Sometimes one small act of kindness can grow into something astonishingly big — especially when it’s rooted in compassion and persistence. That’s exactly the journey of Zully Vasquez Ventura, an animal lover from Cleveland, Texas, whose decision to pull over for a stray dog turned into a mission that has saved more than 5,000 dogs in her community and beyond.

Ventura and her family moved to Cleveland — about an hour northeast of Houston — in 2019, hoping to give their own adopted dog Bella plenty of space to run and play.

But once they settled in, Zully noticed something troubling: dogs roaming the neighborhoods everywhere she went — skinnier pups searching for food, dogs with hair loss, and animals obviously in need of help. “It was really shocking,” she later said, remembering how common dogs in distress had become on nearly every corner.

At first, she did what many animal lovers might do: she pulled over on her way home, opened a can of dog food, and tried to help the passing strays the best she could.

But it quickly became clear that feeding them wasn’t enough. The animals needed medical care, shelter, and a real chance at adoption — something the local area lacked. Liberty County, where the Colony Ridge community sits, doesn’t have an official animal control program or shelter, so many dogs were left without advocates.



One turning point came in 2022 when Ventura stopped for a red Labrador mix in terrible shape — emaciated, coated in burn scars and clearly suffering. Determined to help, she took photos and videos of the dog and posted them on social media, hoping someone would intervene.

At first, her plea only got a couple of likes, but she didn’t give up. Soon, a volunteer from a local rescue saw the post, stepped in, and offered help — a moment that inspired Ventura to do more.

“From that moment on,” she later explained, “I said, ‘I did it once. I can do it again and again and again.’” Armed with dog food, water, medical support resources, and her smartphone, Ventura began documenting the plight of stray dogs she encountered.

She shared each dog’s story and condition online, knowing that connecting them with rescue groups was often the only way they’d survive.

Over the years, that effort expanded into something impressive and inspiring. Other rescues began responding to the dogs she posted about, local volunteers helped capture and care for animals, and Ventura’s voice became a lifeline for countless pups.

Her dedication led to the creation of The Daily Kibble of Cleveland, TX, a nonprofit focused on feeding, vaccinating, and rescuing dogs while promoting low‑cost spay and neuter programs in the area — a step toward addressing the root cause of overpopulation.

Even after giving birth to her daughter in 2025, Ventura was back on the streets within months, driven by a sense of responsibility for the dogs she saw struggling.

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed; the sheer number of animals she’s helped — more than 5,000 — reflects not only her commitment but also the power of individual action to spark wider change.

While progress has been significant, Ventura remains clear‑eyed about the challenges ahead. She continues to push for better animal control measures in Liberty County and hopes that community awareness will grow alongside volunteer support.

For her, the dream would be a place where no dog needs rescuing because they all have responsible care and a safe home.

Zully’s story shows that kindness matters — even if it starts with a single stop on the side of the road.

One person’s decision to act can ripple outward, changing thousands of lives and inspiring others to look twice at the needs of the most vulnerable.