Tails of
success
There is nothing more gratifying than
seeing a rescued dog thrive
Forrest
From dumped & abused to loved & adored
Like many “dumped” and abandoned dogs, this sweet pup was terrified—dodging cars and desperately trying to find a safe place. Thankfully, a friend of Kris’ spotted him and managed to coax him into her car, getting him out of traffic just in time.
She brought the dog to Kris, and together they began figuring out the next steps for this beautiful boy.
During an initial once-over, they noticed he was in pain near his tail. A visit to the vet revealed that he
had likely been kicked very hard. He was likely kicked hard enough to cause a partial rupture of his
anal gland, which was very painful for him to lift his tail. Fortunately, the injury would heal with time,
care, and lots of love. It was still hard to believe that anyone would do such a thing to such a sweet
dog.
Kris’ friend stepped up to foster him and began networking to find him a forever home. As fate would
have it, her brother—a marathon runner—was looking for a furry companion. Once he met this pup, it
didn’t take long for him to see an instant connection and the pup was appropriately named Forrest.
Today, Forrest is thriving in his forever home, running alongside his new best friend. He’s safe, loved, and finally free to Run, Forrest, Run!
Mac
Mac’s Journey Home:
A Hurricane Survivor’s Reunion
This very sweet but scared pup was brought to Kris by one of RTTRS’s board members. She had stopped at Buc-ee’s on her way home and saw a dog chasing cars, bleeding from his foot. Unsure what to do, since her own dog isn’t dog-friendly, she called Kris for help.
Together, they decided to get the pup to a vet as soon as possible. He was checked out with the possibility of having to go into boarding. Before an appointment for boarding was made, he was introduced to Fancy, one of RTTRS’ other rescues. Fortunately, he and Fancy tolerated each other, but this little guy seemed like he was just waiting for his family to come pick him up—staring through the wrought iron fence bars with such longing in his eyes. He just seemed so sad. While it always takes time for a new rescue to settle and become acclimated to a new environment, Kris and Hailey talked about often. However, rescue procedures continued and they did their best to make him feel comfortable.
After about 6 weeks, Kris received a frantic call and a text: “We think you have our dog! We have been looking for him everywhere!” She was so excited to know this sweet dog actually did have a family and they were looking for him! They had seen his photo on the PawBoost app and were thrilled to be able to bring him home, finally! He had gone missing during Hurricane Beryl in Houston, and his family – including his canine brothers – missed him terribly!
As it turned out, when the RTTRS board member picked him up & brought him to Kris, he was then, nearly an hour away from where he was lost—making his family’s search for him even more difficult. Thankfully, the PawBoost app post helped bridge that gap, and the rest is history! In a city where so many dogs are abandoned or never reunited after storms, it’s rare to see such a joyful reunion. That’s why RTTRS is especially grateful to celebrate sweet little Mac’s return to his loving family!
Gunther
From abandoned to beloved: happily ever after
Just before Thanksgiving in 2022, a frightened, muscular little dog was abandoned on a dead-end road. Thankfully, Kris’ neighbor recognized that this pup might be one of the Barbers’ rescues and called right away. Once it was clear he had been dumped, Kris and Hailey didn’t hesitate. They jumped in Kris’ truck and went to see how they could help this dog.
When they arrived, the neighbor’s tiny Yorkie was barking furiously at the scared dog, from behind a wrought iron gate. Fortunately, the muscular little fellow didn’t react at all. Instead, he spotted Hailey and sheepishly walked straight over to her, and melted at her feet. He pressed against her, but rolled over for a belly rub while his tail was furiously wagging. It was clear he just wanted to be close to someone. He had obviously been around people and other animals before. During his time with the Barbers, he quickly earned the nickname “Glue Stick” for his affectionate, clingy nature.
They named him Gunther—or Big Gunny Guns —a strong name for a strong dog! The name seemed fitting. His merle coloring was striking and his two different color eyes were definitely unique. However, his ears had been cropped extremely short some time in his past. The vet remarked that if the procedure had been done professionally, the person responsible should lose their license. Despite the speculation of how his ears were cropped, Gunny was a handsome, charming pup with a huge personality!
He stayed with the Barbers for a few months until he found his perfect match: a surgical technician at Kris’ vet clinic. She had been searching for an energetic companion for her Staffy, but also needed a dog that was gentle enough to live with her tiny, blind French Bulldog. Gunther fit in beautifully. Some matches were just meant to be – this was one of those matches!
Gunny is thriving in his forever home. He and his new brother have teamed up for some mischievous antics—chewing on remote controls, stuffed animals, paper towels, hats—you name it! They are definitely partners in crime! Beyond the mischief, Gunny is also giving back to other dogs in need. He has become a blood donor at his mom’s vet clinic.
RTTRS is overjoyed to know that Gunny has found his forever family—and that he loves them as much as they love him!
Max
Lonely gentle giant meets his best friend
This big, gentle giant was first spotted wandering around a lake in a neighborhood on the west side of Houston. For several days, neighbors posted his photo on social media, hoping someone could help. Many tried to approach him, but he was too frightened to let anyone get close. Despite his fear, he kept returning to the same porch or lingering near the neighborhood lake—clearly searching for safety and a place to cool off. Several folks saw him wading in the lake during the hottest hours of the day. Having so many directions for him to run, made his rescue really difficult. He could see strangers approaching.
Eventually, a concerned neighbor reached out to Kris for help. After several days of visiting the area and meeting with locals, the scared pup was finally guided into a garage and gently cornered. It was a sweltering summer day, but everyone took their time, allowing him to calm down. When Kris finally slipped a leash over his head, he didn’t resist. Instead, he walked quietly to her car, climbed in, and fell asleep—completely exhausted, but finally safe.
As with many rescues, there’s lots of folks that want to help, but no one was available to open their home to foster. Kris was already over capacity with dogs, but remembered a kind gentleman named Andy, who had once considered adopting another dog, Boudreaux, but found him to be a bit too much to handle. This new dog, however, seemed like a perfect fit; calm & a little older. Before making any decisions, Kris took him to the vet for a full check-up and sadly, he was heartworm positive. She made a place for him in her hot garage, as that was the only place for him. Thankfully the concrete floor was cool and heavy-duty fans were brought in and it was only for one night.
When Kris sent photos to Andy and his daughters—who were helping him find the right companion—they immediately said yes! Kris drove the dog, now named Max, to his new home about an hour away. The excitement was mutual—Max and Andy bonded instantly! Despite the heartworm diagnosis, Andy and his daughters committed to following the vet’s treatment plan. Thanks to the generosity of Kris’ community, all of Max’s medical expenses were covered, allowing Andy to focus solely on giving Max a loving home.
Today, Max and Andy are inseparable. Andy’s daughters occasionally send updates: the two rise with the sun, Andy sipping his coffee while Max patrols the yard for squirrels. They spend their mornings gardening and relaxing together. Max has become more than a pet—he’s a best friend, a companion, and a beloved member of the family.
RTTRS is thrilled to know that Max has found his forever home, and that Andy has found a loyal friend to share his days with.
Gone, but not forgotten
