Friends For Life Animal Shelter

Sunday Playgroup: where the zoomies are fast, the kiddie pools are cool, and the water somehow turns into a mud bath by the end. 😂💦🐾

This summer, our pups are staying cool between play sessions with their very own pools. It may get a little messy, but we love watching them run, play, burn off energy, and let their personalities shine in a safe, supervised environment.

The best part? You can come watch the fun and meet some of our adoptable dogs! Join us every Sunday at the shelter for Sunday Playgroup. You may just spot your future best friend splashing

Find out who's joining in on the fun each sunday here: friends4life.org/sunday-playgroup

This just in!

We emergently took in three tiny dogs to get them out of an unsafe situation. Please give them a warm welcome!

They’re still wide-eyed about their new surroundings, but they’re already handing out kisses left and right.

Takoyaki (girl, brown, 2 years old, 15 lbs.) is a little lovebug who wants to curl up in your lap and snuggle.

Udon (boy, tan with a white stripe, 1 year old, 22 lbs.) is just as wiggly and affectionate.

Ramen (boy, tan, 1 year old, 26 lbs.) is a bit more reserved. We’re confident he’ll come out of his shell once he has a chance to settle in.

All three are looking for foster homes where they can decompress. Whether you can foster for a few days, a few weeks, or longer, we’d love to hear from you.

An important note: they’re not yet spayed or neutered, and Takoyaki is currently in heat. Because of that, we’re hoping to place them in a foster home without other dogs while they settle in.

Interested in fostering? Text (713) 714-2215 to learn more (if the text comes after hours, the team will respond in the morning). If you’re ready to adopt, visit our website to meet Takoyaki, Udon and Ramen.

Our pet food bank is getting low!

If you're able to help, we'd really appreciate it.

Sometimes a few months' supply of pet food is all it takes to help a family get through a rough patch. Let's keep pets with the families who love them.

If you have an extra bag of dog or cat food, or want to pick one up the next time you're at the store, we'd be so grateful. We're at 107 E. 22nd St., and for your convenience, you can leave donations in the cart by our front door.

If shopping from home is easier, we've also included our Amazon wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28MSDYSEUNZTQ/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Thank you, as always, for helping families keep the pets they love. ❤️

Lately, Charles has been meeting more new friends in hopes of finding him a foster or forever home, but also to give him more people to spend time with, more opportunities to get out of the shelter, and a much-needed boost to his mental health. ❤️

And apparently, Charles has learned to pick the friends with pool access. 😂

Last week, he was hanging out with one of his newer friends for only the second time when, during their walk around the front yard, he made a beeline for one of the kiddie pools we put out for the dogs to splash around and cool off in.

He was VERY clear about what activity he wanted that day.

One of our fabulous volunteers got the hint and decided he deserved an upgrade: a field trip to an ACTUAL pool.

And y’all, he had the best time. He ran around the yard, jumped in the water, soaked up the sunshine, and showed off the happy, goofy Charles we get to see when he feels comfortable.

For International Day of Friendship, it feels like the perfect glimpse into what becoming Charles’ friend looks like.

Charles takes a little more time to get to know someone. His first meetings happen with someone he already trusts by his side, and then Charles gets to set the pace. You keep showing up, sharing treats, going on walks, and little by little, you stop being the new person.

You become one of his people.

And the person Charles confidently marched to the kiddie pool with? She was still a pretty new friend.

Imagine the adventures waiting for the person who becomes his foster or forever best friend.

Charles' Bio: friends4life.org/charles

A little Texas heat didn’t stop this crew. 💪☀️

On Saturday, July 25, we welcomed a volunteer group from ExxonMobil to Friends For Life, and in just a few hours, they made a huge difference around the shelter.

The team tackled overgrown vegetation along our fence line and stained sections of the fence, helping our outdoor spaces look better, last longer, and stay welcoming for the animals and people who spend time here.

Projects like this may happen outside the kennels and cat rooms, but they directly support the work happening inside. Every project volunteers take on gives our staff more time and energy to focus on the animals in our care.

A huge thank you to the ExxonMobil team for spending your Saturday with us and working so hard in the Houston heat. 💙

And extra thanks to our BlueShirt volunteers, Miguel and Emma, who helped set up, welcome the group, keep everything moving, and stayed afterward to help clean up. We couldn’t have done it without you!

We are so grateful for the people and groups who show up for Friends For Life and help make this place better for every animal who comes through our doors. 🐾

Spinach has a very busy schedule in foster care.

Mostly because whatever his foster is doing suddenly becomes Spinach’s business too.

Cleaning the house? He’ll check on your progress. Walking into another room? He should probably come with you. Trying to get something done? Excellent, Spinach has arrived to supervise.

He loves having something to investigate, a toy to chase, or a human to keep tabs on, but once the excitement is over, he’s perfectly happy finding a cozy spot to settle in until the next item on the agenda.

Spinach is bold, playful, a little opinionated, and full of personality. He’s looking for a quiet, adult-only home where he can be the only cat and have humans who understand that the best relationships sometimes come with a little sass.

Spinach bio: https://friends4life.org/adoptable-pets/spinach/

BREAKING: Jesse McCartney is officially single and looking.

Requirements:
Must appreciate cuddles.
Must provide toys.
Must understand that snacks are serious business.
Must be prepared to share your home with an extremely handsome brown-and-white tabby.

Jesse was found hiding under a car in a parking garage, but he’s left that life far behind. Now this curious little kitten spends his days exploring, playing, hanging out with his foster family, and making friends with basically everyone he meets.

He’s affectionate, energetic, well-mannered indoors, and ready to become the biggest star in somebody’s household.

No concert tickets required. Just an adoption application.

Jesse McCartney's Bio: https://friends4life.org/adoptable-pets/jesse-mccartney/

Declyn and Trinity probably don’t know what the Development Department does.
But they absolutely know what makes it possible.

Every day, our Behavior Team works with dogs like Declyn and Trinity on the skills, confidence, enrichment, and real-world experiences that help prepare them for life outside the shelter.

Those programs take people, resources, time, and a whole community of supporters who believe this work matters.

That’s where the Development Team comes in.

We’re hiring a Donor Relations Coordinator to help build and strengthen relationships with donors, companies, foundations, and supporters who make programs like these possible.

The Donor Relations Coordinator helps donors stay connected to the impact of their support, coordinates stewardship and recognition, assists with fundraising campaigns and events, keeps donor records organized, and makes sure the people investing in our mission know just how much their support means.

In this position, they may not be the person holding Declyn’s leash during a training session or cheering Trinity on as she learns something new, but their work helps make those moments possible.

If you’re organized, great with people, passionate about animals, and excited about connecting people to work that matters, we’d love to meet you.

Apply to join our Development Team: https://friends4life.org/career-opportunities/