Heroes

nominate a person or animal that had gone above and beyond to help animals or animals that had heroically helped humans. We thank those that submitted nominations and we hope you enjoy meeting (and maybe even being inspired by) this group of brave and compassionate souls that we are blessed to have in the Bayou City.

Lupe Casas

SUBMITTED BY ALEXANDREA I.

Lupe cares about animals. She owns a business that is dedicated to funding her support with animal rescue (Furrever Doggies). She frequently picks up dogs and helps them find a rescue group and foster. Her persistence is unmatched when it comes to helping dogs. Lupe was featured on “The Dodo” regarding a dog she was able to capture here in Houston. While it took a long while, she was committed to getting him to trust her.

At her shop in East Downtown, she hosts a variety of events to raise money for local rescues. For Valentines’ Day, she hosted an event that supported a Bunny Rescue here in Houston. She absolutely has the biggest heart for animals and is the kindest soul. Being around her, you instantly feel like you’ve known her your whole life. She is loving, welcoming, and is the definition of philanthropic.

Estelle Mack

SUBMITTED BY LIZ G.

I have known Estelle for about 30 years, since she worked with my dad in the oil and gas industry, and she never ceases to amaze me. In a city ravaged by an out of control homeless dog and cat population, Estelle continually powers through all of the sadness and negativity to bring a voice to the voiceless. She is CONSTANTLY rescuing animals in need from the streets, or helping people like me find solutions for an animal in need. She rarely lets the stress get to her, as she has a single mission: to help. No matter what her situation, which is usually a homeless dog or cat covering every square inch of her home and the stress that comes with that, Estelle is ALWAYS available to assist others who need help finding a place for a homeless pet or helping to market them on social media. I really don’t know how she does it!

Jenny Moore

SUBMITTED BY KELLY R.

Jenn started My Chi & Me Rescue and has done so many amazing things for the animals of Harris/Montgomery County. This woman not only runs this rescue, she works full time, has 2 small kids and a husband. People really have no idea what Jenn does on a weekly basis. She takes care of very sick dogs if needed, manages a foster based program so the dogs she rescues have a home to decompress. She is up at 5am every Thursday doing a dog transport to her rescue partner in NY. There are so many things she does to amaze me that I’m proud to be her friend and helper in the rescue. She rarely ever asks for donations. She runs My Chi like a business and is honest, empathetic and does all she can to help thousands of dogs a year. There is no one more deserving than her of this recognition. I’m in awe of what she does!

CYNTHIA VASQUEZ LONG-PACE

SUBMITTED BY TERRY M.

I met Cynthia a few years ago when a feral cat in my neighborhood had kittens. I caught the mom and to my surprise, one of her kittens. Someone referred us to Cynthia and she helped me with the next steps. At that point she was just a woman with a passion.

From there, The Sunshine Fund (TheSunshineFund.net) developed from one woman's passion to a 501c3 rescue that has made a significant impact saving the lives of many cats and kittens. Of the many things Cynthia does for rescue, some of them include:

» Goes into cat communities to support TNR

» Takes in the cats that other's won't – the tiny, sick or injured cats

» Saves cats from shelters

» Took cats when another rescue had to close

» Finds homes for her “wards”

» Works with other rescue organizations

» Loves on each of the furbabies who have entered her rescue

She does all of this work for the felines as well as the fundraising necessary to pay for the work she does. And, the kitten she took from us, we ended up adopting him and the buddy he made at Cynthia's rescue!

Emily Daniels

SUBMITTED BY PAM A.

Emily is 100% the #1 volunteer for every Houston shelter, mostly BARC, Rescued Pets Movement and the strays/lost dogs of Houston, primarily Northside. I nominated Emily (superwoman,) because she is hands down the most empathetic human I’ve ever met. She drops everything in the middle of whatever she is doing to volunteer for whatever is needed. Once she has her eyes on an animal that needs saving, she follows through with not only trapping/ catching, but scooping strays off the streets following their cases all the way to a rescue, even fostering to save them from euthanasia. If your pet has gone astray, she is like Ace Ventura Pet Detective moving mountains to find them. I met her on Nextdoor years ago when we teamed up to help a neighbor who worked long hours in Houston's ER. They lost their small dog who had been missing for weeks. Emily printed out flyers, put them up everywhere, talked to several people in the area to find this dog. When she did, it was a days-long chase and when Emily finally cornered the dog, she was bitten and bleeding but shrugged it off. The dog was returned and her job was fulfilled. This is just ONE teeny example of how she spends literally every day since then. Many people see her in action DAILY helping so many. Every. Single. Day.

ERLINDA SHEN SUBMITTED BY JANET P.

I met Erlinda, a foster and bunny wrangler with Houston Rabbit Resource. through rabbit rescue and she is such an amazing caring person. She will drop everything and go out of her way to help an animal or person in need. She is the kind of person that needs to learn to say no LOL! But, this is what makes her so special and a huge asset to our community.

Erlinda is a US Army Veteran, she has had her share of interesting and fulfilling callings. However nothing has been quite as fulfilling as saving rabbits and educating people on their proper care.

Erlinda has 4 therapy rabbits that are heroes as well! Find them at HoustonRabbitResource.org. She takes her rabbits everywhere she can and helps those who could use some comfort.

After the Santa Fe shooting, Erlinda felt the pull to do something for the first responders and survivors. So she packed up her car and her rabbits, and made the drive. When she got there and unpacked, the rabbits became the center of attention almost immediately. You could feel the amount of joy and comfort she brought to an area that really needed it.

She also created a foster page where she posts about her foster buns on Facebook (The Hoppening) and her personal Daily Bunny Memes to bring cheer and education.

GARY POON SUBMITTED BY ANGELINA S.

Gary Poon is a tireless advocate for animals and pet owners. He has spent the last 23 years at the Houston Humane Society (HHS) working to prevent cruelty and abuse of animals, to promote humane treatment, to reduce animal overpopulation and to keep pets and pet owners together for their mutual health and wellbeing. Before becoming CEO, Gary contributed to every department at HHS, including serving as finance director. He utilizes his skills in nonprofit management, financial management, strategic planning, and business strategy to position HHS for success.

Gary’s contributions to animals and pet owners in Houston are too numerous to list. For example, he led the development of a Pet Pantry food assistance program at HHS that has, since its inception in 2020, delivered more than 4.2 million nutritious meals to pet owners needing food assistance to keep their pets healthy. Some seniors, emotionally dependent on their pets, cannot afford to provide medical care such as vaccines, flea and heartworm treatment, spay/neuter, microchip, and general wellness exams. Gary forged a partnership with Meals on Wheels/ Animeals enabling HHS to provide full-service veterinary care for pets of homebound seniors. Committed to fighting the inhumane treatment of animals, Gary expanded partnerships with law enforcement in Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties to investigate and fight animal cruelty. Also under Gary’s guidance, HHS offers low-cost veterinary services and operates a successful pet adoption program. In 2022, HHS performed 9,424 spay/ neuter surgeries, provided veterinary and other services for more than 35,000 animals, and helped 3,000 animals find their forever homes through adoption.

KAPPY MUENZER SUBMITTED BY FREDDY C.

Kappy has worked in the field of animal protection for forty-one years. She began her work in 1974 as a volunteer and founded CAP’s adoption program in 1975. She was one of the four founders of the first CAP Shelter which opened in 1981. Kappy served as Board President for almost ten years. In 1985 the Board of Directors appointed her as Executive Director of CAP. She has also served as Coordinator and Co-Coordinator of CAP’s Celebrity Paws Gala since it’s inception in 1986. Additionally, she served for thirty years on the board of the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) and she served on the board of directors of the Texas Federation of Animal Care Services (TFACS) for two years.

In Houston's animal advocacy community, Kappy Muenzer needs no introduction. She's a legend. A pioneer in how we treat animals. Can you imagine how many lives this lady has saved through her actions and those of her colleagues? Or, that she and they had the foresight to create a place like Citizens for Animal Protection? When the homeless animal problem eventually dwindles down to nonexistent, she will have played a critical role.

In February, 2015, she was honored by her colleagues and peers from across the state with the Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the Texas Federation of Animal Care Services. There is no doubt she is a hero to the animals and the community!

KRISTA LABORDE SUBMITTED BY ALEXIS H.

Krista LaBorde is a PharmD Candidate at UH-College of Pharmacy currently in an internship program. The program is so rigorous and time consuming and financially hard on everyone, yet Krista still finds the time to foster dogs for local rescues! She fostered 4 dogs at one point, while on rotations and working. She’s helped to rehabilitate so many dogs and help them on their way to forever homes. She currently works with a small rescue in the little free time she has all WHILE fostering. The woman is incredible. She organizes fundraising and does social media campaigns for her current rescue organization and she’s known to spend her time walking her current foster dog at farmers markets and community events in pursuit of forever homes. She’s also known for creating TikTok’s about her foster dogs that has facilitated numerous out-of-state adoptions. She’s even rescued her own two pets as well! On top of all of this, Krista frequently volunteers in the community at health fairs. She’s a published researcher having completed and presented on many topics. As a Louisiana transplant, Krista has made a major impact in the lives of Houston’s pets and families in the short time she’s been here!

LAURA MCCONNELL SUBMITTED BY DAMARIS W.

Laura McConnell founded Lone Star Animal Welfare League in 2004, a nonprofit organization that initially focused on saving Labradors from shelters and the streets of Montgomery County and surrounding areas. However, throughout recent years, LSAWL saw the need to assist pet owners with finding resources to help them keep their pets instead of surrendering them to an overcrowded shelter. She found that people wanted to keep their pets but realized how costly vetting can be so LSAWL started providing vouchers in 2015 and since has started the “Fixing Montgomery County Program" which is now a 2-day event each month held to assist with spay and neuter, vaccinations, and microchips. Each year the number grows, just in 2021 a total of 911 pets were fixed and as of 2023, the number of pets is at 398. Not only does LSAWL assist with low cost spay and neuter for pet owners in Montgomery County but they also provide low-cost options to residents outside the county. LSAWL has also sponsored surgical supplies to Harris County Pets, donated or assisted with low cost spay and neuter with Laurel’s House, This is Houston, Meals on Wheels, and more.

Melissa Melvin

SUBMITTED BY PHYLLIS B.

Since 2012, Melissa Melvin has spearheaded a group of dedicated volunteers to tend to the dumped dogs at Melrose Park (a city of Houston park located across the street from the Harris County Animal Shelter). She runs a group called Melrose Park Neglected Dogs. These dogs are left there assuming the shelter across the street will pick them up. Because the park is city property, the county shelter won’t take those dogs as they fall outside their jurisdiction. Melissa relies on rescues to help take in these dogs to provide them safety, vetting and future homes. Melissa will also reach out to BARC to assist, but their abilities are limited by space available in the city shelter. Melissa does her best to post pictures of the dogs in a timely manner, while also working full time. Most of her time is spent with the dogs on the weekend. These dogs are all sizes and breeds and come with a variety of medical issues. She always gets them vetted, spayed/ neutered before going to a rescue or she will raise funds to send with the dog to the new rescue. She relies totally on donations.

VOLUNTEERS FOR BARC’S URGENT PETS

SUBMITTED BY HILARY K.

Rather than nominating just one person, I had to nominate the entire, hard-working group of dedicated volunteers that help network homeless pets on the euthanasia list at BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions. Euthanasia of healthy animals at our local shelters is, unfortunately, unavoidable due to the overpopulation crisis. At BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions, between 10 and 50 dogs and cats are on the euthanasia list each day. The Volunteers for BARC’s Urgent Pets visit these at-risk animals daily, taking photos and gathering biographical information to drum up interest for adopters, fosters, and rescues. They bring props for the dogs to pose in, like bandanas or bows, to help show off their personalities. They bring the dogs special treats to get those tails wagging. In just one day (June 1, 2023), their volunteer work saved 38 of 40 animals slotted for euthanasia. It is because of their efforts that BARC’s save rate is over 80% every month. In addition to their life-saving work, they raise money for rescues and collect pet essentials, like food and toys, for fosters who need supplies. Many of the volunteers have pets and fosters of their own, but they still show up every day for the animals who need humans most.

YUVAANH (YUVI) AGARWAL

SUBMITTED BY LAURA FD.

Yuvaanh (Yuvi) Agarwal, a soon-to-be fifth grader at The Village School, a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade private day and boarding school in Houston's Energy Corridor, loves music and dogs. He wanted to combine his passions, so he came up with the idea of launching "Wild Tunes," musical therapy for shelter animals.

After conducting some research, Yuvi learned about the soothing effect music can have on the anxiety level of animals. He discovered that music - especially classical, soft rock, jazz, and country - can reduce cortisol levels in animals, slowing their heartbeat and decreasing their stress levels, which is especially important for shelter animals who have been abandoned or rescued because of abusive owners.

His goal is to help animals be less anxious and help them re-adapt to humans. Each week, his mom, Priyanka, takes him to Houston Pets Alive, where Yuvi plays soft, rhythmic music on his keyboard or kalimba, for dogs at the shelter. She credits The Village School with teaching Yuvi the importance of coming up with an idea, developing a plan to make it happen, and then putting it into action.

Yuvi’s vision for “Wild Tunes” is to take it to as many shelters as possible and get more children on board with the initiative.

K9 Karl

SUBMITTED BY SERGEANT LEBRITTON WINGARD

As a Sergeant with the Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct assigned to the K-9 and Patrol Division, I am an active K-9 handler. For over 3 years, I’ve had the absolute pleasure to be paired with K9 Karo, a 7-year-old male Belgium Malinois. K9 Karo is a dual-purpose canine certified in Narcotic Detection and trained for Tracking.

He enjoys his training time, and he loves performing at school demonstrations for the kids. He is not camera shy and actually poses for pictures. Although K9 Karo does not wear a superhero cape, he is definitely a hero to me. I recall a traffic stop on a SUV that made a few traffic infractions while exiting the highway onto a service road. K9 Karo knows when the emergency lights and sirens are initiated, and his excitement level rises because he knows it is an opportunity that he’ll get to work.

The SUV was occupied by two individuals. After further investigation, it was determined I would be deploying Karo. We exited the patrol vehicle and Karo was vocally excited, barking loudly and announcing his arrival. I deployed K9 Karo on an open-air sniff around the SUV and Karo gave an alert to the odor of narcotics. He was rewarded with his Kong and put away into the patrol vehicle. During the PC (probable cause) search of the vehicle, a medium sized cardboard box covered with brown tape was located inside of the SUV. The cardboard box was taken out of the vehicle and placed on the ground away from the SUV and K9 Karo was deployed on the box alone. Karo alerted to the cardboard as well for the odor of narcotics.

The contents of the cardboard box revealed a large heavily taped block of compressed white powder and a smaller taped package with small light blue pills inside. The two individuals admitted to deputies that the large heavily taped block was a kilo of the deadly narcotic Fentanyl and the package of pills (412 grams) were in fact Fentanyl as well in the quantity of 5000.

The two individuals were arrested and charged with Felony PCS – Possession Control Substance with Intent to Manufacture and Delivery. This case is significant for K9 Karo because the narcotics were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office for testing. The results of the narcotics testing were the narcotics submitted was NOT Fentanyl. It was confirmed as Carfentanil, which by definition is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and large mammals. It is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than Fentanyl. It is often mixed in with other drugs such as Heroin, Cocaine, or Crystal Meth. K9 Karo saved many lives that day by getting those dangerous drugs off the streets all while doing what he loves to do, with many more drug busts that followed.

Submitted By Deputy Andrew Blauser

On November 23rd 2017, Trooper Damon Allen was working Interstate 45 near Fairfield Texas on Thanksgiving Day when he spotted a Blue Chevrolet Malibu that contained the coward Dabbrett Black. After initiating a traffic stop, Trooper Allen then returned to his patrol vehicle. Black then produced a AK-47 style rifle and shot Trooper Allen in his patrol car and then fled from the scene.

A statewide “Be On The Lookout” (BOLO) advisory was transmitted and although the car containing Black was a different color, Waller County Sergeant Stephen Tucker spotted the license plate matching the BOLO information. A military veteran and a seasoned Patrol supervisor, Sgt. Tucker knew, more than likely Dabrett Black was still armed.

Next, Black exited US 290 and proceeded to a rural area north of Prairie View. Sgt. Tucker followed and called for back up. Suddenly, Black brought his vehicle to a stop on a gravel driveway and produced the same AK-47 style rifle and pointed it at Sgt. Tucker and squeezed the trigger. Sgt. Tucker returned fire on Dabrett Black at the driver side of his patrol vehicle.

Unbeknownst to Sgt. Tucker at the time, Black had received a wound to the shin and had fled to the tree line. Soon after, State Trooper Mike Mathes arrived to assist and also returned fire on Black.

Sgt. Tucker and Trooper Mathes quickly figured out that Black was no longer in the vehicle. While all this was occurring, I was off work awaiting my newborn to arrive any day, while also enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with family. I had heard of the murder of Trooper Allen earlier in the afternoon. I then got a call from an individual who didn’t even work at my Sheriff’s Office and asked if I was okay because they had heard about shots being fired in Waller County. I immediately turned on my radio and heard Sgt. Tucker requesting a K9. At the time K9 Odin was the only K9 in

Waller County. I quickly got my things together and loaded Odin up.

Prairie View is some 25 miles away from my home and by now, the scene had an estimated 500 officers creating a containment perimeter, providing additional K9s, Tac Units etc. I was quickly briefed that Dabrett Black had been spotted hiding between some haybales. It was also unclear if Black still possessed any weapons on his person. It was then determined to challenge Dabrett Black with a squad of officers to prevent him from heading further into the brush. There was about 100 yards and a barbed wire fence between the team of officers and Black. K9 Odin had found a hole under the barbed wire fence. I released him and he immediately engaged Black on his right forearm. Black didn’t scream or make a sound. Odin held the bite until SWAT Operators could detain him. When Black was questioned he admitted that the only reason he stopped shooting at the police is because his gun jammed.

Afterward, we left the scene and returned home to a very anxious but relieved family.

Odin attended Trooper Allen’s funeral and was a great comfort to the grieving widow and children. He continues to be heroic each and every day.

Volunteering Is A Work Of Heart

"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace."