Host Meg Grier welcomes Becky Forrest, executive director of the Hill Country Animal League (HCAL) in Boerne, TX, to the God and Our Dogs radio show on Bernie Radio 103.9 FM. They discuss Becky's rescue dogs — Ben, a blind long-haired dachshund, and Darby, a tenacious Yorkie — and draw spiritual lessons from their behavior: trusting God when we feel lost, surrendering control, and accepting God's timing when the answer is "no." Becky then shares the remarkable 40-year story of HCAL, which has grown from a small garage-sale rescue into a high-volume spay/neuter clinic serving all of Texas (40–60 surgeries/day). The episode highlights Barktoberfest, HCAL's annual community adoption event on October 17th in Boerne's Main Plaza, featuring rescues, races, costume contests, and vendors. Meg closes with her signature "Thought to Pawnder."

0:00 Intro — Welcome to God and Our Dogs on Bernie Radio 103.9 FM; host Meg Greer introduces the show's mission

0:24 Show overview — Discovering God's love through our dogs' stories; guest introduction: Becky Forrest

0:51 Becky joins — Becky describes her dogs' view of her: "fun, snuggly, and indulgent"

1:13 Meet the dogs — Remington, Darby (7-lb Yorkie), and Ben (8-yr-old long-haired dachshund)

2:02 Ben's adoption story — Adopted a former stud dog going blind; "he needs the rest of his life to be loved upon"

2:48 Ben goes completely blind — Adjusting to a new environment; parallel to how we can be "blind" in familiar surroundings

3:25 Spiritual lesson from Ben — Feeling lost outside our comfort zone; God as our guide through good and bad times

4:07 Proverbs 3:5-6 — "Lean not on your own understanding… and He will make your paths straight"

4:32 Dogs teach us more than we teach them — Life lessons from Darby and Ben

4:51 Darby's tenacity — Yorkies' single-minded focus; how we try to control everything instead of surrendering to God

5:35 Giving it to God — Stepping back, saying "no" to our dogs as God says "no" to us through Scripture

6:38 Patience lesson — Darby's 6 AM ball-play attempts; God's timing vs. our timing

7:28 Transition to Hill Country Animal League — 40th year in Boerne; started as a small rescue

8:15 HCAL's growth — From thrift store rescue to a full spay/neuter clinic serving all of Texas; 40–60 surgeries/day

8:56 Clinic services — 18 rescues served, low-income options, general public; prices half of traditional vets

9:42 Barktoberfest announcement — Annual community event; 10–15 rescues for adoptions, vendors, food, races, costume contests

10:06 Barktoberfest details — October 17th, Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM, Main Plaza, Boerne

10:29 Costume contests & races — All dog sizes welcome; dachshund races; owner-dog costume pairs

11:08 How to reach HCAL — Thrift store: 115 W. Bandera; Clinic: 924 N. Main; Phone: 830-249-2341; Website: hcaltx.org

11:53 Closing thanks — Becky expresses gratitude for the platform to weave faith and animals together

12:08 Thought to Pawnder — "Can I treat God as an essential part of my day?"

12:48 Show outro — Find the show at bernieradio.com or your favorite podcast channel; tune in next Saturday

Website: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072683640098

God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday at 11:15am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.boerneradio.com.

Air Date: 10/3/26

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Meg Grier welcomes two returning guests for a themed episode exploring how having "a mind of our own" can lead us away from God's purpose — and how our dogs mirror that struggle. Robin Saunders (Saunders Luxury Group / Keller Williams) shares the story of Libby, her family's adventurous chocolate Labrador who loved to roam but always found her way home — a picture of the prodigal son and God's redeeming welcome. Rod Townsend (GoHealed Firearms Training) recalls Bootsie, a calm chihuahua who followed without question wherever her owner led — a challenge to our own hesitation when God calls.

0:00 Intro & Show Overview

0:47 Today's Theme: Minds of Our Own

1:17 Robin Saunders — Libby the Chocolate Lab

3:31 Libby's Roaming Adventures

4:52 Robin's Reflection — The Prodigal Son

6:27 Wrap-Up & Transition

6:54 Rod Townsend — Bootsie the Chihuahua

7:53 Bootsie's Unconditional Trust

8:41 Rod's Reflection — Hesitation vs. Faith

10:18 Thought to Ponder

10:54 Sign-Off & Credits

Website: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072683640098

God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday at 11:15am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.boerneradio.com.

Air Date: 10/10/26

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this bonus episode of God and Our Dogs on Boerne Radio 103.9 FM, host Meg Grier continues a post-show conversation with Agnes Hubbard, Executive Director of Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries. They discuss Lizzie, a dog whose progressive bone disease left her unable to walk — yet she remained joyful and formed a beautiful bond with a rescue puppy. The story opens into a deeper discussion about relationship building: loving your neighbor as yourself, seeing people as neighbors rather than numbers, walking alongside those in need instead of fixing them, and finding confidence in God's calling. Agnes shares key scriptures (Mark 12:30–31, Lamentations 3:22–23) and reflects on how ministry transforms both the helped and the helper.

0:00 Intro — Welcome to God and Our Dogs, Boerne Radio 103.9 FM, with host Meg Greer

0:25 Context for the bonus conversation with Agnes Hubbard (show #118)

0:52 Lizzie's story — progressive bone disease, broken bones that wouldn't heal, nerve damage

2:05 Lizzie's resilience — always smiling, wagging tail, making the best of her situation

2:54 A rescue puppy bonds with Lizzie — adapts play to include her despite her limitations

3:48 Scripture: Mark 12:30–31 — "Love the Lord your God… Love your neighbor as yourself"

4:29 "Neighbors, not numbers" — rethinking how we see people in need

5:01 Hill Country Daily Bread's relational approach vs. impersonal agencies

5:30 Overcoming disqualification culture — helping people qualify for support

6:02 Avoiding labels and judgment — walking alongside instead of fixing

7:01 The difficulty of not just "fixing" people — learning to know them first

7:53 Loving yourself — confidence in God's calling, saying "yes" like Isaiah

8:47 Identity in God's image — confidence comes from Him, not self-reliance

9:23 Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–23 — "His compassions never fail; they are new every morning"

9:58 Giving hope, not just resources — families learning they are "fearfully and wonderfully made"

10:29 God transforms the helper too — "He's cleaning me up"

10:44 Sign-off and wrap-up — Meg's reflection on Lizzie's story and relationship building

10:54 Thought to PONDER — "How's your dog relying on you today?"

11:02 Outro — where to find the show, Boerne Radio, podcast channels, and sponsors

11:32 Closing line — discovering a new perspective to rely on God

Website: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072683640098

God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday at 11:15am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.boerneradio.com.

Air Date: 10/10/26

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.