again.
Simon. Same horse. Food is an amazing thing.
There's no place like home.
On the path to feeling complete again, one more step with my dogs. My pal Parker the Swedish Vallhund and I at our very first AKC National Championship show. I learned a lot.
Karen Deeds and JustDave as he was beginning to venture forth from his emotional challenges, learning to become my best friend and true love.
One of the best pictures a foster caregiver can receive. The dog they sent to a new home, living the best life they possibly can. Chip. 2018
Learning new things is pure joy. Niece Emily and Lou's daughter Mary waiting her turn to hold the snake.
My friend Philip, from the Arkansas shelter in the 1990's. We reconnected years later in Texas, and he is still teaching kids to love all animals, even his beloved snakes. A good man, here with my niece Emily, 2017
Animal welfare work is often phone calls and emails, and then some more. Communication plays a huge part in saving the lives of animals in need.
A crippled corgi, found abandoned in a city park, gets a new shot at a new life with the help of a village, in this case a friend who flew shelter dogs to new chances via the Pilots and Paws program. I am honored to call him my friend, pilot Michael Reddick. Aiden loved to fly.
Detective Steve Shaw, always in the middle of getting himself nearly killed, but he survived and so did hundreds of animals in need, in the county he served. He will always be my favorite law enforcement officer.