Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerrie Peterson.
Hi Kerrie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our Mission is to collaborate with local municipalities and community groups, find homes for abandoned and neglected pets and alleviate overcrowding in our shelters.
Our vision is to work with the community to create a support system for local rescues, volunteers, business partners, veterinary practices and individual donors to create alternatives to overcrowded shelters and unnecessary euthanization, while educating the public and creating access to low cost spay neuter programs.
In 2021, with all the kids out of the house, Pete and I returned to my family’s home on 10 acres in New Braunfels, a place we’ve cherished for decades.
We’ve been active in dog rescue for over 20 years as volunteers, and soon after settling here, we began working with rescues in New Braunfels and Canyon Lake. It didn’t take long to see the overwhelming challenges local shelters were facing—severe overcrowding and a constant stream of dumped and surrendered dogs.
In 2022, we founded Trail’s End Animal Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a simple mission: get adoptable dogs out of shelters and into home environments where they’d have the best chance of finding a loving family.
Now, in 2025, we are facing the most challenging year we’ve ever seen in rescue. Many shelters have stopped accepting pets altogether. Animal Control agencies have no space for the animals they pick up. Historically “no-kill” shelters are being forced to euthanize for space.
Our community’s rapid growth has been matched by an unprecedented surge in stray, dumped, and abandoned animals. With few affordable spay/neuter options available, the result is an exploding homeless pet population—and a desperate need for help.
We have taken in Goats, Pigs, Ducks and Rabbits, although our main focus is dogs. in 2024 we:
-Rescued 108 animals from neglect, abuse, or abandonment.
-Found loving forever homes for 99 of them.
-Said goodbye to Scarlet and Maggie who were humanely euthanized when their suffering from trauma, abuse and neglect was just too much. We take comfort in knowing they experienced love and security during their time with us.
-Spayed or neutered 42 dogs
in 2025 we realize we cannot continue operating as we have and must work on the underlying problem of access to low cost spay and neuter services to reduce the number of unwanted dogs. While we are still accepting dogs when we have room, (and sometimes when we don’t,) We are turning our focus to try and work with the community, local and county municipalities to create more access to preventative reproductive care for dogs and the education of the public.
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?
Rarely is the rescue road a smooth one. Dogs come in with injuries, trauma, worms, parasites, mange, cancer, blind, deaf……
They are fearful, reactive, shy, clever, escape artists, goofy and lovable. There is never enough space, never enough money, enough volunteers, time, foster homes. And there is always SO MUCH POOP.
It’s always a balancing act. Calls and emails come in every day, multiple times a day, stray dogs, dumped puppies, lost my job, gotta move, injured dog, pregnant dog, there’s nowhere for these dogs to go. All the shelters are full, everywhere. Even traditionally no-kill shelters are being forced to euthanize, and adoptions are at record lows. People are nervous about the economy, jobs, the cost of housing, they are reluctant to take on more responsibility. We used to get 2 to 3 adoptions a week, now were lucky to get one or 2 a month.
Of course there are wins, the dogs that seem to be unadoptable who find a home, the sick ones that live, The owners who find their lost baby, But the in between times are tough
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a small independent rescue. We primarily take in dogs, but have taken in goats, ducks, rabbits, pigs and tortoises. We don’t work with cats, we just don’t have the facilities for them. Wes are so blessed to have inherited my families 10 acres here in the beautiful Hill Country. It gives us the space for the dogs to run and play
We take a family approach to our wards. During the day, larger dogs have yards to play in, smaller dogs can go in or out of the house. All the dogs sleep in crates inside at night. We try to give every dog individual time, family time, playtime, TV time. We try to keep the number of dogs under 15 at all times, although we have gone over that number a few times due to emergency situations at the shelters such as hoarding or extensive dumping.
If someone calls with an injured stray dog, we will always make sure that dogs gets to the vet ASAP. All the dogs we take in vet checked by a vet, fully vaccinated, Spayed & Neutered if they are old enough and if a dog is adopted before spay or neuter/ we require a deposit that the adopter can get back once they show proof of the procedure.
We have the “Lifers,” every rescue does; The ones that are too old or too damaged, too annoying or too aggressive.
We have the puppies who age out, that are so hard to find homes for.
We try to be out there in the community as much as possible. We partner with business such as the Villa in Gruene and local wineries for adoption and education events. We work with schools and universities offering volunteer opportunities and puppies on campus through the counseling and mental health departments. We participate in festivals and celebrations all around the area promoting adoptions and responsible pet ownership.
How do you think about happiness?
Spending time with my family. Getting all the 6 kids together, which is rare, they’re all grown now. Talking to at least one of them every day! Playing with my grand daughter. Sitting on the porch swing with my husband, Pete, watching the dogs play.
At night when everyone is put up, knowing everyone is settled and safe.
When the phone rings and it’s someone offering to volunteer or donate!
Pricing:
- Adoption fees vary depending on the dog
- Deposit is required for animals not yet Spayed.Neutered
- Fostering costs nothing! We provide everything
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trailsendtexas.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailsendtx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trailsendtexas
