Our reach

Texas Roots, Nationwide Love

Houston rescue. Nationwide opportunity.

We’re a 501(c)(3) rescue for dogs and cats, building a community of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals through education and advocacy.

Black rescue dog wearing yellow star-shaped glasses

Houston is where the work begins. The impact reaches nationwide.

Who we are

A Houston nonprofit saving lives since 2018

Rescue Operations

Thousands of animals pulled from Houston streets and overcrowded shelters every year.
Transportation Services

Our USDA-certified transport gets every pet safely to their foster or forever home.

Our impact

23,000+

animals rescued since 2018
800+

spay and neuter procedures in 2025
1,800+

community pets vaccinated in 2025
3,403

pets and their families helped

Three Little Pitties Rescue team helping animals

Our story in numbers

Who We Are Is Measured in Lives Changed.

“Who we are at Three Little Pitties Rescue is measured in the lives we’ve changed since 2018. Every statistic you’ll see in our Impact Report exists because of a community that chooses compassion, education, and advocacy for better animal welfare. If you want to understand the heart behind our work, take a look — every number tells a story.”

— Alayna Matranga Goodson, Founder

View the impact report

Alayna Matranga Goodson smiling beside a rescued dog

Founded in 2018

Alayna’s Story

I’ve always had a heart for animals. I started volunteering with local animal shelters in high school, and continued throughout college. But at the time, I really didn’t understand the magnitude of the homeless animal crisis in Texas. In fact, I grew up in a family that purchased dogs from breeders simply because we didn’t know any better. We didn’t have the knowledge or understanding of the problem.

After graduating from the University of Dallas with a business degree, I built a career in events and sales. Then I moved to the south side of Houston upon marrying my husband, and my eyes were opened to something I could no longer ignore: thousands of homeless animals being euthanized simply because there weren’t enough resources or willing adopters.

I felt called to use the gifts God gave me to help. What started as a hobby alongside my career eventually became Three Little Pitties Rescue after I had my son in 2018. In our first year, we saved more than 1,000 animals. Today, that number is more than 23,000.

I don’t take credit for those numbers. I believe God calls us to be good stewards of His creation. Proverbs 12:10 says, “a righteous person cares for the needs of their animal.”

These days, I’m a wife, mom of two, small hobby-farm owner, professional puppy-baby-voice user, and proud dog-and-cat person. (The cat part is especially impressive because I used to be afraid of cats. Now I’m a fan!)

I also love Dolly Parton, solving problems, and bringing smart people together to figure out how to do more with what we have. That’s what I love most about Three Little Pitties. It’s about what happens when people with different gifts, talents, and crazy ideas come together around one mission. Try new things. Stay humble enough to look for ways to improve. And work extremely hard together.

I’m incredibly grateful to be one small part of it.

— Alayna Matranga Goodson, Executive Director

Our Leadership

Meet the Directors

Each department is led by people whose hearts brought them to rescue — and whose dedication keeps them building something bigger.

Alayna

Executive Director

A founder and the heart of the organization since 2018. What began with a few urgent rescues grew to more than 1,000 lives saved in the first year. Her leadership expands adoption opportunities for animals of every breed and size across the country.
Jenelle

Director of Operations & Finance

Jenelle’s journey began in 2018 when she and her daughter began fostering. What started as compassion quickly grew into leadership — first as an adoption coordinator, then as the architect of the Pacific Northwest foster program. Today, she keeps every program and dollar moving with heart, precision, and purpose.
Cynthia

Director of Adoptions

Cynthia stepped into rescue after witnessing Houston’s stray crisis firsthand. Since joining Three Little Pitties Rescue in 2018, she has championed overlooked breeds and medical cases while guiding thousands of animals into safe, permanent homes.
Lainey

Director of Clinic

With more than 14 years in animal welfare and veterinary medicine, Lainey has led the medical team since 2021 and advocates for complex medical cases and large-breed dogs.
Jodi

Director of Community Outreach and Volunteers

Jodi combines her experience as an educator to coordinate and lead outreach work that provides responsible-pet education, free vaccine clinics, spay and neuter services, and practical resources for underserved communities.
Jessica

Director of Fosters

Jessica coordinates the foster network and thoughtfully matches animals with homes by considering foster experience, family life, household members, schedules, and each rescue animal’s unique characteristics — supporting fosters throughout every step of the journey.
Suzanne

Director of Administration

Suzanne helps guide the rescue’s long-term stewardship, community relationships, and commitment to sustainable lifesaving work.