When Tena Lundquist Faust was five years old, she told her father that she wanted to create a shelter for all the homeless doggies. Since then, she has committed her life to loving and advocating for abused and neglected dogs, cats, and other animals in dire need of affection, kindness, and care. Tena desperately wants all animals to be safe, healthy and happy. She volunteers countless hours to make the world a better place for them. Her passion and devotion to animals is fueled by her unbreakable spiritual bond with Taz, her West Highland Terrier and faithful companion who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2015 at the age of 17, and her beloved Finnegan, a terrier mix rescue who joined Taz on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge in 2022.

With her identical twin sister Tama Lundquist, Tena has been crusading tirelessly to raise awareness and funds to rescue and rehome unwanted animals. Together, these sisters devote days and nights, holidays and weekends, working for the animals who cannot speak for themselves. She and Tama joined the Houston PetSet board of directors 15 years ago and now serve as co-presidents. Houston PetSet is a 501 (c)(3) organization with the mission to end the homelessness and suffering of companion animals and to elevate their status in society. As co-chairs of the Houston PetSet Soiree for more than 10 years, Tena and Tama have raised more than $5 million for hundreds of animal welfare organizations and have played an active role in impacting the lives of millions of animals. 

Tena and Tama routinely serve as sources for media on a local, regional, and national level on topics related to animal welfare and solving the animal overpopulation problem in the greater Houston area. They were instrumental in influencing Texas legislators over a period of six years to support bills that led to the passage of the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act that went into effect on January 18, 2022. This act defines adequate shelter to protect dogs from extreme weather, storms, and standing water.

In 2022, Tena and Tama co-founded RouTTe One Productions and collaborated with award-winning Siddhayatan Tirth Productions to create a powerful documentary film, For the Animals. This impactful film, which will premiere in Houston on July 27 and around the world on July 28, 2023, tells the story of forgotten and discarded animals in the Houston metro area and the ardent fight to save them.

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in northern Minnesota, Tena moved to Houston in 1996. After meeting and marrying her husband Tyson Faust in 1997, she attended the University of Houston where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Public Relations in 2002. Shortly thereafter, Tena began volunteering with rescue organizations and shelters which enabled her to witness firsthand the magnitude of the animal overpopulation problem in the greater Houston area. 

Her awareness of this serious crisis for the animals led her to co-founding the Highland Village Adoption Center in Houston in 2008 with Tama. She and Tama were instrumental in securing high visibility retail space at the upscale Highland Village Shopping Center, and they opened the Highland Village Adoption Center. Through this initiative and with the tremendous support of many animal lovers, she helped to transform a one-time, three-weekend Holiday Adoption Event into a three-year “semi-permanent” adoption program and facility that successfully placed as many as 2,500 dogs and cats into forever homes. 

In 2012, Tena and Tama served as founding members of Houston’s Bureau of Animal Welfare and Control (BARC) Foundation. In this capacity, she worked directly with the City of Houston, then-Mayor Annise Parker, city council members and other staff members to address the animal overpopulation issue and its consequences. 

Tena and Tama also served on the 2019 Transition Team for Fort Bend County Judge KP George and played a pivotal role in establishing and launching the Fort Bend County Animal Cruelty Task Force. This Task Force has made a profound impact in addressing and combatting animal cruelty within the county and advocating for justice on behalf of innocent animals. Working with Crime Stoppers of Houston, she and Tama also helped to establish the Harris County Animal Cruelty Task Force which brought together the District Attorney’s Office and several law enforcement agencies.

Tena previously served as a spiritual mentor for residents of The Women’s Home, where she mentored women transitioning from homelessness to being employed and self-supportive. Tena provided guidance and encouragement to these marginalized women, helping them regain their confidence, stability, and independence. 

Since 2020, Tena has served on the board of directors of Magpies and Peacocks and is one of Crime Stoppers of Houston’s Leading Women for Public Safety.

Tena has received many prestigious awards and honors, which include: House Resolution 1284 presented by Texas State Representative Sarah Davis, a Houston PetSet Day Proclamation presented by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Highland Village Adoption Center Mayoral Proclamation in 2011 from then-Mayor Annise Parker, the 2016 Monty’s Task Force Humanitarian Award, the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce Texas Strong Hero Award in 2018, the Interfaith Ministries’ Animeals on Wheels Animal Champion, and the 2014 Leiv Platou Crime Stoppers Award. 

Tena and Tama were also honored with the 2017 Citizens for Animal Protection Celebrity Paws Hall of Fame and the 2021 Citizens for Animal Protection Humanitarian of the Year Melcher Award, the 2022 Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award, and  the 2022 Houston Woman Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Women. She and Tama are co-recipients of the Spirit of Texas Award by Cadillac. Tena and Tama were chosen as 2022 Houston Emancipet Gala honorees. In April 2023, the Harris County Commissioners Court honored Tena, Tama and Houston PetSet for their dedicated service for the animals of Houston. 

Together with her husband Tyson, Tena was honored in 2019 with The Social Book of Houston Treasures Award. They also were honored by Texas Children’s Medical Center for their many years of support. Recently, she and Tyson were honored by Houston Achievement Place. 

When Tena isn’t committed to meetings and events to save Houston’s stray dogs and cats, she and Tyson spend quality time at home and at pet-friendly places with their rescue dogs Benjamin, Alfie, and Remy. She and Tyson have fostered countless animals and are known to stop whatever they are doing to help people and animals in need at any time of day or night.