I thought I would be the first to share my testimony; 

     Hug-A-Pet was founded in the year 2000 by Marilyn and Richard Williams Beckam.   Marilyn had been encouraged by her husband Richard to get out of the "rat race" and follow her dream.  "You love animals, why don't your start an in-home petsitting service?" Richard told her...and so she did. 

     In the fall of 2001, I was looking for part time work and heard from a friend at church about a neat job working with animals.  I met Marilyn in her home office one afternoon.  Somewhere between Marilyn's enthusiastic vision to serve all of Houston's pets, and Richards father-like guidance, I became excited about being part of their dream.  They taught me, encouraged me, trusted in me, and pushed me passed all I had expected when I first applyed for this "cute part-time job".  

     Some of you know that a great test came to Hug-a-Pet... Richard became ill.  Our Encourager  needed encourgagement as we sadly became aware that we where facing a demon, cancer, that would have no part of our cries, or the insistant love we had for our "voice of reason," our "cornerstone," Richard.

     Richard passed in June 2005 on a Thursday... as we answered phones and scheduled pet vists, like I promised, many times, we would.  There where times back then, I would look into Richard's dog Shadow's eyes, and wondered what it would be that Richard would have us do.  Marilyn was the one who pushed us and reminded us of why we where here.  Our love for the pets of this city, Houston, and the care they deserve.

     I now manage Hug-a-Pet with the same dream given to me, burned in me, to "Serve Houstons Pets". - Sherry