At the Humane Society of the New Braunfels Area, or HSNBA as locals know it, there’s one big dream for every dog and cat that walks through the shelter’s doors. A soft couch. A loving human (and perhaps some tiny humans, too). And a home to call their own.
“We don’t need more cages. We need more couches,” says Sarah Hammond, Executive Director of HSNBA. It’s more than a catchy phrase. It’s the shelter’s driving belief. Every program, every decision, and every volunteer hour goes toward the goal of placing animals in safe, loving homes.
Every adoption at HSNBA is a small victory. And every foster who opens up their home for a night, a week, or a month is part of the magic. But these wins don’t just happen by chance. It takes structure, heart, and a whole lot of teamwork.
Take their Doggie Day Out and foster-to-adopt programs. These give potential adopters a chance to really get to know an animal outside the shelter setting. Sarah calls it a game changer. “You get to see the dog in a home, lounging on a couch, being themselves,” she says. That laid-back dog who freezes in a kennel? Turns out they’re a snuggler, a goofball, or maybe even a couch potato.
Fostering also plays a huge role in transforming animals who need more time. “We had this dog that would be fine one minute and snapping at the air the next,” Sarah recalls. “We couldn’t figure it out. Was it pain? Was it fear?” With help from their staff behavior coordinator, a patient family, and some thoughtful vet care, the dog was placed in a home that gave her a real shot. Today, she’s doing great.
At HSNBA, the focus is always on quality of life for animals and for people. “We can save every adoptable, treatable animal that comes into our shelter,” Sarah says. “But we can’t do it alone.”
It takes a village to keep HSNBA running. And it runs like a very busy, very compassionate machine.
With the help of their behavior and enrichment team, the staff keeps a close eye on which animals need extra support, structure, or time before being adopted. The Focus List shares which dogs are struggling and what they need. Whether it’s more positive behavior notes, fresh photos, or just a little help from a friend, the list makes sure no animal slips through the cracks.
“We had one dog, Goofus,” Sarah says with a smile. “The only picture we had of him was his intake photo, which wasn’t great. He’s heartworm positive, so we need a foster for treatment. But we had to get better pictures first, and some meet-and-greets lined up.”
These action plans work. By making sure everyone knows who needs the most help, HSNBA gives each animal the best chance to leave the shelter for a better life.
And sometimes, that life begins with just the right groomer or vet.
Pink Poodle Pet Grooming plays a key role in that transformation. Owner Diana works closely with rescuers and foster groups to make sure dogs are clean, comfortable, and adoption-ready—often free of charge.
“When they bring in dogs who’ve been rescued—sometimes 10 or 20 at a time—I’ll take them in, get them cleaned up, and help them look their best for photos,” she says. “I don’t charge them because they’re already paying for vetting, food, and transport. A good groom just helps the dog get adopted faster.”
Diana’s team has seen it all—dogs who can’t be touched, who don’t recognize each other after a shave, who need time and trust just to stand on the table. But with a little patience and compassion, Diane says, most come around. “They’re smart, and they remember. When they trust you, everything changes.”
For Diana, every happy ending—every follow-up photo of a clean, smiling dog in a new home—is a reminder of why she does what she does. “I always say, your best dogs are your rescue dogs,” she says. “They might take time. But when they open up, they’re amazing.”
Just down the road, Creek View Veterinary Clinic plays another vital role in the HSNBA ecosystem. Dr. Rierson, who leads the team, says the clinic sees everything from traumatic injuries to critical illnesses in shelter animals.
“We’ve treated parvo, done limb amputations, even handled gunshot wounds,” Dr. Rierson says. “These are animals who wouldn’t get care otherwise.”
Creek View also partners with HSNBA on its vital Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) program for community cats—providing spay/neuter services and vaccines at no cost to the public. “It’s about animal health and human health,” Dr. Rierson explains. “Without this program, these cats would likely never receive any medical care in their entire lives.”
The clinic’s involvement began years ago when Dr. Rierson, a New Braunfels native, recognized a disconnect between shelters and veterinary care in the community. “Sarah Hammond has done a great job building bridges,” he says. “It’s what inspired us to get involved.”
Some cases are especially unforgettable—like Allie, a dog who needed femoral head surgery to walk again. A veterinary student helped with the procedure, and the dog was named in honor of his wife. Then there was Sammie, a cat with a fractured hind limb surrendered by an overwhelmed adopter. Thanks to surgical intervention, Sammie kept the leg, and later found a loving forever home.
“We love seeing the recovery journey,” Dr. Rierson says. “It reminds us why we do this work in the first place.”
These partnerships are part of a growing network of local support that helps HSNBA do more with less—and helps animals feel better, look better, and get adopted faster.
HSNBA also takes pride in growing people, not just programs. Staff members have gone on to careers in veterinary medicine, animal behavior, or nonprofit work.
“If you’ve got heart and you want to learn, we’ll teach you,” Sarah says. “It’s a great first job, especially for people who really want to work with animals.”
Then there’s kitten season, when suddenly it feels like the shelter is bursting at the seams. “In nine days, our population doubled,” Sarah says. “We went from 200 animals to 400.” The strain is real. And that’s why fostering matters so much.
“We don’t need more buildings,” Sarah says again. “We need more couches. We need people to open their homes for a few days or weeks so we can treat the animals that need extra time.”
If there’s one message Sarah wants the community to hear, it’s this: “We can end the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. But only if you help us. We cannot do it by ourselves.”
Whether it’s fostering, adopting, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every bit of support matters. HSNBA doesn’t want to build more cages. They want to fill more homes with purrs and tail wags.
So if you’ve got a couch and some love to give, chances are there’s a dog or cat who’s just waiting for you. And they might be closer than you think.
I don’t want more cages. I want more couches in people’s homes. - Sarah Hammond
They’re smart, and they remember. When they trust you, everything changes. - Diane