Paws for Patriots

Houston SPCA salutes veterans with new military pet adoption discount

Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA

As a heartfelt thank-you to the men and women who have served our country, Houston SPCA recently launched a new initiative called Military Mondays.

Each Monday, all active duty service members and retired military personnel with valid military ID can receive a $10 discount on all pet adoptions.

The campaign is more than a discount — it’s a celebration of the deep, healing connection between people and animals. By offering this opportunity, the Houston SPCA hopes to support veterans in finding loyal, loving companions who can bring comfort, routine, and joy into their lives.

“Military Mondays is our way of giving back to those who have given so much,” says Patricia Mercer, president and CEO of the Houston SPCA. “Our staff knows firsthand the healing and strength that comes from serving both people and animals.”

The Houston SPCA is proud to count several veterans and reservists among its team of dedicated staff and volunteers. These individuals bring a unique sense of purpose and compassion to their work, qualities that reflect their time in service.

Whether it’s an energetic dog ready for long walks, a calm senior cat looking for a quiet corner to nap, or even a small pet like a rabbit seeking a gentle companion, the Houston SPCA has a wide variety of animals hoping to find loving homes.

The adoption process ensures each pet goes home healthy and ready to bond with their new family. Every adoption includes up-to-date vaccinations, microchipping, spay or neuter surgery, a free sample-sized bag of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and a complimentary post-adoption wellness exam at any VCA Animal Hospital.

Veterans and service members interested in adopting a pet through the Military Mondays program can visit the Houston SPCA’s Adoption Center, located at 7007 Old Katy Road and open daily from 11 am-6 pm. All other potential adopters are welcome, too!

For over a century, the Houston SPCA has been a pillar of animal welfare in the region, providing life-saving services including cruelty investigations, a 24-hour rescue ambulance, and community outreach. As the oldest and largest animal rescue organization in the area, the Houston SPCA continues its mission to build a compassionate society that values the lives of all animals — and now, through Military Mondays, it extends that mission to honor the men and women who have served.

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Summer swelter

Texas charges up as No. 2 state most at risk for summer power outages

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Texas led the list of states with the most hours of summertime power outages.

Warning: Houston could be in for an especially uncomfortable summer. A new study puts Texas at No. 2 among the states most at risk for power outages this summer. Michigan tops the list.

Solar energy company Wolf River Electric analyzed the number of large-scale outages that left more than 5,000 utility customers, including homes, stores and schools, without summertime electricity from 2019 to 2023. During that period, Texas experienced 7,164 summertime power outages.

Despite Michigan being hit with more summertime outages, Texas led the list of states with the most hours of summertime power outages — an annual average of 35,440. That works out to 1,477 days.

“This means power cuts in Texas tend to last longer, making summer especially tough for residents and businesses,” the study says.

This news comes on the heels of another study that said Houston is among nine major U.S. cities that now experience at least 50 more days per year with above-normal summer temperatures than they did in 1970. The average summer temperature in Houston rose by 4.6 degrees from 1970 to 2024, according to Climate Central.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the electric grid serving 90 percent of the state, predicts its system will set a monthly record for peak demand this August — 85,759 megawatts. That would exceed the current record of 85,508 megawatts, dating back to August 2023.

In 2025, natural gas will account for 37.7 percent of ERCOT’s summertime power-generating capacity, followed by wind (22.9 percent) and solar (19 percent), according to an ERCOT fact sheet.

This year, ERCOT expects four months to surpass peak demand of 80,000 megawatts:

June 2025 — 82,243 megawatts
July 2025 — 84,103 megawatts
August 2025 — 85,759 megawatts
September 2025 — 80,773 megawatts

One megawatt is enough power to serve about 250 residential customers amid peak demand, according to ERCOT. Using that figure, the projected peak of 85,759 megawatts in August would supply enough power to serve more than 21.4 million residential customers in Texas.

Data centers, artificial intelligence, and population growth are driving up power demand in Texas, straining the ERCOT grid. In January, ERCOT laid out a nearly $33 billion plan to boost power transmission capabilities in its service area.

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This story originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX.

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Summer swelter

Texas charges up as No. 2 state most at risk for summer power outages