Wintering in Southern Texas

For the past two months we have been in Mission, Texas, enjoying the warm weather (sometimes) and meeting up with our fellow RVing friends.  That is one of the highlights of being an RVer, we get to see friends and meet new friends each year we come down here.

We stay at Bentsen Palm RV Resort which is near the Rio Grande River and right next door to the Bentsen Palm State Park and the National Birding Center.  The area is beautiful and peaceful and one of our favorite RVing places.  This year, as in the past, we hosted the Annual Pet Parade to earn money for the Cinderella Pet Rescue based in Mission, Texas.  A no-kill shelter, they survive mostly on donations to feed, house, and maintain 70 plus dogs, some cats, several horses and a few donkeys.  Cinderella Pet Rescue is an act of love started and maintained by one person, Suzanne Herzing, who has given over her life to helping lost, abandoned, abused, and neglected animals.  The Pet Parade is our opportunity to help her cause.

The weather here has been up and down like most of the nation.  Many warm days and then several rainy, cold days so it is hard to prepare any type of outdoor event.  We spent most of January and the first week of February getting ready for the event.  Since we have to book the palapa a year early for our event we find ourselves at the mercy of the weather.  This year the days leading up to the event were sunny and nice but the forecast for Friday, February 8th, was ominous.   Most of the weather apps predicted a cold, windy, and rainy day.  My app, however, said it would be cold but the rain percentage was minimal so everyone hoped my app was right but most doubted it.  As we neared the event date I started making bets with our fellow Rvers.  If it didn't rain they had to throw an additional $5 into the Cinderella Pet Parade fund.  We never did really formalize what the payoff would be if I was wrong. Lol

Brett and I were blessed with wonderful RVers on the planning committee who generously gave of their time and talents to make the parade a success.  While they were doing that work we went out to the local vendors asking for donations of money or gift items to raffle off during the event.  Our begging was successful with restaurant discount cards, merchandise gift cards, tools from the local hardware stores, baked items, hand-crafted gifts, and many other items.  The whole event takes a good deal of time to prepare and coordinate for everyone involved.   

The Captain making sure everything is ready.

Our day started out with everyone bundling up for the cold but at least it wasn't raining and we knew the pups would enjoy the cooler weather.  We started setting up in the outdoor palapa at 10:00AM with the event to begin at noon but we knew the crowd would come earlier as they did in previous years.   

Everyone was ready for the cool weather.

Our goal was to make $5,000 this year because we had two anonymous donors who said they would match the proceeds as long as we hit the $5k mark.  What a challenge!

  

We also sold raffle tickets that the purchaser could drop into a bag in the hopes of winning a gift they liked.

This beautiful wood table was handcrafted by one of our fellow Rvers who winter here each year.  Needless to say, it brought in the most money.

Our generous sponsors were listed on the board.

We served hot dogs and brats, chips, and beer and soft drinks.  Dessert was a bake sale item.  Nothing was free but everyone joined in and the weather gave them all a good appetite.

Cinderella Pet Rescue showed up in their bus with several of their adoptable dogs.  

Suzanne Herzing, the founder of Cinderella Pet Rescue, walked through the crowd with one of her adoptable dogs. 

Throughout the event the Captain kept the crowd going with words of encouragement, anecdotes, and the great work that Cinderella Pet Rescue does for the dogs.

Brett's sister, Deb, kept track of the money earned and updated the chart.  Our daughter, Beth, was here, too, but she was busy taking pictures of all the pups.  The two of them flew in from the Carolinas  just to help with this event.  They also came for the warm weather........

Say what?

This picture was me talking to Deb and believe me it was cold that day.  But luckily no rain so I was able to collect on the the bets I had made earlier in the week.  

We had big dogs and little dogs, rescue dogs and pedigrees, fancy dog costumes and others just walking in the parade with their owners.  It was a grand time and no one complained about the nasty weather. 

This is Scottie, a dog we fostered last year who was lost and sick and needed a home.  He was adopted by good friends, Terry and Bev, and now lives in British Columbia. In the winter they come down to the Rio Grande Valley.

This big boy's name is Winston.

This wonderful dog is named Miles and he can retrieve and hold 3 tennis balls in his mouth at one time.  It is quite a sight to see. 

Bob and Molly who are also from Canada.

This sweet pup is named Rocky, with his 'dad' Jim, and they were visiting from North Dakota.  

A perfect costume for Valentine's Day. 

The parade finished and the table items were raffled off and it was very near the end of our event and we had made almost $4,700.  The Captain, after talking for nearly two hours, announced the dollar amount and asked for a little more money so we could hit our goal and get the 2 for 1 match.  People started coming up and handing overs 20's and 50's and even 100 dollar bills and we went over the top.  Everyone cheered !!!

When it was all said and done, with the matches included, we made $16,500 for Cinderella Pet Rescue.  What a day! And what a great group of people who braved several hours in the cold to help meet the goal. 

The week after the pet parade we took it easy and just enjoyed the rest of the week with Deb and Beth.  We took them to Pregreso, Mexico, to have lunch and check out the town.  We also knew Deb was looking for another dog to replace the older girl she had lost a few months before.  

Wes had been recently found and was taken to Cinderella Pet Rescue.  He was a mess.  All dirty with knotted fur and he looked as though he hadn't been taken care of for quite some time. After taking him to the vet for neutering, getting his shots, and starting him on doxycycline because he had heartworm, he was given a much needed grooming and turned into a handsome prince.

Well that little prince got to fly back to North Carolina with Deb and is now living the good life with her and a senior Beagle named Chester.  Fairy tails do come true!

The remainder of our stay in Mission was quiet and we were able to spend time with all our friends.  The weather was up and down like most of the country and before you know it the time had come to head home. 

We will be bringing back three dogs from Cinderella Pet Rescue and entering into our South Carolina dog rescue called Dog4U.  They will then be transported to Massachusetts and forever homes.  

It will be interesting driving home with five dogs in the rig.  Lucy and Desi have no idea what is coming up very soon.  More to follow as we head back home.  Peace!