Happy Tails Ranch Rescue

Happy Tails Ranch Rescue Happy Tails Ranch Rescue in Killeen, TX provides a temporary home for cats & dogs in need of a forever home. Adopt your best friend! We are a 501(c)(3)!
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This morning I read a very sad story about a local family who needed a little help after their home caught on fire while...
09/04/2026

This morning I read a very sad story about a local family who needed a little help after their home caught on fire while they were attending their grandfather's funeral out of state.

One of their cats was found deceased but the rest of their animals were placed into the care of our local shelter in Killeen until they returned. The fee to collect their animals from the shelter was apparently $660.

When I read that, I immediately thought "But their house caught on fire while they were away attending a funeral. Why are they being charged any fees? Especially, $660." If anything, why wasn't the shelter assisting them during this tragedy?

I don't know what's happened to communities but kicking someone when they're down is not the Texas way. It's not the way of any community rooted in compassion for each other. I was quite angered by the lack of empathy for this family I had never met.

So I called the city manager and the mayor's office and left messages. The city manager's assistant returned my call and we had a very polite and lengthy conversation about the situation.

I was told the pet owners didn't indicate they had any issues paying the fee. While this may be the case, I do know they needed to ask for donations to help them while they scrambled to find a place to board their pets until they figured out where to live. I was surprised the fees were not automatically waived without the owner needing to ask for assistance due to the circumstances.

I was also told when people struggle to pay the reclaim fee, they're offered a payment plan. The owners could have asked for a payment plan if they were struggling financially. If that is still not a viable option, the pet owner can request the fee be waived but only the city manager can waive any kind of fee at the shelter. Staff must escalate the request to waive a fee through an internal process.

The assistant explained, since the city has a charter the citizens voted on 20 odd years ago, only the city manager can waive reclaim fees. This is something that can only be modified through an election where the citizens vote to allow anyone else, like shelter management, the ability to waive fees at their discretion.

Now, I get there are rules and rules keep societies from falling apart but really? What has happened to our society when everyone has become so blinded by following the rules that compliance overrules compassion? Everyone's so afraid heartless AI machines will take over but where's the heart in humanity now?

Anyway, those are my deep thoughts for the day. I sure hope communities will get back to prioritizing compassion over compliance soon. What's supposed to make us human is our humanity.

If you'd like to donate towards the family's boarding costs while they get their lives back on track, donations can be sent to any of the options below. I also included a screenshot of the original post I read in the comments.

Donate to:

Venmo - -britten
Cashapp- $ilanabritten
PayPal-

09/04/2026

Your daily dose of adorable! 😍

09/03/2026

Adopt Freckles! 😍

We'd love to find Freckles his forever family! This sweet boy adores other dogs and needs a home with another pup or two. He can by shy initially in new situations but other dogs bring out his confidence and playful personality.

Freckles is a little over 1 years old, is fully vetted, on prevention and microchipped. He's the sweetest boy and his foster, who's also a trainer, has nothing but great feedback! He catches on quickly, is very treat motivated and loves to snuggle.

For more information on adopting Freckles, message us at Happy Tails Ranch Rescue. We'd love to set up a meet n greet!

I tried to get them all to look at me 🤣📷
09/03/2026

I tried to get them all to look at me 🤣📷

Adopt Jake! 😎Jake's story immediately pulled at my heartstrings when I first read about him. He was posted on a South Te...
09/03/2026

Adopt Jake! 😎

Jake's story immediately pulled at my heartstrings when I first read about him. He was posted on a South Texas shelter's page that described him as visually impaired; often looking lost and confused in their loud and crowded shelter.

Being nearly blind, and only 3 months old when he entered the shelter, I can only imagine how distressing it was to hear barks echoing off concrete, never really sure where the other dogs were.

Staff said he often stood in the middle of his kennel with his nose lifted in the air and his ears fully perked up. I'm sure he was constantly overwhelmed. He stayed in the shelter 3 months before an amazing foster busted him out of the shelter for us.

Jake is now a little over a year old, is fully vetted, on prevention and microchipped! He's learned so much the last 7 months and we've learned he's just an amazing pup! Being vision impaired hasn't slowed him down one bit! He learns his environment immediately, he picks up routines right away, and he loves his furfriends and people.

If you have the space and heart to give this underdog a home, you won't be disappointed. He's the kind of pup that amazes everyone and steals your heart. If you'd like to meet this special guy, message us at Happy Tails Ranch Rescue. We'd love to set up a meet n greet! 🤗

Pugsley is such a fun little Pug! He's probably about 4 years old, loves to play with his friends and snuggle with his p...
09/02/2026

Pugsley is such a fun little Pug! He's probably about 4 years old, loves to play with his friends and snuggle with his people. 🥰

Pugsley's neutered, vaccinated, on prevention and microchipped. He does great in his crate but would rather come and go on his own. He's been great about pottying outside but we did have to correct him a few times when he wanted to mark in the house. He definitely seems to want to please though and would do great with a doggie door since he also scratches on the door when he wants back inside.

If you'd like to meet this cute little guy, message us at Happy Tails Ranch Rescue! We'd love to set up a meet n greet!

09/02/2026

First zoomies for Xayah! Yay!!! 🥳

Xayah's been with us 10 days now and she's finally starting to show her playful side. She's been super sweet but also unsure about all the new.

Kennel time is getting easier for her too. Especially, now that we got her a secure kennel. She's settling faster and sleeping through the night just fine. She even showed me how she could go in the kennel all on her own this morning! Positive reinforcement for the win!

We're just waiting on her "happy tail" to heal up and then will be officially posting her for adoption! If you're interested in meeting this sweet girl, we'd love to set up a meet n greet!

09/02/2026

Adopt Moose! 😍

Moose has been waiting and waiting for his forever family. He's such a happy, fun pup! He's great with our pups, even the little Chihuahuas. He can be pesty with cats and chase them but listens pretty well to "leave it". He's also crate and house trained.

Moose is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and been given Proheart 12 and Bravecto Quantum to protect him from heartworms, fleas and ticks until March 2027. He's all set to find his happily ever after!

Fun afternoon out for Freckles, Elsie and Cherie! 😍 We met up with Freckles' foster, Jenna Knerr, to take him back to th...
09/01/2026

Fun afternoon out for Freckles, Elsie and Cherie! 😍

We met up with Freckles' foster, Jenna Knerr, to take him back to the ranch today. He's been having a blast learning new commands, going on adventures, hanging with his birth mom, Cherie, and making new friends.

Elsie was happy to see her friends again! She got some lovin' and chicken treats for being such a good girl.

If you'd like to meet Freckles or Elsie, message us at Happy Tails Ranch Rescue. We'd love to set up a meet n greet! 🏡

09/01/2026

Adopt Freckles aka Christian! 😍

We're still hoping to find Freckles his forever family! This sweet boy adores other dogs and needs a home with another pup or two. He can be shy initially in new situations but another pup or two brings out his confidence and playful personality.

Freckles is a little over 1 years old, is fully vetted, on prevention and microchipped. He's the sweetest boy and his foster, who's also a trainer, has nothing but great feedback! He catches on quickly, is very treat motivated and loves to snuggle.

For more information on adopting Freckles, message us at Happy Tails Ranch Rescue. We'd love to set up a meet n greet!

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Killeen, TX
76549

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