Texas Super Lawyer and His Fiancee Transform His East Ranch Into a Haven For Rescue Animals

Before colorful trial lawyer Tony Buzbee found his soulmate in Galveston beauty Frances Moody, his 7,000 acre ranch in East Texas was a relatively unremarkable pine-shaded estate populated by a modest herd of cattle. But as their romance blossomed, his Antioch Buzbee Ranch began evolving into a safe haven for unwanted animals.

Credit that transformation to Moody, who became a vegetarian at age 10 and has been involved in animal rescue for a number of years. In fact, it was their mutual love for nature’s four-legged creatures that brought them to one another’s attention as both were regulars at events supporting animal welfare.

Engaged last summer and set to wed this July, the couple has adopted seven horses and eight donkeys and merged six rescue pigs into their menagerie that also includes Buzbee’s cows, a number of exotics, two goats and two alligators.

“The ranch has evolved over time,”  Buzbee tells PaperCity. “At first it was just a place to come and relax with about 50 head of cattle. Once I fully realized the problem and got to know some of the people involved in rescue, I really became passionate about using all this space we have out here to do something good.”

Most of the animals at the ranch have names — Buttercup, Piggles, Piggy Small, Freckles, etc. — and Moody knows them all. If her Instagram account is any indication, Moody has a loving relationship with each. She hand feeds them treats. She talks to them. And she regularly shares full-on hugs with the beasties.

“My favorites to feed. . . I truly love them all, but I would probably say the cows or donkeys,” she says. “They are just so gentle and loving.”

The ranch has plenty of hands on site to care for the animals when Moody and Buzbee are back in Houston or traveling.

Their love of animals is further evidenced by their household of pets. Between them, the couple has five dogs — her cocker spaniel Buddy and Bichon Frise Nobel and his three beagles, Lucy, Lacy and Lily. Moody allows that occasionally their brood grows with the addition of a foster pup or two.

“All of our fosters have thankfully found homes,” she says.

She officially entered the animal rights scene in March of 2017 when she co-chaired the PetSet Young Professionals launch party with Kimber Falgout Schelee. Moody’s biggest splash came in November of 2018 when she, along with Noble and Buddy, won top honors at the Citizens for Animal Protection Celebrity Paws of the Year gala.

When Buzbee ran for Houston Mayor in 2019, the duo hosted a Pet Rally in support of homeless animals and in November of that year the couple chaired the record breaking Celebrity Paws fundraiser. This Texas power couple is taking puppy love to new heights.