Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Since its founding in 2013, Yaqui Animal Rescue has served as a lifeline for abandoned, injured, and abused animals in South Texas. Located on 80 acres in Sullivan City, the nonprofit cares for about 250 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, cows, and pigs, while also coordinating foster placements.
“We are very successful in finding adoptions outside of Texas,” said Becca Arizmendi-Chavez, Chief Operations Officer of Yaqui Animal Rescue. “We actually just transported a dog to Canada, where we found an amazing home for her. And sometimes that’s what we have to do because Texas is just so heavily overrun with dogs and cats.”
The challenge locally, Arizmendi-Chavez explained, is that many people overlook the kinds of animals most commonly available for adoption. “A lot of the dogs we have at the ranch have been there for years. They’re not the small, fluffy designer dogs’ families usually envision,” she said. “They’re mutts—pit bull mixes, shepherd mixes—great dogs, but harder to place because people can just walk outside and find a stray in their neighborhood.”
Despite these challenges, Yaqui Animal Rescue remains committed to promoting adoption instead of breeding or purchasing. The organization lists available animals on its website and social media platforms. “We have all of our animals listed for adoption on yakianimalrescue.com, and we update our Facebook and Instagram regularly,” Arizmendi-Chavez said.
By sharing stories of successful adoptions, including those as far as Canada, Yaqui Animal Rescue highlights both the urgent overpopulation problem in Texas and the life-changing opportunities that come with adoption. “They’re great animals,” Arizmendi-Chavez said. “They just need someone to give them a chance.”
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