Shelter Support: How Austin Pets Alive! Helps Shelters in Need
Jul 02, 2021 Each year, we save thousands of lives of pets right here in Austin and Travis County, and in the counties immediately surrounding Austin. We also provide support, education, and animal transport guidance to shelters all over Texas and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to focus on animals who, without APA’s help, would die or face being killed in a shelter. For this reason, we ask shelters we support to do everything they can to keep as many pets as possible in their homes and communities, in order to reduce shelter intake. We...
Cat Who Saved Soldier’s Life in Afghanistan is Rescued in Return
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! Eleven years ago, my son Jesse was stationed in Afghanistan, and he rescued an injured kitten that he had seen around the base. It appeared the cat was being abused. He named the kitten Koshka (Russian for ‘cat’), nursed him back to health and took him into protective custody in his quarters to avoid further abuse. CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY/GERHARD BOGNER Soldiers are not supposed...
85-Year-Old Man Rescues Kittens Dumped In Paper Bag On Side Of The Road
Chuck Campbell’s curiosity saved a litter of newborn kittens. The 85-year-old man was driving down a country road in North Carolina when he spotted a paper bag on the side of the road. He pulled over and unfolded the bag, and was shocked to find five newborn kittens inside. They were huddled together and gasping for air. Photo: Facebook/SPCA of Wake County He knew he needed to find help and fast, so he contacted the SPCA of Wake County. “The kittens were starving and dehydrated, and at only two weeks old, their outlook was...
Beloved Black Bear Who Traveled Hundreds Of Miles Across The Midwest Euthanized
A beloved black bear named Bruno was humanely euthanized by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) after he was found suffering from severe injuries. Bruno was a much-needed distraction during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020. He was spotted traveling across multiple Midwestern states and acquired a devoted fan base that followed him on his journey. The nomadic bear went viral with hashtag #brunosjourney on Twitter. Thousands of people kept track of him as he made his way through Missouri and Illinois, including Illinois State...
Pledge to Keep Your Pets Safe During Fireworks and Summer Holidays
The Fourth of July stands for independence for all Americans, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. From small backyard cookouts, to neighborhood block parties, to fireworks at night, the Fourth is one of the biggest summer events in North America For pets, however, this holiday takes on a much different tone. As Purina reports, more pets run away on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. More pets run away on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. An estimated one-fifth of pet disappearances are due to very...
4 Ways To Make A Dog Memorial Garden
There are many ways to memorialize pets who pass on. Some people host a memorial service. Others plant a tree or write an obituary. Still more choose to create a memorial garden, which is a moving way to remember your pet — and honor the dog who loved to play outside. Follow these simple tips to create your own memorial garden for dogs who’ve crossed the Rainbow Bridge. 1. Mark The Perfect Spot Photo: The Animal Rescue Site Store The first step to making a memorial garden is to pick the perfect spot. Did your dog lounge in a sunny...
131 Pilot Whales Slaughtered In One Day During “Barbaric” Tradition On Faroe Islands
The sea around the Faroe Islands is stained red (once again) from the blood of hundreds of slaughtered whales as a tradition known as “Grindadrap” begins. The tradition dates back centuries when Viking ancestors killed whales as a way to feed the people, but that is not the case today. Many animal activists claim it is a barbaric tradition that has no place in our modern world. Photo: Pixabay Save The Reef said, ‘On average, 800 cetaceans are killed each year in the Faroe Islands in the name of “tradition”...
Why Are Dogs Afraid Of Fireworks? 5 Ways You Can Help Your Scared, Furry Friend
The fourth of July can be an exciting time in our country. Families gather for barbeques, beach days, and celebrations — typically capping off the night of fun with a fireworks show. However, if you’re a pet owner you may know the added level of fear associated with July 4th. The booming, sometimes unceasing noise of fireworks sends many pets into a panic, leaving them stressed and trembling. Unfortunately, as much as we may want to protect our pets, we can’t control or prevent others from setting off fireworks. So, in order...
People Are Riding And Feeding Friendly Dolphin Off Texas Coast, Putting Its Life At Risk
Thousands of dolphins are killed every year due to boat strikes, becoming entangled in fishing gear, and countless other human actions. The only way wild animals can stay “wild” is if humans keep their distance. When animals become reliant on people for food and are not afraid to approach them, it becomes dangerous for both the animal and people. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) biologists are concerned for the health and well-being of a friendly dolphin off the coast of North Padre Island in Texas. Photo:...
Human Animal Support Services in the news a year later
It’s been about a year since the Human Animal Support Services initiative officially launched. Based on the work of the amazing communities involved and the press that continues, we look forward to what the next year has in store! Below are just a handful of recent press articles from communities around the country, all working to reform the old animal sheltering model and to keep people and pets together. Animal Services achieves ‘top’ statusPasco County Animal Services (PCAS) has been recognized for...
Husky Reunited With Owner After Being Kidnapped Months Before
Snow is an adorable little husky pup living in Florida. Unfortunately, she spent two months away from her owner after she fell victim to a dognapping. It was a traumatic ordeal, but the moment that Snow saw her owner again, she was purely elated to be back home. It was as if she’d never been dognapped in the first place. Photo: Facebook/Miami-Dade Police Department As Sergeant Grisell Fernandez of the Miami-Dade Police Department shared with The Dodo, Snow’s disappearance is still under investigation. However, it was quite...
Dog Seen Attached To The Outside Of An RV During Scorching Heat Wave
Heather Peters was out and about when she saw an RV. While that’s not unusual in and of itself, what was attached to the outside of the RV was horrible. The driver had attached a dog crate to the rear of his RV and put his dog inside of it for the drive. Not only was the dog at high risk of injury and death from a fender-bender, but the scorching hot weather threatened heat stroke. Photos of the animal and RV spotted in Abbotsford, British Columbia were posted on social media for others to see, and Heather encouraged everyone to report...
Sneaky Dog Steals Half A Pizza While No One’s Watching
Dogs are some of the most intelligent creatures walking this planet. In fact, it sometimes feels like they play dumb to try and get one over on us. If your dog is anything like ours, they are definitely the type to try and underplay their intelligence for reasons like this one. When our dogs get hungry, it is like their sneaky side activates even more, and that seems to be what happened with one dog at an outdoor concert. Photo: YouTube/ViralHog “We were sitting watching the bands play on stage when we saw a dog come up to sniff the...
Policeman Rescues Dog Tied To A Mile Marker
For those of us who have a love of dogs and perhaps even have a dog in our home, there are stories that sometimes break our hearts. Perhaps that is where this story was going, but it ended on a very positive note. It happened in Greenport when a police officer saw a little dog tied to a mile marker. That dog, who is now known as Fern, had been abandoned but she is now living in a forever home with her rescuer. According to a Facebook post shared by the North Fork Animal Welfare League, “officer Crosser and his wife have officially...
Severely Abused Puppy Gets Justice
When we hear about somebody who abuses their dog, it makes our blood boil. When we hear about what Amber Sunde did to her dog, however, there are no words for it. She was caught abusing her puppy in Detroit, beating it and trying to throw it in a river. Fortunately, the Utica Police Department was able to get there in time and stop it from happening. The abuse was so bad that people saw her throwing the puppy, who had two broken legs and a skull fracture, into the Clinton River. The puppy was able to make it out of the river a number of times...
Bloodhound K-9 Sniffs Out Missing 6-Year-Old Girl And Her Abductor
Six-year-old Kinzleigh Reeder has been missing since May 26th, but thanks to the powerful nose of a bloodhound K-9 named Fred she is finally safe. Rutherford County Sheriff’s bloodhound and his handler, Deputy Richard Tidwell, joined forces with the department’s drone team, Rutherford County Fire & Rescue, and Holloway DeKalb County deputies to search for the missing girl. The girl went missing over a month ago after her father, Nicholas Reeder, allegedly abducted her. Fred was brought in to help track down Kinzleigh and her...
10 Dogs Wearing Wigs
Dogs are pretty good sports when it comes to dressing up. They allow their owners to do all kinds of silly costumes, hats, and wigs. Lately, the hashtag #dogwig has been making the rounds on social media as more dog owners find it hilarious to emulate hair on their furbabies’ heads. Naturally, the results are hilarious. Dogs have those big brown eyes that somehow look so sad and embarrassed when they’ve got something like a wig on their heads. Photo: Instagram/sybilthedobe Check out our top 10 favorites below: 1) Let me speak to a...
Puppy Wakes Up Extra Early So He Can Go Swimming In His New Pool
Are you a morning person? Some of us are, and some of us aren’t. More than likely, those of us who have pets have become morning people just by virtue of our pets preferring to get up bright and early. 9-month-old Oaklie is a silver Labrador who enjoys the routine of getting up at the crack of dawn. Apparently, this playful pup asked his owner to let him outside as early as 6:30 in the morning. While his owner assumed that he wanted out so early to access the facilities, that was not the case. As it turned out, what Oaklie really wanted...
Sportscaster Narrates His Dog ‘Hunting’ Her Sister In Viral Video
Sportscasters have quite a talent for narration. Watching a game is entertaining enough on its own, but it’s the sportscasters who really up the hype with their energetic commentary on the game at hand. Judging from one adorable video, it seems like once a sportscaster, always a sportscaster. Andrew Cotter is a Scottish sportscaster, and when he’s not commentating for his job, he’s providing very hilarious commentary on the adventures of his two dogs, Olive and Mabel. Photo: YouTube/mrandrewcotter He does it in “nature...
Dog Goes Viral For Its Heart-Shaped Face
Dogs come in all different shapes and sizes, and each one is unique and adorable in its own way. However, there are some dogs that have very specific appearances that set them apart from others in a very standout way. Because of this, a lot of dogs end up becoming viral sensations online. One of these dogs happens to be an Akita named Bob. The pup, whose full name is Bob Yanagida, is a long-haired Akita living in Japan. As a result of his fluffy hair, his face ends up taking on a unique heart shape. Photo: Instagram/yanagida_bob_akita There...
