Dish-Houston

What began three years ago as a four-week holiday mobile pet adoption program has turned into a year-round initiative to save thousands of Houston’s cats and dogs from being euthanized.  When Houstonians Tena Faust, Tama Lundquist, and Tim Maloney approached Highland Village owner, Haidar Barbouti, about using space at Highland Village as a  “Home For The Holidays” for cats and dogs on the verge of being euthanized, Barbouti, an animal lover, said absolutely.  And, “Home For The Holidays” was born in the old GAP building on Westheimer.  Hundreds of volunteers and dozens of Houston-based rescue groups came together and adopted several hundred animals the first year.  

When the group approached Barbouti last Christmas, he decided to give the group a permanent home at Highland Village.  During the past year, Buster’s Friends’, a rescue group dedicated to helping abandoned and homeless animals in the City of Houston was established and became the Highland Village Adoption Center non-profit organization that has been responsible for adopting out hundreds of cats and dogs. The organization, spearheaded by Deb Gerhardt, oversees the Center, which is manned solely by volunteers.  Highland Village retailers including Michael Kemper, Tootsies, Franco Valobra, Williams-Sonoma, Coldwater Creek and RA Sushi have also been instrumental in providing both in-kind and monetary support. DISH Dog Kaisur was adopted from Michael Kemper Salon 5 years ago in 2004 when they did in salon adoptions.

event chairs, Tena Faust and Tama Lundquist and Buster’s Friends board member Heather FieldsOne weekend in early December 2009, the Highland Village Adoption Center celebrated their third anniversary at an Adoption Center Open House. The well-pawed group enjoyed bourbon cider and treats as they toasted to three years of helping abandoned and homeless animals in the City of Houston find homes. Fifty-one cats and dogs were adopted over the three-day weekend- an all time record for the center.