How Our Pups Inspired For The Pups: An Origin Story of Love and Purpose

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🐾 For the Pups, Always

Celebrating Our Three Pups, All Dogs, and Doing More Good

Welcome to For The Pups, we’re so happy you’ve joined us.

Whether you stumbled across this space looking for pup-friendly spots in Austin, enrichment ideas for your dog, or just love dogs, you’re here!

This blog is a love letter to our life with our three pups, Deacon, Chloe, and Sebastián, and the journey they’ve inspired. They’re our babies, our family. They give us so much, including a reason to appreciate everyday adventures, have more fun, and always love bigger. They’ve changed how we live, how we work, and inspire us to do more good.

They’re the reason For The Pups exists.

Where It All Began

Before For The Pups and this blog ever existed, our love for dogs (and all animals) showed up in other parts of our life.

From growing up with dogs that added so much to our childhoods, to rescuing our own three babies, Gina baking the first batch of homemade pupCakes for Deacon, to being moved by animals in need and adoptable dogs, our love for dogs has always been such a big part of who we are. Jorge has dreamed of opening a rescue for years, and that dream became mine, too. Even before we had the words or idea for For The Pups, this kind of love was already there.

Deacon with his pupcake from Gina’s first batch up pupcakes for him ❤️. This first batch was a celebration of Gina getting back home to Deacon after a trip away. He was about 2 years perfect, now he’s almost 14 years perfect and has had many pupcake celebrations since.

Through our small business, Dolce Terra, we built giving into our mission from day one. We donate 10% of every sale to local rescues and animal causes. It was our way of supporting dogs in need and the people doing important work for animals in our community.

Through our real estate business, Dueñas Realty Group, we lean into advocacy by volunteering, amplifying rescue and shelter dogs’ voices, and donating to rescues and animal causes. We also ensure pup parents feel empowered when navigating housing decisions with their dogs in mind.

But we wanted to do more.

We Can Do This, Too

Over the years, we’ve looked up to so many people doing incredible work for dogs. Rescue founders, fosters, volunteers, and advocates contributing to make a difference. They inspired us, and we realized: We can do this, too.

We didn’t need to wait for the perfect opportunity; we had everything we needed to start contributing. We’re approaching it with love, intention, and the understanding that we’ll continue learning along the way.

Us affectionately calling our babies The Pups, and doing things for our pups (and other dogs, too) is where the name For The Pups came from. After we started volunteering, Gina ordered a custom hat that says for the pups. It’s a loving tribute to our babies and to the other dogs who are inspiring us to do more good, too. For The Pups continues to come to life. It’s a name, a mission, and now a space to celebrate the love we have for our pups and the impact we hope to make for others.

For The Pups is inspired by our three dogs, Deacon, Chloe, and Sebastián, and our deep love for the everyday adventures of this wildly loved life with them. It embodies our desire to celebrate them and all dogs, to do more good, and to contribute to a more compassionate, dog-friendly world. All of this is rooted in love, purpose, and the happiness of being pup parents. For The Pups is our way of bringing it all together.

However For The Pups evolves, the mission stays the same: to celebrate our pups and our life with them, and to support, advocate for, and contribute to the lives of dogs in meaningful ways.

Gina and Jorge with Grover as they completed volunteer orientation at WCRAS. He’s still available for adoption! Meet Grover.

What You’ll Find Here

For The Pups is for pup parents, rescue lovers, and anyone whose heart is moved by dogs.

A glimpse of what we’ll be sharing:

  • Our favorite dog-friendly spots in and around Austin
  • Homemade pup treat recipes and wellness ideas
  • Training tools and enrichment resources that work for us
  • Everyday moments and reflections from life with our pups
  • Stories, organizations, and local businesses that inspire us
  • And ways we’re giving back — with room for you to join in, too

This is a space for the people who cancel plans for their dogs.
Who have a lint roller on standby.
Who live life one tail wag, pup adventure, or pup cup at a time.
And who believe that doing good for pups, in any way we can, matters.

🐾 Come Along With Us

Thanks for joining us! Whether you’re a longtime foster, a first-time pup parent, or someone who just melts at the sight of a senior snuggle, this space is for you.

We hope it feels like a good place to be.

For the pups who changed our lives, and the people who show up for dogs every day.


With all the love for pups,
Gina, Jorge, Deacon, Chloe & Sebastián
For The Pups Always.