History and Future of the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue

The Heart of Texas Lab Rescue was founded by a couple named Dick and Luanne who after helping with a puppy mill rescue for Golden Retrievers and Labradors wrote an article in the Heart of Texas Labrador Retriever Club newsletter about one of the Labs from that rescue named Sophie. 

Sophie

Sophie was afraid of humans, and it appeared that even with Luanne’s patience and help, Sophie was never going to overcome her distrust of humans.  However, a woman who had adopted one of the other Labs from the puppy mill rescue decided to also adopt Sophie, knowing her distrust of humans.  After a long process, Sophie learned to trust her new family and lived a wonderful, full life.

Because of the article about Sophie, several Labrador lovers joined with Dick and Luanne to organize the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue (HOTLR).  The first meeting of the Rescue was in April 1998 and it received IRS 501 (c)3 non-profit status in June 1998.  The mission of the organization was, and still is, to rescue Labrador Retrievers from shelters, pounds, abandonment, and other situations, and place them in loving, caring homes.

 

In the beginning the Rescue utilized the kennels at Dick and Luanne’s home/property in Leander as well as enlisting a few volunteers to foster some of the dogs in their homes.

In 2002, due to road construction of the Parmer Lane extension going through the Lindsey’s property, they decided to move to Arkansas to be close to family. 

 

During this time HOTLR went through a major transformation in operations. A local kennel was used for a short-time to board dogs rescued from shelters until a foster home became available, but that practice became cost prohibitive.  Today, a few dogs are temporarily boarded at the HOTLR President's property before moving into foster care. 

 

Since inception the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue has saved over a thousand dogs and is committed to continue that effort.

 

The Future of the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue

 

The Rescue would like to take a huge step forward to better serve our mission by purchasing a facility (or property).

 

The purchase of a facility would allow us to rescue more dogs and get them into the loving homes they deserve.  A facility would allow us to expand the number of meet and greets, shorten adoption wait time, and offer new services such as training and boarding for our alum dogs.  When dogs are removed from shelters they will be housed at the facility where volunteers will play a large part in their care.  We still plan to use foster homes to prepare dogs for their new home life.  Our vision includes a minimum of ten acres with buildings that could be used for meet and greets, housing dogs, hosting seminars, etc.  Our budget is $500k.

 

How can you help?  Please share our vision with interested parties who might be able to make our vision a reality.  Consider joining the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue Facility Foundation the capital campaign for our facility. Since It's the holiday season, please consider giving the gift of a donation in memory of a beloved (two legged or four legged) to help our cause.  Memorial bricks, benches and kennel naming rights are available for purchase.  Donations are tax deductible. Please direct any questions to George Denbow, Treasurer, Heart of Texas Lab Rescue - g.denbow@att.net