(From left: Sophie Batchelor, Grayson Bleu, Happy Happy Hazel, Bette Mid-grr, and Maximus Miller-Trynoski)

Thank you for coming out this gorgeous Saturday morning to celebrate the crowning of El Rey Fido XVII, Happy Happy Hazel and the efforts of the 2019 Royal Court! Over $100,000 was raised for the dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society thanks to the determined efforts of these fundraising dogs and we are exceptionally grateful! We are ecstatic to welcome Sophie, Princess of the Food Bowl; Bette, Duchess of the Chew Toy; Grayson, Duke of the Fire Hydrant; and Maximus, Knight of the Royal Court to 17 years of El Rey Fido Royalty. Thank you again to our sponsors and partners: VCA Animal Hospitals, Adam and Jenny from Magic 105.3, Adi Bear Sweets, and the Sheraton Gunter Hotel for helping us to make this event possible and Rey Feo LXXI, Dr. Sal Barbaro for presenting Happy Happy Hazel with her royal crown. Be sure to catch them as they join their fellow canines during Next Saturday’s Pooch Parade! Viva Fiesta! Viva El Rey Fido!

Photos:
2019 El Rey Fido Coronation
El Rey Fido XVII & Royal Court In the City
View the official ERF Portraits

The 2019 El Rey Fido fundraising competition is officially over! We are happy to announce that the participants raised over $100,000 for the dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society. Leading this group of successful fundraisers and new official Fiesta® Royalty: Happy Happy Hazel (El Rey Fido XVII), Sophie Batchelor (Princess of the Food Bowl), Bette Mid-grr (Duchess of the Chew Toy), Grayson Bleu (Duke of the Fire Hydrant), and Maximus Miller-Trynoski (Knight of the Royal Court). We are very thankful for all who supported everyone’s fundraising efforts and we look forward to Fiesta 2019!

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Christmas season is upon us! Sharing the holiday season with your furry pets means thinking about some important safety tips to keep them safe for Santa! Read more here!

Adopting a pet during the Holiday. Are the Holidays the Right Time To Bring Home a New Pet? Read more here!

Going out of town this Holiday Season? Here are some Holiday boarding tips.

New Year fireworks safety. Celebrate the new year by protecting your pet. Read more here!

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The Big Give is a 24-hour day of giving that will take place during a 24 hour period (usually in the fall). With hundreds of local nonprofits representing over a dozen counties, there is certainly a cause to fit your passion.

Since 1952, the San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) has been providing lifesaving animal care to the pet population in our city.

Click here for more information about the Big Give!

The purpose of this community-wide giving challenge is to increase public awareness of the impact local nonprofits make in addressing our community’s social challenges, bring nonprofits and donors together, expand the idea of online giving, connect people to the causes that move them the most and, of course, make giving FUN. By turning giving into a shared region-wide experience, we can significantly impact the future of San Antonio and make a huge collective difference.

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Why Should I Train My Dog?

• The benefits of dog training can begin at any age, from boisterous puppies to seasoned seniors, your dog can be capable of learning a wide range of behaviors and commands.

• When you take advantage of dog training, it enables your pet to join you in a broad range of activities such as family outings at the dog park, hiking in the hill country, or participating in dog sports.

• Training has been shown to be one of the most effective tools to keeping a dog in his or her forever home: happy pet, happy family, happy home!

• Puppy socialization has been found to be critical to the psychological health of growing dogs. Puppy training classes provide you and your pet the opportunity to positively socialize your pet by exposing them to a variety of people, environments, and other dogs.

• Training classes provide dog owners the skills and knowledge for dealing with common undesirable dog behaviors such as housetraining and destructive chewing.

• Training provides dogs with the basic good manners we all want such as polite greeting when guests arrive, to walking nicely on the leash, to coming when called.

• Training your dog helps them become a fully participating member of the family.

• Participating in training classes strengthens and enriches the relationship shared by people and their canine companions.

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What a glorious celebration we had at the El Rey Fido Coronation on Saturday, April 5 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio! Our emcee, FOX29’s Morning News Anchor and co-host of Fox News First, Monica Taylor addressed the crowd and graciously introduced our 2014 El Rey Fido Court for all to see. One by one they adorned the stage in their gorgeous Grr-robes ready to take on their ambassador role for the SAHS and our El Rey Fido XII was crowned by 2014 Rey Feo, Jimmy Green. With food and refreshments on hand provided by the GHSA, canine companions and their owners in the Fiesta mood and great entertainment from the Danzavida De San Antonio Dance Company, all who attended truly enjoyed their morning with royalty!

Our ERF Coronation was definitely a sight to see! If you think your canine companion is royal, join the 2015 ERF Fundraising Competition on Monday, October 27!

We are saddened to share that Duncan, our reigning Duke of the Ever-Present Fire Hydrant, passed away in September.  He was not only a big, handsome and loving Great Dane, but also a goofy guy with a heart of gold.  Named after Tim Duncan from the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan was known as a gentle giant who played a vital role in helping to raise over $16,000 for the SAHS pets.  We’d like to thank the Havelka family for giving us the opportunity to know the Royal Duncan.

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El Rey Fido 2015 court members from left to right: Ruby, El Rey Fido XIII; Ethel, Princess of the Perpetual Food Bowl; Bellin, Duke of the In-Destructible Chew Toy; Arleigh, Duchess of the Ever-Present Fire Hydrant; and Dakota, Knight of the Royal Court.

Thanks to everyone who attended our 13th annual El Rey Fido Coronation and stay tuned to see ERF XIII and the Royal Court on their “El Rey Fido In The City” tour!!!  You all helped to make this historic day one to remember!!!

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El Rey Fido 2016 court members from left to right: Abby, Duchess of the Fire Hydrant; Sheila, Princess of the Food Bowl; Scout, El Rey Fido XIV; Snow White, Duchess of the Chew Toy; and Braille, Knight of the Royal Court.

In spite of the weather, this year’s El Rey Fido XIV & Royal Court graced the stage with their royal paws and were honored for their awesome fundraising efforts during this year’s El Rey Fido Coronation.

This year’s El Rey Fido XIV is Scout, a 10-year-old Labrador Retriever mix. His royal court consists of Princess Sheila, a 3-year-old Chinese Shar-Pei/Pit Bull Terrier mix; Duchess Snow White, a 6-year-old Shetland Sheepdog; Duchess Abby, a 1 1/2-year-old Chihuahua/Dachshund mix; and Knight of the Royal Court, Braille, a 6-year-old Dalmatian mix. Together, they helped raise over $35,000 for the pets at the San Antonio Humane Society!

Although the doggie bowls have been emptied and the dancers have left the stage, El Rey Fido XIV and his Royal Court will continue their reign over San Antonio throughout the rest of Fiesta® and through the remainder of the year. Catch these champions of animal advocacy at the Texas Cavalier’s River Parade Monday night and walking the Fiesta Pooch Parade Saturday, April 23.

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Pictured here is our 2017 El Rey Fido XV and Royal Court (from left to right): Duke of the Chew Toy, Andy Wheeler; Knight of the Royal Court, Levi Aguirre; Princess of the Food Bowl, Hope Elizabeth; Duchess of the Fire Hydrant, Sammie Green; and El Rey Fido XV, Olivia Stein;

The weather may have driven us indoors, but it didn’t stop our Royal Pooches from storming through the crowds to receive their honor as El Rey Fido XV and the 2017 Royal Court. Over $63,000 was raised for the dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society thanks to the determined efforts of these fundraising dogs and we are exceptionally grateful! We are ecstatic to welcome Olivia, El Rey Fido XV; Hope, Princess of the Food Bowl; Andy, Duke of the Chew Toy; Sammie, Duchess of the Fire Hydrant; and Levi, Knight of the Royal Court to 15 years of El Rey Fido Royalty.

Thank you again to our sponsors: Grand Hyatt SA, VCA Animal Hospitals, Mr. W Fireworks, and PetCo for helping us to make this event possible and Rey Feo LXIX Fred Reyes for presenting El Rey Fido XV with her royal crown. Also a big thank you to Adam and Jenny in the Morning at Magic105.3 for presenting our Coronation!

Be sure to follow El Rey Fido XV and her Royal Court as they continue their media tour through San Antonio and catch them as they join their fellow canines during Next Saturday’s Pooch Parade. Viva Fiesta! Viva El Rey Fido!

Photos: El Rey Fido XV Coronation

Photos: Fitting of the Grrobes Photos

Video: Kens 5 El Rey Fido Coronation, Kens 5 El Rey Fido Crown

Congratulations to our 2017 King of the Kitty Cottage, Foster! Foster earned his title by winning our first ever Purr-fectly Fiesta feline photo contest that took place this past spring. We asked the public to submit a photo of how their cats celebrate Fiesta, and the winner was selected by our 2017 El Rey Fido and the Royal Court. Today his mom, Natalie, was first to view his purr-fect and royal poster that will hang in our Kitty Cottage throughout his reigning year. Foster was also awarded a kitty gift basket which Natalie took home for the kitty king to enjoy. Foster has set the stage for any future Fiesta photo contests, and you can read all about his story when you visit us and our adoptable felines.

Thanks to Renee Spade Photography for the incredible portrait of Foster!

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We had a fantastic El Rey Fido XVI Coronation (an official Fiesta® event) at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio! This year’s El Rey Fido fundraising competition was a close and exciting one! We are overjoyed by the involvement of all our canine contestants and their human companions. In total, all 2018 participants raised over $50,000 for the dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society! 2018 El Rey Fido XVI, Jerry Rosenthal and Royal Court: Princess of the Food Bowl, Alexandra Hamilton; Duchess of the Chew Toy, Ellie Wheeler; Duke of the Fire Hydrant, Sam; Knight of the Royal Court, Squish.

Thank you again to our sponsors: Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio, and VCA Animal Hospitals for helping us to make this event possible, and Rey Feo LXX Kenneth Flores for presenting El Rey Fido XVI with his royal crown. A big thanks to Adam and Jenny at MAGIC 105.3 for presenting the El Rey Fido Coronation, and to Danzavida De San Antonio! Fiesta San Antonio

Photos
Facebook album El Rey Fido XVI Coronation – 2018
View the official ERF Portraits
 

Pictured here is our 2018 El Rey Fido XVI, Jerry Rosenthal (far right) and Royal Court: Princess of the Food Bowl, Alexandra Hamilton; Duchess of the Chew Toy, Ellie Wheeler; Duke of the Fire Hydrant, Sam; Knight of the Royal Court, Squish.

 Purr-fectly Fiesta Photo Contest

Royalty comes in all shapes, sizes… and species! Fiesta 2018 marked the San Antonio Humane Society’s second annual feline photo contest, Purr-fectly Fiesta, in which the city’s most festive felines squared off online to be crowned King/Queen of the Kitty Cottage.

Lucius was discovered by his mom, Stephanie, on the San Antonio Humane Society Facebook page and she adopted him that same day. He was her first special needs cat. His vision was poor due to multiple birth defects and several consultations with multiple veterinarians suggested his quality of life would be poor. But Stephanie was determined to never give up on Lucius: he was happy, he wanted to live, and he never acted as though he was different than any other cat. Lucius celebrated his eighth birthday in July of 2018. His mom describes him as the most affectionate, loyal, and active cat of her life, and admits he has taught her many things: “Special needs animal do not consider themselves handicapped… they adapt to life with what they have, not what they lack.” Lucius and his mom now spend their days sharing his life online @LifeWithLucius in the hopes that more special needs animals may be given more chances, more second glances, and more consideration for adoption. Read more about Lucius.

Appreciations to Renee Spade Photography for donating her services and providing a wonderful portrait for his royal whiskered highness.

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