Bluebonnet Animal Rescue Network

06/07/2025

William Wallace says HELLO! He is about 6.5 months old and already more than 60 lbs so we expect him to be at least 80 lbs as an adult, and he could easily be 90+ lbs. Wally gets along well with other dogs but prefers to eat his meals in a crate or otherwise separated because he didn’t get enough food in his original home and he’s worried someone might steal his portion. I haven’t seen him show any food aggression, but his first foster mom did, so Tim and I have made a point of giving Wally his own space at meal times.

Wally has a good start with goats, so with proper training, he could grow up to be a solid livestock guardian. He ALSO has a good start on house/potty/crate-training so he easily could become a family pet. He needs a lot more work on leash-training — I think the furthest he has walked on-leash without resistance is maybe 100’. But it’s a start! His sisters won’t walk 10’ on a leash, so in comparison, Wally is a star 🌟 pupil! 🥰

I will get him added to our adoption website today, but don’t let my tardiness keep you from submitting an application to adopt this sweet boy. Link to our website is in our page bio and LinkTree.

05/07/2025

Last night while there were fireworks going off all around us -- I spent hours going from one barn to another, one pasture or paddock to another. I do this every year for multiple nights around the Independence Day holiday, because MANY dogs and some of the livestock are very frightened by the noise of the fireworks. This year, we've had thunderstorms in July that have added to their anxiety, so I'm sure some of the animals must feel like life as they know it is coming to an end because of the constant barrage of loud booms they can't seem to escape. Even as the fireworks are going off, I try to make my rounds seem as normal to the dogs as possible -- I fill up water tubs and sit down on a bench in each location to brush a dog, talk to them in a normal tone of voice, even scold them with a firm voice if they misbehave. I snapped this photo last night as Blue decided to cool off in the water tub in his paddock. If you look closely, you can see the water hose on the lower right -- I was filling the tub so the water was clean for a brief moment before Blue jumped in. I didn't complain though, because Blue is one of the dogs who really is afraid of thunder and fireworks -- he gets very nervous. The goats in his paddock were taking shelter in loafing sheds, and Blue had been in one of the sheds with them. But when I came in to his paddock, he came to greet me and stayed right next to me, pressed into my leg. I’m not sure whether he was gathering strength from me, or doing his best to protect me in spite of his fear. ❤️ Either way, he stayed close. When I brought the hose in to fill the tub, he stood next to me at first, but then I guess the fresh water just looked so cool and clear that the temptation was too great. He got in and out of the tub at least three 💦 times while I was filling it up. There was no hope for clean water, but he was a little less stressed by the time I moved from his paddock to the next, so I felt like my time with him served its purpose. ❤️‍🩹

I'm hoping tonight will be quieter, but I'll be out there again at twilight, to make sure they know that if the world is coming to an end, I'll be there with them so we can face it together. 🎆🎇

04/07/2025

Follow Scott Metzger Cartoons on Facebook or on Instagram for more great content!

04/07/2025

"They're here!"

Not ghosts or poltergeists, but FIREWORKS! If you're not ready by now, time is SHORT. Grab a Sharpie and write your phone number on your dog's collar. Jump online and make sure the info on your pet's microchip is CURRENT/CORRECT. Keep your pets inside with the AC on, fans going, and the TV or radio on, maybe a little louder than usual. Take your dog for a walk to burn off some energy, but be sure to protect their feet and don't let anyone get overheated. Back at home, close the blinds/drapes. Consider staying home with your pet. Don't let your pets be among the THOUSANDS who will get lost and/or land in the shelter tonight/tomorrow.

04/07/2025

TCAP - Texas Coalition for Animal Protection - is offering free spay/neuter services for residents of 15 zip codes in Dallas TX.

There is limited availability for large female dogs for this special.

Residents living in the 15 Dallas zip codes listed below will receive a FREE spay or neuter, rabies vaccine, pain medication, and microchip for their dog at any TCAP location between now and December 31, 2025. These free services are only available if purchased at the same time of the pet’s surgery.

The special program aims to mitigate pet overpopulation in North Texas by targeting high-intake Zip Codes in Dallas as indicated by Dallas Animal Services.

The Dallas ZIP codes that qualify for this program include:

75203
75216
75228
75208
75217
75232
75211
75220
75241
75212
75224
75243
75215
75227
75253

The fine print includes: Residency in these ZIP Codes will be confirmed by a utility bill or a valid driver’s license at the time of service. This grant funding is available for surgeries provided before 12/31/2025. Proof of a current rabies vaccine is required or can be provided at the time of surgery for no additional cost. Shelters and rescue groups may not participate in this program. Additional fees will be incurred if the owner purchases other services such as e-collars or additional vaccines. This special cannot be combined with any other specials or coupons. Only four pets per owner, per day. All pets must have an appointment for surgery.

Discover TCAP's monthly spay and neuter special for dogs in Dallas Texas for 23 qualifying Dallas ZIP codes.

04/07/2025

All three girls in this photo are seniors, each over 12 years old. And while it’s pretty easy to guess that Dixie (foreground, walking toward the camera) is a Great Pyrenees, you might be surprised to learn that the other two girls are half Pyrenees. Venus (mostly black dog sitting near the top of the terraced bed) and her sister Serena (mostly white dog lying below the tree) were born to a Great Pyrenees mom and Pointer dad.

Dixie is a permanent resident here — we adopted her from the shelter in Lancaster when we lived there. Venus and Serena are available for adoption, but we think of them as permanent residents because they’ve been here since 2017. They were completely feral when they arrived, but now they are just about perfect house dogs — house/potty-trained, crate-trained, and leash-trained. They get along with other dogs. They enjoy attention but aren’t demanding. Truly, they are as sweet as you could ask for. Still shy with strangers, but definitely not feral any more. They are easy keepers. 💕

04/07/2025

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness in Dallas TX but have not sought help because you/they have a pet, check out the services offered by The Bridge Homeless Resource Center. This is the only shelter in Dallas with an on-site kennel and services for pets, including not just food and shelter, but veterinary care. If you know of other shelters that allow people to keep their pets, please post a link to their FB page or website in the comments.

The only shelter in Dallas with an on-site kennel, providing essential support for individuals in need while ensuring their pets are cared for too.

04/07/2025

Today was Blue's turn for his annual checkup, and he was not as nice as the girls we took most recently. 😳 Blue is a wonderful dog, a great livestock guardian, and he does well with visitors to our place. At the clinic, he's even pretty good with the women, but bring in a male vet tech, or bring out the needles 💉💉💉, and Blue is much less cooperative. 😳 We put a muzzle on, which he didn't like one bit, and got blood drawn for a heartworm test (negative!) and got the vaccinations done and ears checked, so we called it a win even though it wasn't pretty. 😊

Blue has a 🎉 birthday coming up next week, and he'll be 4 years old, which makes him just about the perfect age for his job -- mature enough to be past puppy nonsense and reliable in the pasture. At 117 lbs, he's a formidable presence and a solid protector for goats. 🐐🐐🐐 He does NOT do well with sheep 🐑 and doesn't have any experience with 🐓 chickens. Blue gets along with other working dogs, though he does think he should be in charge, and first in line for treats. ☺️ If you have goats who need a guardian, Blue might be just the dog for you! Visit our website to submit an application - link in our page bio and LinkTree.

03/07/2025

If your area is like ours, you've probably already had to deal with fireworks in recent days, but if not, it's a pretty safe bet that most people will hear fireworks tomorrow -- whether from a neighbor or a nearby municipal celebration. It's shocking to everyone involved in animal shelters and rescues that so many people act as if they have never in their lives considered how fireworks might impact their animals. There will be a ridiculous number of reports about pets going missing because they got scared by fireworks. Don't let YOUR pet become a statistic. GET READY NOW!

03/07/2025

Follow Mark Parisi on Facebook or Instagram for LOTS of great cartoons featuring dogs, cats, and even people!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offthemarkcomic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_parisi_otm/

02/07/2025

"Hate" is a strong word, but let me say without equivocation -- I HATE it when people SELLING puppies co-opt the language of rescue for their business. If you are willing to make money from breeding your dogs and selling puppies, then by golly you need to have the courage to OWN your choice. If you run a retail store like Petland (and others) and you are making money from selling puppies supplied by a breeder (usually a puppy mill), then you need to acknowledge that selling animals is your business model. You aren't getting your animals adopted. YOU ARE SELLING THEM. Be honest about it.

Similarly, if you are the customer of one of these types of business -- retail store or breeder -- don't pretend you ADOPTED your puppy. You're a purchaser, not an adopter. If you bought your puppy from an ethical breeder, there's no reason to pretend you adopted. Ethical breeders will have a screening process similar to what you would go through with a responsible rescue group. But at the end of the process, you are still buying a puppy. If you think you need to buy from a breeder in order to get exactly the puppy you want or need, there's no need to hide that fact. Choose an ethical breeder and acknowledge that this was the right choice for you. Stop using the language of rescue because you don't want to own up to your choices.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ZaThLmAux/

🤔 Let’s set the record straight: Petland SELLS puppies…

At Petland locations in McKinney and Frisco, their so-called “Adopted Pet Gallery” is misleading. Adoption means giving a second chance to a dog from a shelter or rescue, NOT spending thousands of dollars at a retail store.

Foster-A-Pet Month may be over, but the need hasn’t gone away. Our shelters and rescues still urgently need support. Please consider rescuing, fostering, or adopting to help animals who truly need a home!