My wife and I are dog people. I grew up with a dog most of my life. First there was MacDougal - a…read moreScottish Terrier my dad brought home. Macdougal lived until my high school days and in the meantime, my mom had brought home a small dog of some sort and named her Sunshine. We called her Sunny. When I got out on my own, I went through a brief dogless period while I just tried to keep myself fed. I met Mousse - a Chocolate Lab, in 2000 and we were inseparable. She was by all accounts my best friend. I didn't know then but around the same time, the woman who would become my wife was meeting Sasha; a Newfoundland that would be her and her daughter's companion for the rest of Sasha's life. The love we had for those dogs were equalled only by the love we have for our own children - we're that big of dog people. Sasha passed away in October of 2012 and Mousse in September of 2113. By then, my wife and I were together - although not yet married. Neither of us were in a hurry to get another dog, we both felt that we just wanted OUR dogs back. We agreed that our dog would find us. Over Thanksgiving in 2014, we had a conversation with my two sisters, who had both lost their beloved dogs in recent months. Something made my wife (We'd been married in May) start looking. By the end of the following weekend, she thought she found our dog at Handfuls on Purpose. She showed me a picture and we researched the breed. Man, that dog was adorable. Cartoonishly adorable. Like if you'd hired an illustrator to design the most adorable stuffed dog, that dog is what it would look like. We carefully completed the application and waited. We were so nervous. On the way home from a business trip one night while waiting for a response from H.O.P.E., I purchased in-flight wifi just so I could send one last email plea asking them to give us a chance to give that dog a home. They responded that they had sent a message to my wife. They said yes. My next email from 30,000 feet was to my wife. "We got the dog". and then "Landing, I have to go". She had no idea I'd sent an email and didn't know how I would have found out that we got the dog but I forward the email to her and I dutifully closed my laptop. In the next few weeks while we plotted how we'd make the trip from our home in Kansas City to Hearne Texas, Elizabeth and the staff at H.O.P.E. kept us up to date with the dog by sending emails and pictures. You see, they're dog people too. And cat people, and just lifelong companion animal people. They get it. Pets don't need owners, they need families. We drove the 800 miles (and back) in one gruelingly long weekend. We were so excited to meet the dog who'd later be named "Olive". You could tell Olive had a special place in their hearts too. I think I saw a little tear in their eyes as we promised to love and care for her. The facility was nicer than I was expecting and shame on me for expecting less. The office was clean, the pens that we saw were clean and had walls that opened up so the dogs could get fresh air. They sent us home with a care package and her brief medical records. So Olive has had her first Dr.'s visit and she's healthy. I know the staff at H.O.P.E are busy taking care of the future family companions in their care but we'll keep in touch. I think they'd care that we did.

My husband and I work in Hearne and I try and stop every time I pass by this shelter…read more I give what I can monetarily and food wise. Any place that cares for abandoned animals is a good place. As far as the previous review... IT IS for the animals so put your own feelings aside for one moment and not get so offended. This place has a lot of animals and the thing under her desk is a very scared dog who they watch when people come in... So the fact that you weren't helped to carry the food is because they were making sure that dog was ok! Don't be selfish... You did drop off food so that's a step in the right direct :) Peace out and thanks for taking care of these animals Hope!