Ricky came to us from an accidental litter when his owners reached out for help. Thankfully, they made the responsible decision to spay his mom, and while his siblings all found homes, Ricky found something just as special - a place at the Belle's Buds Ranch. 

After the heartbreaking loss of both Goliath and Max in 2024, we knew Georgie needed another LGD companion. And who better than Ricky? He has seamlessly blended into life on the ranch, proving to be a gentle, friendly presence to everyone - humans and new fosters alike. 

Ricky isn't just staying - he's thriving, watching over the land and his pack with the heart of a true guardian. Welcome home, Ricky!

Shellac is a truly remarkable and brave mom who joined our program in June 2024 with her six beautiful puppies. Thanks to her love and care, all her puppies have found amazing homes in upstate New York. However, Shellac's journey has taken a unique and challenging turn. 

During her spay appointment, it was discovered that she has a severe heart murmur, and further X-rays revealed she has a significantly enlarged heart. Additional testing confirmed that she has Chagas disease, a condition that requires ongoing care and management. Despite these challenges, her resilience and gentle spirt shine brightly. She's now a cherished sanctuary dog, where she can live the rest of her life surrounded by love, comfort, and happiness. Shellac embodies strength and grace, and we're honored to provide her with the care and devotion she deserves. 

Cade, our handsome senior boy, has a heartwarming story of resilience and love. He wandered up to a Good Samaritan's farm, skin and bones, completely exhausted. The kind-hearted homeowner reached out for help, and we couldn't say no - who can resist a sweet senior like Cade?

From the moment he arrived, Cade's joyful spirit shone through. Despite a few health scares, including a testicular cancer worry (thankfully not the case) and a lung cancer diagnosis in February 2024 with a prognosis of only a few months, Cade is proving everyone wrong! With the help of Chinese herbal medicine and an abundance of love, he's still going strong and living his best life. 

This food-loving boy will melt your heart with his adorable little hop whenever its treat time - his way of letting you know he's ready and excited! Cade reminds us daily of the power of love, care and resilience. 

Gingerbread, affectionately known as Gingy - or Princess Gingerbread on her sassier days - has truly embraced her royal status! This beautiful girl knows she's a star and isn't afraid to show it. 

Her journey began in 2019 when we rescued her and her sister from a shelter in Brookshire as tiny 8-week old puppies. She was adopted into a loving home and well cared for, but life took a heartbreaking turn in 2023 when her adopter entered hospice care at just 52 years old. Sadly, her adopter's adult children didn't want her, and she found herself back with us. 

At first, the transition was tough, and it took weeks to win her trust again. But now, Gingerbread has claimed Tammy as her person and refuses to let her out of sight. If Tammy disappears behind a closed door, you can count on Ginger to loudly announce exactly where she is! She's come such a long way and now lives her best life as the pampered princess she was born to be. 

Rosemary, a senior German Shepherd, was severely let down by humans in her past. When we rescued her from the Gardenia Shelter, she was skin and bones, a heartbreaking reflection of the neglect she endured. Her previous owners eventually came forward, but it was unanimously decided she would never return to the horrid conditions she had come from. 

Now, Rosemary's story is one of resilience and hope. She has gained weight and is thriving in her wonderful foster home. At last, Rosemary is experiencing the safety, love and care she deserves enjoying her golden years with the dignity every dog should have. 

For Honey Bee, the world has always been a scary place. When we rescued her and her two pups from the Gardenia Shelter in March 2023, she was terrified. On her first day in foster care, she cried relentlessly, trying to climb walls and escape through windows. It was clear she needed time and patience to heal. With the support of Brookshire Vet, Honey Bee was given the space to decompress. Eventually, she found her way back to Julia, where she began learning to trust. Slowly but surely, her sweet personality started to emerge - she discovered her love of toys and found comfort in the company of the other dogs, especially Jetta, another sanctuary pup. After more than a year of careful nurturing, Honey Bee has found safety at the Belle's Buds Ranch. She now runs free off-leash, something that once seemed impossible. If something spooks her, she instinctively runs back to the house, her safe haven. Honey Bee's journey is a testament to the power of patience, love and second chances. 

Starlight is the real-life embodiment of 50 First Dates. Each day with her feels like a fresh start. By the evening, she'll curl up on the couch, showering you with sweet kisses and affection, making you feel like you've truly gained her trust. But come morning, it's as if you're back to square one. Despite her cautious nature around humans, Starlight's joy is undeniable when she's running and playing with the other Sanctuary dogs. She's embraced her life here at Belle's Buds, carving out her special place where she feels safe and content. This is the home she's chosen to shine in. 

Cova was born into Belle's Buds Rescue, part of Wyoming's litter. While all her siblings and her mom found loving homes, Cova stood out as the shy one of the group. She quickly bonded with Tammy but struggled in public settings, especially around strangers and children. Even with Julia, it took months for her to fully warm up - but now she's completely at ease with her. Due to her timid nature and preference for familiar faces, Cova has found her perfect forever home at the Belle's Buds Sanctuary, where she can thrive in a safe and loving environment. 

Lissie was found running loose in Eagle Lake as part of a group of five dogs. While one was very friendly, the others, including Lissie, were quite timid. With some patience and teamwork, they were all safely caught and fostered out. 

Lissie and Lane, the two rat terriers of the group, remained the shyest. Thankfully, Lissie found an incredible foster home with Paige and her family, who have worked wonders helping her come out of her shell. Recognizing that it would take her a long time to adapt to a new environment, Paige and her family decided to make their home Lissie's forever sanctuary. 

Now Lissie is thriving as a dog's dog, bonding deeply with their other Belle's Buds adoptees and living her best life with her new furry family!

Pookie was one of the Cowboy pups rescued in October 2021. Sadley, the litter fell ill with parvo, and Pookie was one of the slower ones to recover. As he stayed on the ranch longer than most puppies, it became harder and harder to imagine letting him go - he was fitting in way too perfectly. At adoption events, Pookie had a habit of hiding under tables, pretending to be anti-social (even though he's far from it!). His quirky personality and perfect fit with the Belle's Buds family sealed the deal - Pookie found his forever home right where he belonged. 

Kage, formerly one of the Midnight Pups litter, quickly found his place at the Belle's Buds Ranch, and it became clear he was here to stay! This goofy, thick boy fit in so seamlessly that letting him go wasn't an option. Even as a puppy, Kage carried an old man attitude, adding to his charm. One of the best things about him? His "slow" zoomies. Watching him lumber around is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! After his five minutes of exercise, he's back to his favorite spot - Tammy's office chair - where he snoozes the day away like the king he is. 

McPuff, also known as Hot Rod, arrived at Belle's Buds in an unexpected twist. While a transporter was picking up a litter of puppies, the finder decided to toss McPuff into the car too! No regrets, though - this boy found his forever home at the Belle's Buds sanctuary. When McPuff first arrived, he couldn't bear weight on one of his hind legs. After a vet visit and X-rays, it was discovered that he had been shot and also had a torn ACL. The best course of action was amputation, and since then, McPuff has thrived as a spirited tripod. He's living proof that losing a limb can't slow down a pup with a zest for life!

Georgie is one of 27 Pyrenees rescued from a hoarding situation in Georgetown, Texas. Belle's Buds teamed up with several other rescues across the state to save them all, taking in five of these gentle giants. Three of them found their place on the Belle's Buds Ranch, doing what they do best - protecting the land as livestock guardian dogs. Thought shy with people, Georgie will still come around and hang out with the crew, especially at feeding time. She is the last of the original trio, as her companions Max and Goliath have since passed, but Georgie proudly carries the torch, continuing her vital role as protector of the ranch. 

Sigh Simon - the untouchable. He has been with us since November 2020, and true to his nature, he still isn't a fan of human touch. But what Simon lacks in affection for people, he makes up for with his love for his fur-siblings. He adores curling up with them, especially his best friend Jetta. Despite his shy demeanor, Simon has a funny way of asserting himself as "big man on campus" when new fosters arrive. For the first few days, he makes sure they know who's boss, but once they've passed his unofficial initiation, he quickly welcomes them as part of the pack. Simon may march to the beat of his own drum, but he's become a vital part of the Belle's Buds family. 

Dax, lovingly nicknamed the "Chi-Devil" came to Belle's Buds from Waller County Animal Countrol and wasted no time choosing Julia as her human. Fiercely loyal, Dax isn't too keen on any of the other dogs getting too close to her person. She's become the ultimate protector of the house, keeping a watchful eye on everything (and everyone) that comes through the door. Dax may be small, but her fiery personality makes her a force to be reckoned with (or laughed at haha!)

Stan the Man is a true survivor! Rescues from Harris County Shelter, he was originally an owner surrender along with his German Shepherd "brother". Both dogs were heartworm positive, intact, and Stan struggled with fear aggression. With love and patience, Stan has blossomed into a friendly and loving dog, though he still struggles with insecurity and anxiety, especially when separated from his safe space. Thankfully, he has found his forever home at the Belle's Buds Sanctuary, where he feels secure and content. And the best news? As of late 2022, Stan is officially heartworm negative thanks to the slow treatment method He's a testament to resilience and the power of love and care. 

Simba's journey began as an owner surrender when his family could no longer care for his medical needs. He had an old injury in his hind end and back, causing him to chew his leg and tail raw. Thankfully, our amazing foster stepped up to take him in, and we supported him through regular laser therapy treatments. With time and care, Simba made an incredible recovery, walking beautifully and living pain-free (which help of pain management meds). He is now thriving in his fospice home with Robbie, where he's surrounded by love and comfort in his golden years. Simba's story is one of healing, gratitude, and second chances. 

Ember's story is one resilience and hope. In June 2019, she was saved by firefighters after her owners abandoned her shortly after setting their apartment on fire. They even told the firefighters to "just throw her in the pool" as her matted hair was burnt! Thankfully, one of the firemen, a friend of Belle's Buds, reached out for help. Ember faced a long road to recovery, including time spent in the hyperbaric chamber at Gulf Coast Vet. Thanks to the dedicated care of Gulf Coast, the Johnson family, and her incredible foster and eventual adopter Amy, Ember is now living her best life. She has become one of Belle's Buds proud ambassadors, showing the world just how far love and support can go. 

Tink's journey began at the Fort Bend County Shelter, where Belle's Buds stepped in to rescue her, initially believing she was pregnant due to her large belly. However, they quickly discovered on the X-rays that the cause wasn't puppies but rather 120 hair ties she had ingested! The surgery also revealed Tink had a hole in her heart, with a life expectancy of anywhere from 6 months to a few years. Despite her challenges, she found her perfect sanctuary with her incredible foster, Ashley, who has given her all the love and care she deserves. 

Jetta is a sweet beautiful, and gentle giant with a personality as unique as her special needs. She moves with a quirky, "free-spirited" gait due to double hip dysplasia, but it doesn't bother her one bit. In fact, her movement is more flexible than anything - like a fun-filled Gumby...or maybe Pokey! We suspect Jetta was overbred and crated before she came to us, as she spooks easily, but she has blossomed in her Belle's Buds Sanctuary home. Her past hasn't slowed her down - she keeps up just fine with the other dogs. In fact, her adventurous spirit often leads her right up a tree in pursuit of squirrels. Jetta's resilience and zest for life make her truly one of a kind. 

After being returned by an adopter, Charm lost all trust in strangers. While we don't know what happened, it became clear that only Tammy and Julia could get close to her. Over time, Charm has slowly begun to warm up to regular visitors, but if someone new comes around, she prefers to keep her distance, watching quietly from the woods until they leave. Of course, not without first alerting everyone with her signature "Charm alarm" bark to announce a newcomer's arrival! It's evident that Charm has found her safe have at the Belle's Buds Ranch, where she feels secure and at peace. This is the place she truly calls home. 

Xena's journey to Belle's Buds began when her owner, a student at Prairie View A&M, abandoned her over holiday break. Left behind, Xena was picked up by animal control, and once her "hold" period was up, BBR knew they had to step in! Little did anyone know just how perfectly Xena would fit in. She quickly became Panda's best friend and found her happily-ever-after at Belles Buds Ranch, where she's now a cherished part of the family. Xena's story is a reminder that even the toughest beginnings can lead to the happiest endings. 

Cayenne is one of the original rescues from Houston's Third Ward, brought home in June 2018, just months after BBR was founded in April. Initially nicknamed "the garbage girl" due to her trash-filled mouth, Cayenne quickly left that chapter behind and settled into her new life with ease. It didn't take long for her to steal Julia's heart, and now Cayenne is a beloved permanent member of the BBR family. Her story is a testament to how far love and care can go in transforming lives. 

Dandy holds a special place in Belle's Buds history as one of the original rescues. Back when Tammy and Julia were just getting started, tehy fostered for other rescues like Houston K911 - Anna, the inspiration behind BBR! In June 2018, Lily and her three flower pups arrived. Two of the puppies were later adopted and transported to Washington, but Lily and Dandy stayed behind - Lily because she was heartworm positive and Dandy as she was still recovering from demodex mange. That's when BBR asked Houston K911 to transfer the pair into their care. Little did anyone know that Dandy was meant to stay forever. She found her calling as Panda and Xena's therapy dog. Dandy's journey is a beautiful reminder of how rescue work often leads to the most unexpected blessings.  

We like to joke that Perro adopted Tammy. He originally roamed the Sugar Hill ranches, going from home to home, but after a few months, he decided Belle's Buds Sanctuary was where he truly belonged. Now known as Prince Perro, he's living the royal life he deserves. With his very own throne  - a cozy bedroom he claimed all to himself - Perro is often found napping in luxury, occasionally enjoying breakfast in bed. It's safe to say this prince has found his perfect kingdom!