You might remember the tragic story of Kristi Gwen O'pry, the Shreveport woman who was kidnapped and murdered back in 1996. Kristi had a love for animals, dogs in particular. For the past several years, her family has led a dog rescue in memory of their loved one. The O'pry family is rescuing dogs from something like death row.
They're taking dogs from area high kill shelters and finding them homes around the country.

"About 134 animals coming into the shelter per month," Desoto Parish Animal Shelter Kennel Supervisor Mary Carter said. "Without a rescue to transfer to, we would otherwise be euthanizing." Cater says that for the past three weeks she's been relying on Dogtired Ranch Small Dog Rescue.

"Just in the past 3 weeks, we have pulled 30 animals from desoto parish animal control," the rescue's founding director, and Kristi O'pry's sister, Amy O'pry said. She says all of those dogs have new homes and families. However, it's just not locals taking in the dogs.

"Often, they go all around the country," O'pry said. "We have flown animals. we ship them and transport them up north, the northeastern states. We also have people driving from states away."

The O'pry family doesn't just take dogs from shelters. O'pry says dog's they've found on the streets to people who just take care of a pet any longer can all find a home with her rescue.

"If someone needs an animal placed, we will put their pictures with a description on our Dogtired Ranch website," she said. "Often we find homes for them quickly."
Through these efforts, O'pry says her family can finally start to cope with the loss of her sister.

"Just every single adoption helps us," O'pry said. "Just a little bit of healing goes on there."

Before those dogs can go to their new homes, they need to stay with a foster family. O'pry says that right now the rescue needs more foster homes in the Shreveport area. Kristi O'pry's killer was sentenced last summer.