Our journey started on a busy highway in Killeen, Texas. I was driving along when I noticed a puppy dangerously close to traffic, just inches away from cars speeding by at over 70 MPH. I’ve helped with lost and found pets many times before, but this moment felt different.

I quickly turned into a nearby gas station and parked close to where I had seen the puppy. As I approached, the puppy darted into a drainage ditch to hide. But as I walked a little further, not one, but two beautiful puppy heads peeked out at me. One seemed cautiously curious — this would later be our sweet boy, Ghost — while the other was much more timid, now known as Groot.

Though scared of human touch, both were gentle and even ate out of my hand. I didn’t have a slip lead with me, so I rushed home, grabbed one, and brought a friend along to help. We spent time sitting with them, building trust. Eventually, I managed to slip the lead over the more nervous one, Groot. As I tried to guide him out, he started pulling me into the ditch, so I crawled down, lifted him up the steep hill (all 60 pounds of him!), and to my surprise — Ghost followed right behind. He was so protective of his brother!

Later, I discovered a post on our neighborhood Facebook page — those two and a smaller dog had been spotted at the gas station earlier that day. We posted everywhere, checked for microchips, but had no luck. Eventually, someone came forward with information — they confirmed these dogs had been dumped, and she herself had taken one of their littermates.

The little dog had already found a home with a kind neighbor, but my friend fostered Ghost and Groot. However, the boys were a handful — Ghost was fiercely protective, and they were quite destructive, as scared, abandoned dogs often are. We decided to split them up for their well-being. My friend kept Groot, and I took Ghost in.

With the support of a few local rescues and some amazing friends, both boys were fully vetted and began their new lives. Over time, my friend officially adopted Groot, and Ghost became part of my family. His personality is unforgettable — he's mouthy, sounds like Chewbacca (which honestly should have been his name!), and he gives love bites. He hates closed doors and will open them if you dare shut him out!

In addition to Ghost, I have two other rescues, Athena and Flower. Together, their stories — along with Groot’s — have inspired our mission: to help abandoned, unwanted, and shelter animals find love, safety, and their forever homes. We want to show them not all humans are bad, and they do deserve happiness.

I’m a wife, a mother, and I work full-time, but animal rescue is my passion. This organization is new, but our hearts are fully in it.

We’re here to help however we can. We’re here for the forgotten, the abandoned, and the voiceless.