For the Dogs Who Come Next

For North Texas Giving Day this year, I want to tell the story of three dogs who have become a very real part of my life: Banksy, Arnold, and Albany.

All three are long stay dogs. All three have spent time as part of the HQ scene at one point or another. And all three represent something I care deeply about: the dogs who need a little extra help getting onto the right path.

Banksy is heading into his fourth North Texas Giving Day. He was pulled the week of North Texas Giving Day four years ago, and he has been part of my life for much of that journey.

Albany has also been in rescue for years. At one point, Alby needed a different place to land, so Arnold went to HQ and I made room for Alby here with me.

That little shuffle says a lot about rescue. Sometimes it is not about finding the perfect answer. Sometimes it is about looking at the dogs in front of you, figuring out what each one needs, and moving pieces around so everyone has the best chance to succeed.

Behavioral dogs often end up at HQ because they need more than standard foster support. Sometimes they need time to decompress. Sometimes they need structure and a different environment. Sometimes they need training tools or equipment. Sometimes they need a thoughtful plan built around the dog in front of us.

And sometimes they simply need a professional set of hands and eyes.

That kind of support costs money too.

Medical needs are tangible. People understand surgeries, medications, vet bills, and emergency care, and those needs understandably receive a lot of fundraising attention.

Training can be harder to fundraise for because you cannot always see it in a single photo. But it matters.

Behavior support can be the difference between a foster placement succeeding or falling apart. It can help us understand what a dog actually needs instead of guessing. It can give fosters practical tools and guidance. It can help prepare a dog for adoption and give their future family a much stronger foundation.

It can change the entire trajectory of a dog’s life.

That is what I am raising money for this North Texas Giving Day.

Banksy. Arnold. Albany.

Three dogs I have had the privilege of sharing life with and three reminders of why this work matters. I want people sharing their names and seeing them for the incredible individuals they are.

But I am also raising money for the dogs who come after them.

The scared ones. The overwhelmed ones. The misunderstood ones. The dogs who need a little more help before they are ready for what comes next.

My goal is to help make TLP a stronger hub for behavioral support and to make sure that when a dog needs training, equipment, tools, professional assessment, or hands on help, we have the resources to provide it.

Behavior care may not always come with an X ray or a hospital invoice.

But it is still care.

And it deserves to be funded too.