APA! Offers Courtesy Listings for Rehoming
Feb 22, 2024 Going to a shelter should be and can be the last option for an animal whose family is having to make the tough decision to say goodbye to their furry family member. Historically, a lot of shame has been placed on the idea of pets being rehomed, but the reality is, sometimes moving a pet out of its current home is truly the best and maybe even sometimes, the only, option a family has. The reason for needing to find a new home for a pet can vary, and we believe it’s time to take the blame out of the conversation; our Positive...
Honoring Black History Month
Feb 09, 2024 February is Black History Month and we’re celebrating by amplifying Black voices, celebrating Black pioneers in animal welfare, and exploring the ways our community is honoring this month. And we want our APA! community to join in with us on learning something new and honoring the deep and rich Black history so that we may continue to move toward a more equitable future. We’ll update this blog throughout the month so bookmark this page and make sure to check back in to see new ways you can participate in Black History...
Standing Up and Taking Action for Austin’s Animals
Feb 02, 2024 February 1st was a big day in the City of Austin — a potential butterfly effect in the history of No Kill. While our city leadership is working to find solutions, there is much work to be done in the next six months and beyond in order to help us continue our forward movement as leaders in animal advocacy. APA! has been the voice for pets in our community over the last 15 years, and commit to being vigilant for our animals in need in 2024. This week, the Austin City Council passed a resolution to allow the city to euthanize...
An Update Regarding City Ordinance Changes
Jan 30, 2024 Austin, we can do better. Last week, we shared a promise to help our community better understand how Austin animal welfare is evolving because it is our duty to protect what is humane and right and advocate for progress. With that promise in mind, I am writing today to provide some recent updates about a resolution that will affect Austin animals. This resolution is on the agenda for the February 1 city council meeting. We have been on top of this since we first heard mutterings of it over the holidays and have been gratefully...
Do Your Duty – Scoop the Poop
Jan 30, 2024 Austin loves dogs! Over 250,000 dogs live in the city. On average, dogs produce half a pound of waste a day. It adds up quickly: over 150,000 pounds daily, 54,750,000 pounds a year! Yuck! Pet waste poses a significant health risk to pets and people, especially children, encountering it while playing. Dog waste contains dangerous bacteria, like salmonella and E. Coli, and harmful parasites, like giardia and roundworms. These hazardous organisms persist in the pet waste for days or months after deposit. According to the CDC,...
Our 2024 Promise: We will be vigilant for progress for Austin’s pets
Jan 26, 2024 Last year was extremely challenging for animal shelters in the US, and Austin was no exception. The Austin of yesteryear found tremendous pride in leading the country in No Kill during a time when shelters struggled the most to save the lives of even half of the pets who entered their care. In this new era of humane struggles, where pets are guaranteed not to be killed while other pets are left on the streets, some living in crates for too long, and people struggle to keep their pets without support, our city must take the lead...
A Day in the Life of “Dr. Harley,” APA!’s Resident Therapy Dog
Jan 24, 2024 Hi, I’m Dr. Harley (aka “Dog-tor” Harley). I’m the resident therapy dog here at Austin Pets Alive!, providing a much-needed listening ear, emotional support and calming presence to the humans working hard to get dogs like me adopted. My days are pretty jam-packed and I never know what they’ll bring. Sometimes my clients present with a classic case of separation anxiety, while other times I’m just a sounding board for their doggy drama. I get asked all the time what it’s like to be a...
Matilda Day: A Fundraiser for Senior Dogs in Memory of a Very Special Canine Companion
Jan 17, 2024 In a heartfelt endeavor to support senior dogs in shelters, Amanda Stronza has launched Matilda Day, a fundraiser named in honor of her late dog Matilda. This initiative is not merely a fundraiser but a sincere tribute to Matilda and a beacon of hope for senior dogs in need. Amanda Stronza, a photographer, found inspiration in Matilda after rescuing her from underneath her house. Matilda’s journey became a photographic adventure, chronicling her life and experiences. Through Amanda’s lens, Matilda’s story gained...
Emergency Response Needed For Outdoor Animals Ahead of Freezing Temps this Weekend
We need your help this week! The Austin and surrounding areas are expected to reach freezing temperatures this weekend so outdoor animals need help by this Sunday! Here’s how you can support them NOW. Sign up as an emergency response dog foster. Our first priority is to get the outdoor enclosure animals at the APA! Town Lake shelter in warm homes. We have 230 dogs who immediately need a warm place to stay. There are options our foster team will discuss with you, whether you can only help for short periods at a time or have more...
APA! Announces $24 Pet Adoption Fees
Dec 29, 2023 AUSTIN, TX – Austin Pets Alive! is ringing in the new year with an adoption special for the dogs and cats in the shelter’s care. Adoption fees are lowered to $24 for the first week of January 2024. This includes kittens, puppies, and animals in foster homes. Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) pioneers innovative lifesaving programs designed to save the animals most at risk of euthanasia. APA! has helped keep Austin a No Kill city since 2011 and has rescued over 120,000 animals. “We’re welcoming 2024 with an...
