Where it all started….
In February 2025, Jennifer ran across a missing dog post on Facebook. Heidi was a 16 year old pup, missing in Dripping Springs. Never having met Heidi or her family, Jennifer worked tirelessly to make signs and flyers to put throughout the area, feeling sure SOMEONE had seen Heidi, knowing, there’s nothing worse than the feeling of a missing pet. Jennifer shared resources with Heidi’s family, including a local pet tracking option with access to thermal drones. It took several days to connect with them. Unfortunately, we were ultimately not able to find Heidi. Jennifer couldn’t shake the thought that if thermal tracking had been available sooner, Heidi may have been found. But thermal drones are NOT cheap! Jennifer has been guilty of an impulse purchase or two, but struggled to justify the cost for the occasional lost pet.
Then the 4th of July floods hit the Texas Hill Country. The stories of missing people over the coming weeks were heart wrenching. Jennifer is a 1998 flood surviver herself and has spent the last 20 years, loading up on supplies and driving into disaster areas across Texas to find where help is needed. Jennifer was in Santa Fe, NM over the 4th of July weekend, but as she drove back to Texas, the feeling was overwhelming. Jennifer immediately started looking for ways to connect, wishing she had made that impulse buy and gotten the thermal drone months ago.
Over the next 3 months, Jennifer facilitated support for flood damaged areas, coordinating volunteer groups, including debris removal, resource coordination, and information gathering to assist residents in the recovery process. She became “infamous” for her pink “boots on the ground.”
With professional experience as a trauma therapist, a personal history with natural disasters, years of experience with rescues and lost pets, and an unwavering desire to help others in times of need, Hill Country Rescue & Recovery was born. We’re committed to serving the community with compassion in times of crisis. We’re dedicated to offering support and resources that restore hope. We strive to protect what matters most – our people, pets and community.