(This article was written by Beth Marie Cantu Ensign and was featured in the September 2024 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
In 2010, while working at a spay and neuter clinic in Brownsville, Donja Rodriguez couldn’t ignore the heartbreaking scenes unfolding next door at the animal shelter. She often watched as dogs were led to be euthanized, a sight that truly struck a deep chord within her. Determined to make a difference, Donja began taking these dogs to PetSmart in hopes of finding them loving homes. Her efforts quickly caught the attention of the shelter staff, who began affectionately referring to the animals she saved as “Donja’s Dogs.”
Donja Rodriguez and her friend and associate Wendy Conger have become the driving forces behind Donja’s Dogs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals from kill shelters and unfortunate home situations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
In 2012, Donja’s Dogs officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Together, Donja and Wendy have spent over a decade tirelessly working to save the lives of animals in need. The organization’s mission is straightforward yet vital: to provide animals with the care they need to become adoptable. “We get them spayed and neutered, all their vaccines. If they test positive for heartworms, we treat them,” Donja explains. Once the animals are ready, they’re either brought to PetSmart for adoption or transported out of the RGV to areas where they stand a better chance of finding their forever family. “[The organization] was founded for just dogs, but about four years ago we started adding cats,” Wendy states. This shift reflects the organization’s growth and continued commitment to the welfare of all animals in the region.
One of the most significant moments in the history of Donja’s Dogs came with Phoenix, a dog who was dumped at a Brownsville dog park, severely burned. The media picked up on the story, and Donja’s Dogs quickly stepped in to help. “It took us about six months for him to recover from those wounds. And I would say that we got justice for him because the man who owned him, the man who dumped him, was not allowed to get him back,” Donja recalls. “He changed the way people see abandoned animals in the Valley.” Wendy adds, “He was our first really public case. We’ve had many, but he was the first one where news people got involved. It really was a big thing.”
However, the success of Donja’s Dogs also brings challenges, with money and space at the forefront. “We can only help so many as we have fosters for. The more fosters we have, the more dogs we can save,” Donja notes. Wendy further elaborates on the financial strain, adding, “It costs a lot of money! We provide everything to the [pet’s foster parents], so whatever the [animal] needs, whether it be a bowl or blankets or a crate for them or leashes… If the animal sneezes and they think something may be wrong with it, we get them in the vet within 24 hours. So everything is covered. We do all of that stuff. It’s very expensive.” And Donja’s Dogs relies entirely on donations and adoption fees to keep themselves afloat.
When asked how the community of Harlingen can help Donja’s Dogs support their mission, both Donja and Wendy offer one suggestion: foster. “If you can’t foster, donate,” Donja urges. “And if you can’t donate, volunteer,” adds Wendy. “If you don’t want to work with animals, maybe you’re good at fundraising or have good ideas or grant writing or planning events—everybody is good at something.” With Donja and Wendy, every “something” is deeply valued and never goes underappreciated.
Looking to the future, Donja and Wendy have set ambitious goals for Donja’s Dogs. Their ultimate dream is to open their own adoption center and secure a grant to help low-income households by establishing a low-cost clinic where all animals and pet parents can get the help they need.
At the heart of Donja’s Dogs is a simple yet profound belief: that every animal deserves a chance to be happy, healthy, and loved. Donja and Wendy’s work is a true labor of love, driven by a deep commitment to the animals who have no voice of their own. Moving forward, the hearts of the volunteers at Donja’s Dogs are filled with hope, knowing that with the continued support of their community, they can keep making a difference, one waggly tail and paw print at a time.
If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Donja’s Dogs via email at donjasdogs@gmail.com or via Facebook.
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