Happy Tails

For Liz Austin, a teacher and mom of three, fostering dogs is more than a passion – it is a labor of love. In Houston, where thousands of dogs need temporary homes while awaiting adoption, she opens her door without hesitation. For Liz, the reward is not just providing a safe haven but also witnessing the joy of a dog finding its forever home – sometimes just down the street.

Liz started rescuing dogs when she was a student at Texas A&M University and has not looked back. “I rescued my first dog in college when I adopted a stray puppy born under an East Texas farm porch,” Liz recalls. “She was with me for 13 years.” 

After many years together, from college days to welcoming Liz and husband Jeremy’s babies, their beloved rescue dog passed away shortly after their second daughter was born. Jeremy and Liz agreed to take a break from pet ownership – at least for a little while. “I held up my end of that agreement for about two weeks,” says Liz, laughing. “That is when I adopted our dog Ouisie from Friends For Life Animal Rescue.”

Ouisie, a calm and loving large-sized dog, fits in perfectly with their family. Liz describes her as “the perfect dog to have with small kids. She just went with the flow.” 

“For us, adopting rescue dogs was a no-brainer,” she says. “There are so many in need in Houston. If you are patient and stay in contact with the local rescues, you can find what you’re looking for without going to a breeder.” 

And while they had originally planned to stop at just one dog in their home, Liz found herself drawn to the mission of fostering and the countless Houston-area rescue groups working to save homeless dogs. 

NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY Kristin Ayers holds her rescue pug, Millie. Kristin’s neighbor Liz Austin was fostering Millie for S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition when Kristin and her husband Chris's kids met her and fell in love. (Photo: lawellphoto.com)

Liz always paid attention to social media posts from local foster-based rescues needing temporary homes for dogs in transition. One day in October 2024, she saw a Facebook post from a foster coordinator with local nonprofit S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, looking for help. Two nine-week-old puppies needed a place to stay – just for a brief time. Fostering dogs through local rescue groups is the backbone of their mission. Groups can only save more dogs with more foster homes, otherwise, there is nowhere for the dog to be housed. 

“I figured, why not? It is only for a few weeks,” Liz says. Jeremy, although slightly hesitant at first, agreed. “I thought it would show my kids how much work puppies are, and the novelty would wear off quickly, but it didn’t turn out that way,” she said.

Instead, the Austins ended up having a blast fostering the puppies. Their three kids – daughters Everley, 11, Lulu, 8, and son Fletcher, 4 – adored the puppies, and friends and neighbors would frequently stop by to visit. “People came over all the time to get their fill of puppy snuggles,” Liz recalls. “It was such a joyful experience.”

The puppies, after a few weeks of love and care, were transported out of Houston (known across the country as a high-kill shelter city) to a rescue partner in Brooklyn, NY, where they found forever homes. The experience was positive, and it was not long before they were ready to foster again.

Fostering is a family affair for the Austins. Everyone divides and conquers to help manage the duties for fostering. Whether it is feeding, giving extra love, or ensuring Ouisie is doing okay, everyone helps. 

When the Austin family first welcomed Millie into her home as a foster dog, she was in rough shape, but healed physically and emotionally.

Their next foster dog, Millie, a young female pug, arrived just before Thanksgiving 2024. Liz sent out a text message to her entire street of neighbor friends introducing Millie. 

The three-year-old dog had been surrendered by a backyard breeder and was in very rough shape. It appeared she had been producing litter after litter, so the owner could sell the puppies to anyone willing to buy them. The conditions she had lived in were deplorable and her quality of life terrible. “She was too skinny, eerily quiet, and stared at us with the saddest eyes,” Liz remembers. “When we finally lured her inside, she sat down in the middle of our living room and did not move for about 45 minutes. She was statue-still, like she couldn’t believe we let her in.”

Slowly, Millie began to warm up to her foster home. She bonded with Liz’s son, Fletcher, who would rest his head on her while watching cartoons. “She loved it,” Liz says. “She was comfortable with the chaos of small children. My girls would wake up early every morning to walk her; our neighbors would see Millie on her walks, and her stretched-out belly endeared her to all the neighborhood moms as we made jokes about the trials and sacrifices of motherhood.”

Millie’s journey to recovery was touching and followed closely by Liz’s street. At their annual Christmas tree lighting, which Millie attended, one young neighbor took particular interest – 6-year-old Brooklyn Ayers, daughter of Kristin and Chris Ayers, a few doors down from the Austins. 

Brooklyn took the leash from Liz and proceeded to “help” with Millie throughout the entire Christmas event. Brooklyn’s younger brother, Tripp, 4, also fell in love with Millie.

Hour after hour, as neighbors visited at the event, Brooklyn became more and more obsessed with the little flat-faced rescue pup. Brooklyn’s dad, Chris, watched knowing what could be coming – a child head-over-heels in love with this pug. The Ayers family did not have a family dog at the time. “I think they realized, this might be our dog,” said Liz. 

Millie was soon officially made available for adoption through S.A.V.E., and after consideration, one persistent little girl, and some encouragement from neighbors to hesitant Chris, the family decided to fill out an application to formally adopt her. “The entire street laid the pressure thick on Chris,” said Kristin, laughing. 

As they awaited the application approval during Christmas time, Brooklyn only wanted pug-themed holiday gifts.

Finally, Millie’s application from the Ayers family was approved, and she found her forever home just two doors down from the Austins. “Millie is a presence of love and comfort in our busy home,” said Kristin. “She is deeply treasured by our children and their favorite part of waking in the morning and coming home from school in the afternoon. She is a celebrity on our block and beloved by all our neighbors. She’s the piece we didn’t know was missing from our family and we are so thankful Liz shared Millie with us.” 

Siblings Brooklyn Ayers, 6, and Tripp Ayers, 4, walk Millie daily down their street, where she has lots of fans.

Millie stays connected with her foster family. “My son Fletcher visits her daily at the bus stop, and she’s even staying with us during their next vacation,” said Liz.

Since Millie’s adoption in December, the Austins have already fostered four more dogs, one of which was adopted by another neighbor. “I joke that my goal is to put a rescue dog in every house on my street, and these amazing neighbors might just let me.”

While some might fear the heartbreak of letting go, Liz ensures her kids are part of the decision-making process. Saying goodbye to a foster is always bittersweet, says Liz, but her family gains fulfillment. “They know fostering means giving dogs a second chance,” Liz says. 

Liz emphasizes that fostering does not have to be overwhelming. “We already have ‘dog responsibilities’ with Ouisie – now we just do them for two dogs,” she explains. “We use a crate for every foster, and we mostly take in older dogs now, many of whom are already house-trained. The longest we’ve had a foster was six weeks; the shortest was one week.”

S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition provides all medical care, flea prevention, heartworm meds, vaccines, and even crates for fosters. Plus, volunteer fosters can tap into the private Facebook group for support, arranging help when they need to leave town or transport a dog to an adoption event.

Beyond the organization, Liz has found reward for her family. “It gives us something outside of ourselves to pour our hearts into,” she says. “And the kids get to see firsthand how small acts of kindness can change lives.”

For those interested in fostering, S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, along with countless groups throughout the Houston, are always looking for more volunteers. (S.A.V.E. will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo-themed adoption event on May 3, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Little Rey’s at 2345 Mid Lane.)

As for Liz and her family, their fostering journey is far from over. “We always say, ‘Okay, we will take a little break after this one,’ but then I see another dog who needs help, and the answer is always the same,” she says. “Yes, we will take them in. Yes, we’ll love them. And yes, we’ll find them the perfect home.”

Interested in fostering?

In Houston, shelters are often overcrowded. Fostering is a rewarding way to help local shelters save lives and allow dogs to transition into adoptive homes more smoothly. Supplies such as crates and food are often provided by the organization. To get started, research rescue groups and shelters such as S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, organizations such as Rescue Pets Movement, Houston Pets Alive!, and Friends for Life.

For those unsure about long-term fostering, consider "weekend fostering" or "staycation" programs offered by shelters like BARC Animal Shelter, which allow you to temporarily foster a dog to give them a break from the shelter environment.