Heidi Ann
2020 was a hard year for everyone but it hit especially hard when I lost my fur baby Heidi Ann that year. I was a foster fail through CTDR and she touched my life in such a special way, I will be forever grateful not only to the staff of CTDR but to Heidi Ann as well. It was obvious when I got her, that she needed extra love and care but that never destroyed her spirit. She was only with me a year but in that time she showed me what true and unconditional love was and she was always by my side. When I left the house, even for a few minutes, she stayed by the door, eagerly awaiting my return. She insisted that her bed be right next to me at all times and then she would burrow down under the comforter as much as possible. I would see her peek out and check every once in a while to make sure I was still by her side. She loved me and I loved her with all my heart. I miss her every day. I know she is in a better place, playing, is healthy and happy and awaiting my return in the future. I love you dearly and miss you Heidi Ann!!

Sussy
Good Morning, We are sad to share that our sweet Fancy (our given name, she was known as Sussy when she joined our family) passed away this past Saturday snuggled in our arms. She struggled with epilepsy which we managed with her vet and unfortunately the medication took a toll on her kidneys which put her in kidney failure. She enriched our lives in countless ways. Mark and I adopted her while we were still dating and she has been by our side through engagement, marriage, buying our first home, and the birth of our 2 sons. She was so loved by all who met her. We took her on many road trips, even to California! She was happiest snuggling with us in blankets, riding in the car and laying in the sun. When our kids were born she loved them too, giving them kisses and snuggles and showing them patience as their little hands learned to be gentle with her. She was such a loving and sweet soul and we will miss her dearly. We want to extend our sincere thanks to CTDR for bringing her into our lives and taking such good care of her before we adopted her. I have included a bunch of photos of her journey with us to share the joy she brought our family.

Shade
We adopted Shade (our given name) in Spring 2009 from CTDR. He was approximately one year old then. We had been searching for the right family dog for our then 8-year-old son. We drove 160 miles to meet Shade with his foster parent at a local park and my son immediately fell in love with Shade; my son named him Shade as he had a "shadow" of darker hair on his back. We knew we had a wonderful dog once we saw the foster parent crying when we said that we were interested in adopting Shade. Shade truly was a wonderful companion to our teenage son through his teen years, and aided our teenage son to navigate the teen years with confidence and love, with a constant loving companion that only a pet can provide. Once the son went to college, Shade was more of a companion to me (Mom), and was especially appreciated for his companionship during the 2 tough Covid years. He passed away today, and I am still weeping. As life would have it, our son came home from college this past weekend for a visit from across the country, somewhat unexpected and rare, and spent some time with Shade. Shade passed away 4 days later. Shade’s health had been deteriorating, but hubby and I wondered if Shade was “waiting” for his beloved (our son) to say “goodbye” and then he could pass. We will always miss Shade. With love, Mom.

Dollie
It is with a heavy heart that I share my sweet rescue Dollie Sue crossed over the rainbow bridge on December 28, 2022. She came to me in 2019 battered and mistreated. I had the privilege to foster her with Central Texas Dachshund Rescue. I witnessed her transform from a sad, lifeless dog to a happy, vibrant girl and after several months with me, Dollie made me a “foster fail” in every way. I am so blessed to have had her for 4 years and was able to give her a life of love and happiness she so deserved. Needless to say, my heart is broken and my life has been forever changed. Fly high my sweet Dollie Sue! ❤️. You were one of the best!!

Churro
Churro Ted Rios-Burns passed away peacefully Monday afternoon surrounded by his loving family. He was 15 years old. Churro was adopted by his mom, Jen, in 2008 from the Central Texas Dachshund Rescue (CTDR). He had been turned into CTDR after being found on the side of the road in Waco where he had been hit by a car. A loving foster family took him in and nursed him to health before Jen and Mike adopted him and gave him the loving forever home he deserved. Churro’s small stature didn’t stop him from getting into things, challenging any dog larger than him, and being a fierce protector to his mom, and his brother, Elliot. He was an incredibly strong and determined dog, having endured two serious back surgeries due to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) — a spinal disorder that follows from the herniating of an intervertebral disc. This disorder, and the surgeries to treat it, left his back legs paralyzed for several months and required lots of physical therapy to help get him back on all four legs. As he approached everything in life, Churro never gave up when it came to his recovery and always had “The Eye of the Tiger.” In his younger years, Churro raced in the annual Buda Weiner Dog Races, and even made it to the semi-finals one year. Jen was always so proud of him making it to “The Show.” Later in life, after his retirement from racing, Churro continued to attend the event as a spectator, sometimes wearing his gold medal to show the next generation of racing wieners what a true champion looks like. Churro loved to cuddle with his mom and watch true crime shows with her. He also enjoyed playing with his beloved blue toy and licking his best buddy Brian’s hands. To Churro, nobody had tastier hands than Brian. Churro’s mom will miss the cuddles, the dinnertime dances they shared, and tucking him in at night. He was a stinker at times, but an absolute joy to his family, and to the many friends and admirers who enjoyed Jen’s #churrothedog posts on social media. Jen’s Churro appreciation posts were quite popular because let’s face it, Churro was a cutie. Churro is survived by his mom, Jen, his brother, Elliot, his best buddy, Brian, and his dad, Mike. He is also fondly remembered by many loving friends and family. We are certain he will be greeted in Heaven with open arms by his grandmother, Melinda, and his middle-namesake, Ted Ponton, a dear family friend of Jen’s who graciously helped to fund his second back surgery. Donations in Churro’s honor can be made to the Central Texas Dachshund Rescue (www.ctdr.org). Or, if you’d prefer, you can Venmo Jen $5 to help her place a bucket of tennis balls in Churro’s honor at the Buda City Park, his old racing stomping grounds.