By Eric Betts

Staff Writer

This time last year, things weren’t looking so good for Lucas.

The miniature schnauzer had already been adopted once out of the Bastrop County Animal Shelter, only to be returned shortly thereafter for aggressive behavior. He lingered in the shelter through the new year, then was adopted — and returned — for a second time in mid-February.

Turns out, his timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Fourteen-year-old Dre Joiner and his mother, Shelita, and sister, Sharissa Simmons, had already been to the shelter once to look for a dog to bring home and had gone home empty-handed. When Shelita returned a few days later, Dre says she found the newly-returned Lucas sitting quietly while the other dogs around him barked and went crazy at her presence. She brought him home that day, Feb. 14.

Nearly a year later, the Joiners and Lucas couldn’t be happier.

“The whole family just loves him,” Dre says.

When Dre whistles, Lucas bounces off the porch and across the lawn after him. He sits on command and swings his head around to follow the camera when he’s getting his picture taken.

Lucas enjoys chasing just about anything Dre can throw for him and Dre says when he gets home from school Lucas is there, “just waiting to play with me.” He’s even found a friend in the neighborhood, Bishop, who Dre took along when he and Lucas went back to the shelter in December to show the staff how Lucas was doing.

Lucas’ story has a happy ending, but there are still more than 100 animals being cared for in the shelter. For the ones who haven’t had their big break yet like Lucas, the Friends of Bastrop County Animal Shelter will be hosting their second annual Hearts for Paws Benefit Saturday, Feb. 12, in the Calvary Episcopal Heritage Hall at 1020 Main Street (next to the Visitor’s Center) from 5-8 p.m.

The cost of admission is a bag of dog or cat food, kitty litter or a new toy to be donated to the shelter. Food and drinks will be catered by Benny’s BBQ and live entertainment will be provided by the Friends.

A silent auction is scheduled to run until 7 p.m., with gift baskets and gift certificates to local businesses up on the block. Ladies will also get a rose at the door, in keeping with the Valentine’s theme.

Last year the donations brought in by the benefit fed the animals in the shelter for nearly three months — the shelter estimates more than 500 pounds worth — but shelter manager Erica Baker says Hearts for Paws is about more than the sacks of chow.

“It gives the shelter visibility in the community,” says Baker. “It brings more volunteers to help with the animals throughout the year. It teaches people what we’re here for and what we do.”

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