New year, Same Pets.
Jan 07, 2025 The term “long stay” is one that has many different interpretations within the sheltering system, but when examined closely, each interpretation can be whittled down to this: a pet that has found itself in the shelter for an undesired period of time. Over the last decade, thanks to some deep data keeping by a particularly involved volunteer, we’ve gleaned that January happens to be a month of promise for long stay pets. While we don’t know the “why,” historically at APA!, January typically sees...
50 Homes For Dogs By New Year’s Eve To Begin Emergency Shelter Renovations
Dec 27, 2024 Austin Pets Alive! has received permission from the City of Austin to make urgent repairs to our kennels and long-overdue renovations to our 70-year-old shelter that will ensure better care, comfort and safety for our animals and staff. We’d like to begin the work as soon as possible, but several steps must be taken before we can begin. First, we need to move as many dogs as possible into foster or adoptive homes so that we’re operating with just 100 open kennels. We’ve been working towards our 100 kennels goal...
A holiday message from APA! CEO Dr. Ellen Jefferson
Dec 24, 2024 APA! Supporters, I’m ending this year thinking about miracle workers like you — and the difference you make for pets like Furby, a 6-pound puppy who recently came through our doors at Austin Pets Alive!. We took this golden doodle puppy in from Austin Animal Center, because of his urgent medical state. He arrived with bruising on his abdomen and serious neurological issues, possibly caused by blunt force trauma. The tiny dog couldn’t even sit up on his own, though he kept trying — Furby’s...
Freeze Warning Issued For Austin, Keep Pets Safe
Dec 10, 2024 Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) and the Hays County Pet Resource Center are here with tips to help you keep your pets comfortable as we move into freezing temperatures overnight.Follow these tips to ensure your pets stay cozy: Bring your pet inside: If you keep your dogs outside, let them inside your home. Drastic temperature changes are challenging for pets and humans, so helping them stay warm in your home is helpful. Make an enclosure for community cats: You can help keep community cats safe by using boxes or plastic bins to...
10 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Shelter Pet Before Buying From A Breeder
Email Address * First Name * Last Name * Zip Code * Adopted from APA! before? * Interested in Dogs or Cats * * indicates required Submit Source: Austin Pets...
Testing
Email Address * First Name * Last Name * Zip Code * Adopted from APA! before? * Interested in Dogs or Cats * * indicates required Submit Source: Austin Pets...
OPINION: Solutions to strays must be found, adopted on a global scale
Nov 07, 2024 In Huancayo, Peru, a city of 122,000 nestled in the Andes, stray dogs roam freely. This scene, common throughout much of Latin America, stands in stark contrast to the pristine streets of many American cities. But the absence of visible strays in the U.S. doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist — it’s just hidden behind shelter walls. My recent visit to my grandmother’s home in Huancayo after years away was a reminder of this reality. The streets teemed with dogs of all breeds and sizes, from German...
Emergency Help Needed with Wildfire in Bastrop County!
Nov 05, 2024 11/5/24 Update: The Hudson fires that sparked just east of Bastrop on Sunday are now 50% contained and evacuations lifted; however, our support of animals in need continues today. Bastrop Animal Care Service (BCAS) has shared that Animal Care Officers are canvasing the affected area, and APA! stands at the ready to take any injured animals that they may find. In addition to taking in injured animals, we’re also bringing more pets, including kittens(!) from BCAS later this afternoon! Here’s how you can help...
The Power of Pets and Volunteering: Enhancing Emotional Resilience and Well-Being
Oct 10, 2024 In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is vital, and two impactful ways to enhance emotional well-being are through pets and volunteering. Both can foster resilience, improve overall well-being, and promote a positive outlook on life. Companionship and Social Connections Pets provide unconditional companionship, lifting spirits and alleviating loneliness. Interacting with animals boosts oxytocin and lowers cortisol, contributing to emotional health. Similarly, volunteering helps build social connections, leading to...
The Importance of Industry-Wide Education to Establish a Gold Standard Across Animal Sheltering.
Oct 02, 2024 Animal Shelters have been around for over 100 years, and one thing remains constant: there is a lack of transformation and innovation that leads to shelters operating archaically and killing thousands of pets a year. This is not the fault of shelter workers but the system and rules in place that led us here. Innovation is at the heart of every Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) program; our training and education program is no different! Officially named Austin Pets Alive! Training and Education (APA!Tec), this program was launched to...
