Community members rally around Peewee’s Pet Adoption founder Ernie Cochran as she remains critically ill battling stage 4 cancer.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An outpouring of support is growing across the Coastal Bend for Ernie Cochran, the founder of Peewee’s Pet Adoption, as she remains critically ill.
Cochran has been in a coma since Monday afternoon, according to those close to her. She has been battling stage 4 cancer for the past two years, after decades of advocating for and rescuing animals throughout the region.
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Friends and supporters say Cochran’s legacy is deeply personal — and unmatched.
“She’s got a special place in our hearts. I mean, really, she does,” said Gloria Hicks, a longtime friend and supporter. “There’s not going to be another Ernie Cochran ever in our city. She’s wonderful.”
Hicks has adopted 14 dogs over her lifetime and said when it came time to give back, Peewee’s — founded by her friend of more than 40 years — was always her first choice.
“People that had millions of dollars would give to her, and after they pass away, it’s still in their wills, and they still give to her,” Hicks said. “They gave to Peewee’s because they knew that it — the money — was handled correctly.”
Cochran retired in April 2025 but remained closely tied to the organization she built. Supporters say she was known for personally ensuring animals were placed in the right homes — and that until then, they always had a home with her.
Connie Baird with South Texas Animal Rescue worked alongside Cochran and her clinic for years and described her as a hero within the animal welfare community.
“She was absolutely a hero. She is a hero,” Baird said. “I hope someday this place is changed to ‘Ernie’s Place.’ This was Ernie’s place. This was Ernie’s heaven. She loved it here. She loved every minute of it.”
Baird also shared the moment Cochran said inspired her life’s mission — a serious car accident in the early 1990s that ultimately led her to turn a 100-acre property into an animal refuge.
“She was in a bad car accident, and when she was in that accident, she was hurt really bad,” Baird said. “And she told God, ‘If you let me live through this, I’ll do what you need me to do.’ She said that God told her, ‘This is what you’re supposed to be doing.’”
Those close to the organization say Cochran’s work will continue as normal under her longtime protégé, Bobby George.
Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo also released a statement honoring Cochran’s impact on the community, saying, “Few people leave a legacy as profound as Ernie’s. Through her rescue work, she saved thousands of dogs and showed our community what true compassion looks like in action. Her impact will be felt for generations.”
Community members continue to share messages of support and gratitude for a woman many credit with changing — and saving — countless lives.