Inspiration

Her and Ronnie's devotion to caring for at-need canines requires great effort physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. The demands of this preoccupation keep them hopping as they are meticulous about keeping everything in order and on schedule for their pets. "If I am not physically doing something to help a dog, I am thinking about how to get it accomplished, worrying if I am doing enough, coordinating with someone to help us, and figuring out how to make the next one possible," she says.

She works closely with Lone Star Transport Dogs in providing dogs with preventive care, vetting, and placing canines with adoptive

Roxie kisses Grayce Weaver Grayce Weaver in a Yoga pose. She does not allow herself to forget that people are faced daily by the decision to evolve or stagnate. Her advice is to speak wisely and kindly because it sends good vibes and radiates out to all around us.

families. This means she spends a lot of time behind the wheel along with other area women who, like her, are infected with irresistible compassion. They stay in contact with local animal shelters to get dogs entered into their program, watch Facebook to learn of dogs that need help, and keep endless paperwork organized. Despite her (and their) expertise in these labors of love...they are still, endlessly learning. "I try to soak in as much knowledge as possible during this process," she says. "I have learned so much about dogs, ways to help them at home, how to handle situations, etc." Her love of animals is not something she has learned. It has been with her since birth. She connects with her furry friends, she says, sometimes better than she does with people. While growing up she would always be there for cats and dogs in distress. She just loves helping animals and spending quality time with them and her husband. Her furry friends are as much a blessing to her as she is to them. "My first two dogs, Zoey and Nilla, opened a window in my heart that I did not know existed. The unconditional love from these two fur babies brought me through some very tough times," she says. "After losing Zoey back in 2012 and Nilla in 2016, I needed to fill the void in my heart. I started by volunteering at the animal shelter."

Apart from being emotionally fulfilling, she describes her work with unfortunate animals as a "character building" experience. The unconditional love her furry friends provide, is something she (and most everyone else) craves and needs. But that is not all. This rescue work has opened the door to many friendships she now cherishes with other big-hearted people she has met in her calling.

Her increasing desire to be a savior for needy pets and pets-tobe, led her to Lone Star Transport Dogs founded in 2018. This nonprofit animal assistance organization transported thousands of dogs from East Texas and San Antonio to their new-found homes. Dogs slated for euthanasia, abandoned and stray dogs including dogs being offered free online have found loving homes through this initiative.

Due to lack of neutering, there is a large population of stray, feral dogs, and cats in East Texas. Grayce lends an eager hand in taking in these animals and providing them with neutering, shots, monthly preventatives, and other treatments typically recommended by veterinarians. This makes the pets much more attractive to potentially adoptive persons. They are then shipped to 11th Hour Rescue in New Jersey for adoption by persons carefully screened via applications, vets, and personal references.

New Jersey is an attractive destination for these pets-to-be because of certain state laws requiring the type of medical treatments that Lone Star Transport Dogs provides. This means people in New Jersey know they are receiving the safest, healthiest, and most desirable adoptive pets. In other words, these are the easiest and best to pets to adopt. As a matter of fact, these dogs are going to the best possible and most loving adoptive families. It is important to note, the pet laws in New Jersey are similar to how cars are registered in Texas. Grayce hopes such animal-friendly regulations are eventually passed in Texas, considering its serious overpopulation of homeless cats and dogs.

Teresa Carroll (founder, Lindale), Heather Davis (founder, San Antonio), Susan Gill (Lindale), and