Our Puppies — The Family We Didn't Know We Were Building

Buddy is a Mountain Cur with a story that would break your heart — and then put it right back together again. Found abandoned on a roadside and struck by a vehicle, we adopted him from a rescuer and caregiver who could no longer meet his needs. He likely endured abuse before finding his way to safety, and while he will soon undergo leg surgery to address injuries from that accident, you would never know anything had ever slowed him down. Today, Buddy receives the veterinary care, proper nutrition, and unconditional love he has always deserved — and he has repaid that trust tenfold. He loves to shake hands, give hugs, and greet everyone he meets with a personality as big as the great state of Texas. As for his standing on the ranch, there is no debate — Buddy is the undisputed King of the Hill at Butterfly Ranch. He surveys his domain with confidence and swagger, and he knows with absolute certainty that this is his home. We couldn't agree more, and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

Benny is an Australian Cattle Dog — a heeler — with a story that is entirely his own. One evening, out of nowhere, he simply appeared at the ranch, fell into step alongside our other dogs, and walked right into our home, as if he had always been here and we just hadn't noticed yet. Whether he was lost or abandoned, we may never know. What we do know is that Benny chose us — which means in the truest sense of the word, he rescued us, not the other way around. With no microchip to trace his past, we stepped in with the veterinary care he needed and officially welcomed him into the family, which he had already joined on his own terms. Benny's favorite pursuits are frisbee and conversation — and make no mistake, this boy has a lot to say, loudly and very enthusiastically. His personality is boundless and his energy is seemingly inexhaustible. As for the cattle dog part of his heritage — well, Benny is indeed a nipper, and we are working on it. Time will tell, and we have a feeling Benny is going to be just fine. 

Lady is an Australian Kelpie mix with a heartwarming story. Dumped along the  interstate, she found her way to a local gas station where she settled in and stayed for several days while the community rallied around her — making sure she was fed and cared for while word spread that she needed a home. When we heard that no one had stepped forward we went to meet her and fell in love. Lady came home with us and made herself completely at home at Butterfly Ranch as if she knew us all along. She brings boundless energy and a gift for mischief — most notably a self-taught talent for opening doors, a skill she has perfected with impressive dedication, even if the closing part remains a work in progress. She is simply a big pup who loves to play, explore, and keep everyone on their toes. Lady will soon undergo knee surgery to repair a torn tendon, but she is in excellent hands with our veterinarian — and like every animal who calls Butterfly Ranch home, she will receive the very best care and love we can give her.  

Buford is a Pit Bull–Basset Hound mix and proud companion to Holly's son Josh, who lives in our guesthouse. After the heartbreaking loss of his beloved dog Maggie, Josh set out to find a new companion and zeroed in on a promising candidate at the Waco animal shelter. We made the drive together — and in the way that only the best shelter stories go, Josh walked out with not one dog, but two. Buford and Lilly had arrived at the shelter together, and as far as anyone was concerned, they were leaving together too. Some pairs just can't be separated, and these two were clearly one of them. Buford has settled into life at Butterfly Ranch and on the road with Josh as though he was born for exactly this — easygoing, loyal, and completely unflappable, the ultimate travel companion for wherever the next adventure leads. He carries the gentle, laid-back soul that only a Pit Bull–Basset Hound mix could produce, and Josh couldn't have found a better fit if he had tried. Adopt a dog — don't buy one!

Lilly is a Redbone–Beagle–Walker Hound mix who arrived at Butterfly Ranch alongside her inseparable companion Buford, both of them coming home from the Waco animal shelter on the same unforgettable day. When Josh went to meet Buford, he couldn't help but notice this sweet girl staying close by his side — and when shelter staff explained that the two had come in together, the decision was already made before anyone said a word. He simply couldn't separate them, and honestly, why would he? It was the only right answer. Lilly has proven to be one of the sweetest, most gentle souls on the ranch, settling into life at Butterfly Ranch with a quiet grace and contentment that tells you she knows exactly where she belongs. Together with Buford, she has become a constant and devoted presence in Josh's daily life — riding along as he goes about his business, loyal and perfectly at ease as long as her people are nearby. Lilly doesn't ask for much. She just wants to be close to those she loves.

Lil' Bit is a small Terrier mix with a story that makes you catch your breath — rescued as a puppy from the Arlington Animal Shelter on the very day she was scheduled to be euthanized, at just six months old. Despite her young age, she had already spent considerable time in the shelter system, waiting for someone to come. And when that day finally arrived, she walked through the door of her new home and never looked back. Today, Lil' Bit is the unabashedly spoiled child of Butterfly Ranch, and she knows it — and we wouldn't change a single thing about that. She is playful and full of personality, and if you tell her to "go find your monkey," she will run off and return proudly with any toy, ready to play for as long as you'll have her. At nearly seven years old now, she has fully and joyfully embraced ranch life, spending her days running freely and exploring every corner of her sanctuary with pure, uninhibited happiness. She was always meant to live exactly like this — and Butterfly Ranch was always meant to be hers. 

LuLu is a Chihuahua and our little bundle of pure joy — eleven years old and not a sign of slowing down. She runs, she plays, and she approaches every single day with the enthusiasm of a pup half her age. LuLu came to Butterfly Ranch alongside Lil' Bit when we made the move to the country, and both girls have taken to ranch life as though they were born here. She is overwhelmingly sweet-natured and full of love — most of the time. Because LuLu also has her moments, and that is putting it mildly. She loves her treats — "cookies" — absolutely no apologies and zero interest in sharing. Fiercely territorial and fully aware of her own authority, LuLu will let anyone know exactly where her boundaries are — and she means it. Even Buddy, the undisputed King, gives her respect. Some battles simply aren't worth fighting, and the wise dogs figure that out quickly. LuLu may be the smallest dog on the ranch, but she's the one who actually owns it, and runs it... and don't you forget it!

Maggie came to us the way a lot of second chances do — quietly, and just in time. Her previous owner suffered a double amputation and could no longer care for her. A friend of his posted her photo on Facebook, offering her for free. The alternative, if no one came forward, was being euthanized. We didn’t hesitate. We met at a local tennis court. Maggie made up her mind about us before we’d even finished making up ours about her. She was ours before we left the parking lot. She had a gift for loving people. For years, she worked the crowd at the estate sales that Holly and Josh ran in Connecticut as a greeter. She had that quality about her. Some dogs tolerate people, but Maggie loved them. She never wanted to be far from her people. Some call that separation anxiety, we just called it loyalty. She’d been left behind once and that wasn’t going to happen again. Maggie came to Texas a couple of times to visit Matt but passed away before she made it to Butterfly Ranch. Her spirit is here though. We miss her badly and she has a special place in our hearts.

At Butterfly Ranch, you never quite know who might show up next — it's become our way of life here.