Bobbie Espinosa Fosters Hundreds for Cypress Based Dog Rescue

By Patricia Hudson

When her daughter made a decision to volunteer with a dog rescue, Bobbie Espinosa had no idea that her life and her house would be turned upside down. Since then, she has fostered hundreds of lost, abused, and abandoned puppies and dogs.

What fostered your love of animals?

As a child, I was raised on 25 acres in the foothills of Colorado. We actually bred Quarter Horses. We raised them from the time they were born, feeding, breaking them in, training, everything.

Did you have other animals as children?

Growing up, we probably had 10 dogs. Usually, there were two to three dogs at a time at home. Once, when were out riding horses in the foothills, we came across this puppy that someone had apparently dumped. We carried him home on horseback, and like all of our dogs, Frankie was with us for the rest of his life. My mom had a dog, a German Shepherd, named Sergeant. He was our fierce protector. I participated in 4-H and raised ducks, chickens, rabbits, and lambs for show. Lambs were picked and raised in the spring. We fed, and exercised them to get the best quality meat to show and sell for slaughter. The first one I raised and sold, it was so hard, but you learned a lot.

Do you have children?

Kevin, 24, and Alison, 22, graduated from Cypress Ranch High School. Kevin is attending Louisiana Tech University and Alison graduated from Lone Star College Cypress 1.5 years ago. She’s currently working at Hermann Memorial Hospital in Fairfield as an X-Ray Technician.

Photo Credit: Thomas Coffman - Coffman Photography

How did you begin fostering dogs?

Our daughter, Alison was a member of the Cypress Ranch National Honor Society and needed to complete service hours. When she volunteered with Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue and sat all day in a dog pen at a “Meet and Greet,” she fell in love with a puppy. Her daddy told her “No, we can’t adopt. If you want, we could start fostering, but all fosters must go!”

How many dogs have you fostered? Foster Fails?

In eight years, I’ve fostered hundreds. There’s not much time between when I adopt one out that I get

another. Usually, they come in pairs as they’re easier to take care of because they have someone to sleep and play with. It took us about three years before we “failed” with the first one. We have adopted two. We did not fail, but fell in love with Lacey Lu and Ruux, whose name means Spirit in Swahili.

Please share the story about the dog that was rescued in Fairfield in 2018.

Perdie was a pregnant dog that was looking for a safe spot to have her puppies. She crawled into a culvert ditch and got stuck. A group of children alerted the Cy-Fair Fire Department; they rescued her in the nick of time. She landed in my home and safely gave birth to 12 puppies less than 24 hours later. Lacey Lu was one of her puppies.

How “Hands on” is everyone in the family?

All of my family helps in some sort of way, even if it’s just giving the dogs attention or cleaning up after them. My husband James works a full-time job. He is usually the first one up, so he’ll clean the crates in the morning. He primarily finances our fostering. Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue pays for vetting and shots and sometimes, there is a donation. To be honest, I don’t ask for donations very often. We just bought food for Oakley, one of our current fosters; my husband was shocked that it was $65 per bag.

What is the biggest challenge of being fosters? Needs as a foster?

The biggest challenge is losing the ones you can’t save. Sadly, I have lost six. The next hardest thing is rehabbing the injured dogs. One of these dogs was brought to me by the police. This poor pup was abused by some kids. They think that he was hit on the nose with a hatchet. When people went to see what was going on, the kids scattered. I nursed Franco, the Hatchet pup, back to health and adopted him out to a great family, Ricky and Nancy Stewart and their four kids. It’s also very hard when you have dogs that don’t trust because they have been abused by someone. Our needs as fosters? Food, toys, bones, bowls, bleach, laundry soap, paper towels, blankets, and towels.

In addition to fostering, what do Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue volunteers do?

Working on behalf of these puppies and dogs is a team effort and we couldn’t do it without all of our volunteers. Some save dogs/pups off the street and pull them from the shelter. Others make vet appointments and send out vet records. Coordinators make sure pups are on schedule for shots and spay and neuters. Coordinators set up transports, local and out of state, screen applications and send to fosters for approval. Volunteers work community events and fundraise.

Final words?

I LOVE these dogs and Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue. CLMR is always in need of more fosters, volunteers and donations, (money and supplies), to help pay medical bills and support the fosters with needed supplies. Visit www.cypressluckymuttrescue.org or email luckymuttrescuecypress@gmail.com for more information.

If you know of an exceptional Greater Fairfield, Bridgeland/Blackhorse Ranch, Towne Lake, Coles Crossing, or Cypress Creek Lakes individual or family that needs to be featured in an upcoming issue of PinPointe Magazine, please contact me: texasteacher024@outlook.com.