Shopping local the best option

Constable Sam Houston and his wife, Sandra Houston, have worked to keep the county’s stray problem under control. COURTESY PHOTO

Merry Christmas everyone. If you are still looking for Christmas gifts, don’t forget your local shops.

One advantage in our county is that most things are close by, there are some great gift ideas in Coldspring shops, and you can also buy gift certificates at local restaurants if you ask for them.

There are florists and candy stores, quilt stores and feed stores and more.

•If you would like to try to win a beautiful quilt or one of the many other prizes in Shepherd Library’s raffle, buy a ticket or two. They are $2 each or $5 for three tickets.

First prize is the custom-made quilt, second is the electronics basket with iPad and other electronic goodies and third is a lovely wine basket. You can get your tickets at Shepherd Library or from one of the Friends of the Library.

Go to their Facebook page or website for more info. This is a fundraiser for the library to attend the TLA Conference in Austin. The drawing will be on Feb. 10. Call them at (936) 628-3515.

•This week I visited Waggin’ Tails no-kill animal shelter. Created in 2017 as a nonprofit rescue shelter for dogs, it became a county shelter in 2019. The wife of Constable Sam Houston, Sandra, dedicates most of her life to looking after the dogs in the shelter. Each one is named and treated, given shots and if needed are spayed or neutered.

You may have seen their float in Shepherd Parade, with some of the volunteers who come to help out.

Constable Houston covers animal control across the county and both he and his wife are devoted to helping dogs who are lost, hurt or have been abused. I saw more than 30 dogs while I visited, each one came to be petted and to lick my hand.

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This shelter needs volunteers to help walk the dogs and help with the chores. If you love dogs and want to help, to commit some time on a regular basis, call Sandra at (281) 450-3676.

We went to the new shelter, not yet open but looking good with spaces for an office, a sick room for the dogs, a laundry room essential to keep any infections down and spaces for 35 dogs.

It’s not yet completed, but Constable Houston is hoping for this to happen early in the New Year. This is a very needed facility located on Route 2025. There are more unwanted dogs that can be cared for. All are available for adoption and need a good home. This couple are heroes for their work with these animals.

While I was there, I asked Sam Houston about himself. First, he told me that his office which he has had for about 5 years was donated by his community, at virtually no cost to the county. I decided Constable Houston would be perfect for the next interview of people in our county who are not well-known to most of us but who do sterling work for their community every day.

Sam has been a lawman for over 40 years and Constable of Precinct 3 since 2013. He is on the road a lot because despite his work with rescuing dogs, he is also a full-time constable with all that entails. I have seen him in Precinct 2 helping with the barbecue at the Impact Center’s events for Youth and he is a very active member of many good causes where he steps in to help.

I can understand why he has been elected as constable for so long.

Contact the Shepherd Chamber at (210) 995-7420 (temporary number) or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.

Yvonne Cones is president of the Greater Shepherd Chamber of Commerce, and secretary of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.