Harley’s Hounds: Finding Homes and Fostering Love

(This article was written by Beth Marie Cantu Ensign and was featured in the August 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

Photo courtesy of Jess Cantu.

When Jessica “Jess” Cantu and her husband lost their beloved dog Harley after nearly 13 years together, they knew they needed to honor his memory. “He was with us through everything—dating, our wedding, moving across the country, then welcoming our daughters into the world,” Jess says. “Every dog deserves an opportunity to be [loved] like Harley.” From this conviction, Harley’s Hounds, a nonprofit rescue dedicated to giving stray and surrendered dogs in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) a chance at a loving home, was born.

The mission of Harley’s Hounds is a grassroots effort to save and improve the lives of animals in three key ways: 1) community education about responsible pet ownership, 2) fundraising to provide resources for animals in need, and 3) creating stable pathways to adoption for rescued dogs. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: street dogs belong on couches.

“The animals in South Texas rarely have a voice,” Jess says, “and until they do, you’ll continue to hear mine.”

Stray dogs make up the majority of Harley’s Hounds’ intakes. “I’ve only had to step foot in a shelter a couple of times,” Jess shares. “That shows how many strays are out there, under-cared for.” The team’s goal is to catch these animals before they end up in overcrowded shelters, working with local partners to trap or safely capture feral dogs that have never experienced human kindness.

One rescue story that sticks with Jess is Hercules, a German Shepherd found in Santa Rosa, severely malnourished and ill. “He tested positive for everything you can imagine,” she recalls, “With the partnership through our vet, we got him clean.” Hercules was adopted by a family in Pennsylvania, but when their dog didn’t get along with him, Jess arranged for him to come back to South Texas. Hercules has now been a permanent part of Jess’s family for three years, living the life every dog deserves. “Some people call it a foster failure, but I call it a foster success.”

Though funding is always needed, Jess emphasizes that Harley’s Hounds’ biggest need is foster homes. “When you take a dog into a rescue, you have to have a plan, or you get overwhelmed and they don’t get the care that they deserve,” she explains. “We have to turn dogs away because we don’t have enough hands and feet to help.”

Many people fear associated costs when it comes to fostering animals, but the rescue covers all expenses for fosters, including veterinary care and supplies. Others avoid fostering because they fear getting attached, but Jess encourages them to focus on the joy of helping a dog find a loving home. “The joy far outweighs the heartbreak.”

While acknowledging the emotional tax of being a foster, the growth Jess sees in these rehabilitated dogs makes the daunting task worthwhile. “You might save one life by fostering,” Jess says, “but to that one life, you’re their whole entire world.”

The adoption process begins with an online application where families can share their household dynamics and preferences. “Every dog comes with different personalities and needs,” Jess explains, which is why fostering the pet prior to adoption is encouraged first, giving families a chance to get to know a dog in their own environment.

Photo courtesy of Jess Cantu.

There are many ways to support Harley’s Hounds beyond adopting or donating. Volunteers can help transport dogs, share posts to spread awareness, or assist with fundraising. Recently, Jess launched a campaign to recruit ambassadors in all 50 states to help share Harley’s Hounds’ mission nationwide. “We’re already in 15 states, which is really exciting,” she says.

Jess’s hope for Harley’s Hounds is to secure consistent funding through local business sponsorships and expand their fostering network, allowing them to help even more animals in need. Another hope she holds dear is to help spread the awareness of heartworms, a very common disease for animals in the RGV. Prevention, she mentions, is easy, but treatment is expensive and difficult.

Ultimately, Jess hopes to see continued progress in animal welfare throughout the RGV, especially for the stray dogs in need of a caring home. “Open your heart and home to an animal that needs you, and your life will be so much better."

To learn more, donate, volunteer, or start fostering with Harley’s Hounds, visit their website, https://harleyshoundsinc.com/, or Facebook page (@harleyshoundsinc).