Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Brodnax.
Hi Molly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I went to adopt a cat for my college apartment and visited a shelter in Los Angeles. During the eight hours I was there, I witnessed conditions that changed my life. I saw a dog being led down the hallway to be euthanized, and in that moment I stepped in and adopted her, promising every animal there that I would do all I could to save lives. She turned out to be very sick and spent a month in and out of the vet. When she finally recovered, we discovered she was actually a Great Dane puppy—growing fast and impossible to hide in my apartment. I was given three days to remove her or face eviction, so my parents adopted her, but I kept the promise I made that day.
I began volunteering with a rescue, caring for bottle-baby kittens and learning everything I could. After moving to Texas, I started my own rescue, which has since grown into both a shelter and a full veterinary clinic. Today, we save more than 1,500 animals a year through the rescue and shelter and care for over 3,200 through our clinic. We’ve been serving animals and our community since 2008, and that promise I made in a hallway all those years ago still guides everything we do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Here’s a thoughtful, honest response that matches the tone of your story—real, humble, and hopeful:
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Rescue work is filled with emotional highs and lows—celebrating lives saved one day and facing heartbreaking losses the next. Funding has always been one of our biggest challenges. The need is endless, but resources are not. After a decade of fundraising, opening our veterinary clinic was a huge milestone for our organization.
Building trust in the community was another hurdle. Starting from scratch meant proving that we would do what we said—care for animals with dignity, operate ethically, and be there long after the adoption papers were signed. There were long nights bottle-feeding fur babies, learning veterinary care on the fly, and wearing every hat from janitor to HR to emergency transport driver.
Burnout is real in this field. Compassion fatigue, difficult outcomes, and the sheer volume of need can feel overwhelming. But every time I’ve questioned whether I could keep going, an animal has reminded me why we do this—a dog that finally wags her tail, a senior cat that finds a home, a family who tells us their pet changed their life. Those moments make the struggles worth it and keep us moving forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Legacy Humane Society, Rockwall Adoption Center, Rockwall PAWS and Legacy Humane Veterinary Clinic?
We are a lifesaving organization built on the belief that every animal deserves compassion, medical care, and a real chance at a family. What began as a small, volunteer-run rescue has grown into a full continuum of care that includes a foster-based rescue, a community shelter, and an affordable veterinary clinic. Together, these programs allow us to help animals at every stage—from emergency intake and medical treatment to adoption and lifelong wellness. Each year we save more than 1,500 animals through our rescue and shelter and care for over 3,200 pets through our clinic.
We specialize in the animals that often have nowhere else to go—the sick, injured, seniors, bottle babies, and those facing euthanasia in overcrowded facilities. Our approach is hands-on and deeply personal. We don’t just place animals; we rehabilitate them, invest in their medical and behavioral needs, and support adopters long after they go home. The veterinary clinic allows us to provide high-quality, low-cost care not only to our rescue pets but also to families in the community who might otherwise be unable to afford treatment.
What sets us apart is that we operate as a true ecosystem of care. Most rescues rely on outside clinics and limited resources, but having our own veterinary team means we can say “yes” to the hardest cases and keep animals with us as long as they need to heal. We’re known for transparency, compassion, and for treating people with the same kindness we show animals. We meet families where they are, without judgment, and work to keep pets in homes whenever possible.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve built a reputation of trust. Donors know their dollars directly save lives, adopters know we will stand beside them, and the community knows we will answer the call—day or night. We want readers to know that we are more than a shelter; we are a safety net for animals and the people who love them. Every vaccination, surgery, adoption, and wagging tail represents a promise kept—that no animal’s life is disposable and that together, we can create a kinder community.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are so many ways to be part of this lifesaving mission, and we truly believe everyone has something to offer. Adopting and fostering are the most direct ways to help—opening your home, even temporarily, creates space for another animal in need. Volunteers are also the heart of what we do, whether it’s walking dogs, cuddling kittens, helping at events, assisting at the clinic, or sharing our animals on social media.
Financial support is critical to keeping our doors open. Donations fund medical care, surgeries, vaccines, and daily shelter needs, and monthly giving allows us to say “yes” when emergencies arrive. Businesses can partner with us through sponsorships, workplace giving, event collaborations, or in-kind donations of supplies and services.
We love collaborating with schools, community groups, and local companies who want to make an impact—whether that’s hosting adoption events, employee volunteer days, fundraising drives, or educational programs. Even something as simple as following our journey online, sharing a post, or telling a friend about adoption helps save lives.
Above all, we invite people to see this as their mission too. When the community shows up—through kindness, time, or resources—animals who once had no chance get a future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lhvc.co/ and https://legacyhumanesociety.org/ and https://rockwalladoptions.com/ and https://rockwallpaws.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacyhumane
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegacyHumaneSociety
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-brodnax-65247976/
