Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Garrison.
Lisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After working with various traditional rescue groups for many years, the founders of Rescued Pets Movement (RPM) realized that the best way to save dogs and cats from euthanasia is to get them out of Houston to other parts of the US where there was actually a demand for homeless animals. By partnering with other reputable rescue groups, we knew we could save thousands of more animals than by adopting them out locally. In September 2013, RPM began operations by transporting at-risk animals from BARC (the City of Houston shelter) to carefully vetted rescue partners in Colorado. Today, we have surpassed 100,000 lives saved and are currently transporting to Colorado, Illinois, and Washington.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Reaching 100,000 lives saved is a testament to the sheer will of the RPM team and our supporters, but the road to that achievement has been paved with many obstacles. In 2024, in particular, RPM endured back-to-back natural disasters. In May, a devastating derecho tore a significant portion off our shelter, leaving the team without power for five days and causing severe structural and water damage. The struggle was compounded by numerous and ongoing insurance approval delays, which meant that when Hurricane Beryl made landfall in July, no repairs had been started.
The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl turned a difficult situation into a dire one. The damage from the derecho had become significantly more severe. Water was actively pouring down in several areas, and the entire main dog kennel area suffered from heavily soaked insulation and failing ceilings. Furthermore, every entrance and door to the building had extensive water flooding in from underneath.
Beyond the physical facility, RPM has the added. logistical challenges of maintaining a transport operation. We drive thousands of miles twice a week. The fleet of vans accumulates mileage at an exhausting rate. Ensuring these vehicles are maintained regularly for safety and reliability and then replaced when they become unreliable is a massive, ongoing expense. These aren’t standard cargo vehicles; each is a Sprinter van specially outfitted with cooling and heating throughout the cab to ensure that the animals remain in a comfortable, climate-controlled environment throughout their journey.
The other challenge is the emotional weight that comes with this mission. Animal rescue is never easy, as the team daily encounters dogs and cats that have survived truly traumatic circumstances. Whether they were found starving on the streets, rescued from abusive owners, or confiscated by the city due to extreme neglect, the condition of these animals is often heartbreaking. Witnessing this suffering firsthand and providing the intensive care required for their recovery takes a significant emotional toll on everyone involved, making the journey to 100,000 lives saved a victory of both logistics and heart.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Tragically, thousands of homeless dogs and cats are needlessly euthanized in the Greater Houston area each year simply because of pet overpopulation. Rescued Pets Movement Inc. is a 501c3 organization that rescues pets from BARC, the city of Houston’s municipal shelter, and gives them a second chance through rehabilitation and transport to forever homes in communities throughout the United States that have a demand for adoptable pets.
Once we rescue an animal from the shelter, they are fully examined and treated for any injuries or illnesses by our in-house clinic. The rescued pets are then placed temporarily with volunteer fosters or at our boarding facility until they are ready to transport. Using our own vans and drivers, RPM transports the rescued pets 2 times a week to our rescue partner organizations throughout the country, where they are quickly adopted into forever homes.
We are most proud of the number of lives we have saved. 100,000 lives saved is an incredible milestone but we have no plans of stopping.
In order to continue our live-saving work we need donations, volunteers, short-term fosters, (often only a couple nights!) people to spread awareness for our mission, and supporters to advocate for stricter laws to stop the cycle.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Networking within our community has helped us bring awareness to the homeless pet crisis. We have done so through neighborhood magazine articles, news segments, and partnerships with local businesses to spread the word about our mission.
Pricing:
- It costs about $500 to rescue, rehabilitate, and transport an animal to one of our rescue partners.
- In 2025, we spent $80,000 on fuel alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rescuedpetsmovement.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescuedpetsmovement/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rescuedpetsmovement
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rescued-pets-movement
- Twitter: https://x.com/RescdPetsMvmnt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVCqzE1tajaKYvtrl_EGEvA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rescuedpetsmovement?lang=en
