Animal Overabundance At Shelter Prompts Urgent Call For Adoption, Foster Care

AUSTIN, TX -- Animal Center officials are asking the public for assistance in locating owners of some of the animals sheltered at the municipal facility given a higher than normal number of dogs and cats residing at the facility.

“We need help saving pets lives, now more than ever," chief animal service officer Tawny Hammond said in a statement. "The situation at the Animal Center today is serious; we are completely out of space for incoming pets right now. We have many beautiful, owned and well cared for dogs and cats sitting in kennels and cages waiting for their families to come and take them home.”

Officials suggest communicating with neighbors and friends about how to locate a lost pet. Furthermore, people can utilize social media to help spread the word where Austin Animal Center is located and how easy it is to reclaim your lost pet.

People are urged to drop by the facility to reclaim a pet, especially since animal are held for only three days before they become the city's property and available for adoption.

Austin Animal Center is also asking anyone who has room in their home to foster a medium to large dog for a minimum of two weeks to help alleviate the shelter's current space issues. Potential fosters are encouraged to come to the shelter and pick out a dog.

To that end, reclaim fees are being waived for any spayed or neutered dog or cat until further notice. If a reclaimed pet is not altered, a discount is being offered for the spay or neuter surgery.

The Center is also offering $20 adoptions to anyone who adopts a pet by Sunday, May 22. All adopted pets will have spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, a microchip and ID tag.

The Center also offers free microchips and ID tags to all pets of Travis County, no appointment necessary.

The Austin Animal Center is open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 7201 Levander Loop. For more information, call 3-1-1 or visitwww.austinanimalcenter.org.

For photos of lost or adoptable pets and updates about Austin Animal Center, check the Center's Facebook Page @Austin Animal Center.

>>> Image via Animal Shelter