North Texas Giving Day is rapidly approaching. September 18, 2025, is the day – mark your calendar! This is the fundraising campaign which helps us determine our activities for TIRR Rescue in the coming year. Although we did not meet our initial goal in 2024, the generosity of the RR community, our previous adopters and those very special supporters who have allowed us to continue through the years, we were able to meet the majority of our objectives. Although the quantity of dogs we care for now has decreased, we continue to assist with facilitating the rescue and temporary housing for dogs that do not come to our facility. We believe TIRR has substantially improved the quality of care for the dogs in our program and for those dogs we assist in rescuing and contribute to the transit to a foster or permanent homes.

TIRR Rescue continues to see that every dog in our care, whether long-term or short-term, receives a complete and thorough veterinarian examination annually. This always proves challenging as several of our sanctuary dogs are extremely hard for our vet to handle and require extra time and attention. These exams result in improved comfort and extension of life for the dogs in our care. Our goal is to maintain this level of care,which meets or exceeds the levels of any other shelter or rescue. In addition to physical care, we strive to meet the emotional needs of traumatized and behaviorally challenged dogs. We have had success with temperamental, emotional & socially challenged dogs, however there are those that become sanctuary dogs and for those we strive to provide the best environment possible for a long, healthy and happy life.

The past year has presented a few changes for TIRR Rescue. We have moved from doing most of the physical work at the kennel ourselves with one contractor and a handful of volunteers to having most of the physical work done by contractors with significant & important supervision by Roy, and the same handful of volunteers. For the past 8 years, most of you will remember that Angela was our kennel helper that in essence developed what services TIRR enjoyed on a daily basis. She was a blessing to us and to each and every dog. Along with missing Angela being a part of our team, we miss seeing her every day. But, as they say, when one door closes, another is opened.

TIRR is now pleased to have a new team in place. We of course are using the system Roy & Angela developed over the years, to use as our basics, for creating a system that works well for the new team and for the dogs in our care. TIRR has been pleased to welcome Amber and Aimry to the TIRR team.

Amber comes to us from being a volunteer at TIRR for two years. She is doing a great job keeping the interior areas clean, tidy and organized and making sure clean water buckets are enjoyed by all the dogs. Amber offers special emotional support for many of our special needs dogs. Amber and our bad boy, Dexter, had a bond from day one – he chose her! Her compassion for the dogs and her desire to provide them with whatever they need to be happy is a true blessing.

Aimry joined us in January to assist with all things “outside” (lawn work, vehicle/equipment maintenance, carpentry, fencing, major “hole fixing” (provided mostlyby Jose’, Blake, Murphy, Ralph), cleanup of shop and work areas, etc.). Aimry also brings a love and devotion of all the dogs, but provides much needed love for specialneeds dogs, with Dalton being on the top of the list. Dalton is hard to get close to, but Aimry has certainly given him a “special human”.

Funding is more critical now than ever and we are exclusively dependent upon your generosity. Texas Independent Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue is different than any foster based rescue or public shelter in that we have all the expenses of the shelter without guaranteed revenue. The operation and maintenance of our shelter in past years have been my personal domain but that now changes as we have contractors to assist with keeping our facility maintained – this requires funding. This year more than ever we need your help. My greatest desire AND goal is to maintain our service to those dogs for which there are no other resources. I ask for your support and participation to continue our service to the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed and all dogs with special needs.