About Mary

My Story — Mary Hopkins

The Beginning: A Little Girl and a Beagle

If you had asked nine-year-old me what happiness looked like, I would have pointed to a floppy-eared Beagle puppy wagging his tail in my family’s backyard.

My love for animals didn’t start with a grand plan or a life mission. It started quietly, the way most meaningful things do—with a child finding comfort in the presence of a loyal companion.

I grew up in a home where animals were part of everyday life. My father was a veterinarian, so our house always seemed to have a revolving door of pets, patients, and stories about the animals he helped. But even before I truly understood what my father did for a living, I understood something much simpler: animals had a special way of bringing peace.

They didn’t judge.

They didn’t hold grudges.

They simply loved.

On my ninth birthday, my father gave me the greatest gift I had ever received—a Beagle puppy.

I still remember the moment as if it happened yesterday. I walked into the living room and saw a small box with air holes poked into it. Before anyone could say anything, the lid popped open and a tiny nose appeared, followed by two big curious eyes and a wagging tail.

I fell in love instantly.

I named him Buddy.

Buddy followed me everywhere. He waited outside my bedroom door every morning, trotted beside me when I played in the yard, and curled up at my feet when I did homework. He became my best friend, my secret keeper, and my first lesson in unconditional love.

Looking back now, I realize that little Beagle did more than bring joy into my life.

He shaped the entire direction of it.

Growing Up with Dogs

From that moment on, dogs were never just pets to me. They were family.

As the years went on, our home was always filled with the happy chaos that comes with caring for animals. Some dogs stayed with us forever, while others passed through my father’s practice temporarily, recovering before going back to their families.

Each dog had its own personality.

There was Daisy, the gentle golden retriever who loved children.

Rusty, the mischievous terrier who could escape any fence.

And Molly, the quiet rescue who took months to learn how to trust again.

Caring for them taught me responsibility long before I realized I was learning it.

Feeding them.

Walking them.

Cleaning up after them.

Making sure they felt safe.

But more than responsibility, dogs taught me empathy. They showed me that every animal carries a story—sometimes joyful, sometimes painful.

Even as a child, I sensed that not every dog was as lucky as the ones who came through our home.

Discovering the Reality of Animal Shelters

 By the time I reached high school, I wanted to do more.

In those days, many animal shelters were still referred to as “dog pounds.” They were not the warm, welcoming adoption centers we see more often today. Many were overcrowded, underfunded, and heartbreaking places.

But I started volunteering anyway.

Every weekend after school, I would go to our local shelter and help however I could—cleaning kennels, walking dogs, filling food bowls, and sometimes simply sitting quietly with animals who were scared and confused.

That experience changed me.

For the first time, I saw the harsh reality that many animals face.

Dogs abandoned because they were “too much work.”

Puppies discarded when they grew out of the cute stage.

Older dogs left behind by families who moved away.

Some of the dogs were nervous. Others were desperate for affection. Many just wanted someone to notice them.

I remember one dog in particular—a black Labrador mix named Charlie. He had been surrendered after his owner passed away. For days he refused to eat, sitting silently in the corner of his kennel.

One afternoon I sat beside him and gently placed my hand near his paw.

He slowly rested his head on my knee.

It was such a simple moment, but it stayed with me forever.

That day I realized something important: animals don’t just need homes—they need advocates.

College and Understanding the Bigger Picture

After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where I enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and pursued a degree in Sociology.

At first glance, sociology might seem unrelated to animals.

But the more I studied, the more I realized how deeply connected our treatment of animals is to the values of a society.

How communities handle cruelty.

How laws protect the vulnerable.

How compassion shapes culture.

My classes explored human behavior, ethics, social responsibility, and the structures that influence how people treat each other—and, by extension, how they treat animals.

It opened my eyes to the broader systems behind animal welfare.

Cruelty wasn’t always just about one person hurting an animal.

Sometimes it came from neglect.

Sometimes from ignorance.

Sometimes from systems that failed to protect those who couldn’t speak for themselves.

That understanding only strengthened my resolve to make a difference.

Working in My Father’s Veterinary Practice

After graduating, I spent about a year working at my father’s veterinary clinic.

It was both rewarding and emotional.

Veterinary clinics are places of healing, but they also expose you to difficult realities.

I helped assist with exams, comforted nervous pets, and spoke with owners who loved their animals like family. But I also saw cases of neglect—dogs that arrived severely underfed, animals injured because they had been mistreated, and pets abandoned by people who no longer wanted the responsibility.

Those experiences deepened my understanding of how fragile the safety of animals can be.

But they also reinforced something hopeful.

There are many good people in the world—people who dedicate their lives to helping animals.

My father was one of them.

And soon, I would join another organization doing the same.

The Humane Society Years

Not long after leaving my father’s clinic, I accepted a position with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in Knoxville.

Working there was one of the most meaningful—and emotionally difficult—experiences of my life.

The Humane Society deals directly with cases of animal cruelty, neglect, and abuse.

Some of the stories I encountered are ones I will carry with me forever.

Dogs rescued from unsafe conditions.

Animals who had been used for fighting.

Puppies born into environments where they were treated as commodities instead of living beings.

Some days were incredibly hard.

But every rescue, every adoption, every life saved reminded me why the work mattered.

Those years didn’t just strengthen my love for animals.

They gave me a lifelong mission.

Family, Grandchildren, and a New Chapter

Life eventually moved forward in ways I never could have predicted.

Years passed. My family grew. And today, at 59 years old, I have one of the greatest joys life can offer:

I am the proud grandmother of six beautiful grandchildren.

They bring laughter, curiosity, and endless energy into my life. Watching them grow reminds me of the same sense of wonder I had as a child when Buddy first wagged his tail at me.

And just like my father passed his love for animals to me, I try to pass that same compassion to them.

They already know one important rule at Grandma’s house:

Dogs are always welcome.

Why I Started MarysPaws

After many years of working, advocating, and supporting animal welfare, I made the decision to take early retirement.

But retirement didn’t mean slowing down.

In fact, it meant I could finally dedicate all my time to something that had defined my life for decades.

That’s when I created MarysPaws.

MarysPaws is more than a brand.

It’s a mission.

Animal cruelty remains a heartbreaking reality across the world. Every day, thousands of animals face neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Too many innocent dogs end up in shelters or dangerous situations simply because they were born into the wrong circumstances.

MarysPaws exists to fight back against that reality.

Through powerful messages, meaningful designs, and high-quality merchandise—including T-shirts, hoodies, and sweaters—the brand spreads awareness about animal welfare and the importance of protecting innocent lives.

Every design carries a message.

A reminder that compassion matters.

A reminder that animals deserve protection.

A reminder that we all have a role to play.

Most importantly, a portion of every MarysPaws sale is donated to my local humane society to help support the animals who need it most.

A Message from My Heart

If you’ve read this far, I want to thank you.

Whether you are a lifelong pet owner, someone who simply loves animals, or someone who believes kindness should extend to every living creature—you are already part of this journey.

Animals cannot speak for themselves.

But we can speak for them.