Shelter issues urgent plea for help

Austin Animal Center has issued an urgent appeal to the public to step up and help foster a shelter dog or to find homes for lost and stray dogs on their own. The shelter is full and there is no more kennel space for medium-sized and large dogs, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer Jason Garza said. Even kennels that are kept in reserve for injured or sick dogs are in use and some dogs are being housed in crates for the time being. On top of that, the shelter is short-staffed. Garza explained that, “Despite making every effort to get as many dogs out as possible through adoption, foster and rescue partners, stray dogs keep pouring in. To be a no-kill community means we need the community’s help.” In a news release, the shelter urges community members to “work with your neighbors if you find a loose dog.” According to studies, most stray dogs have homes that are within a few blocks of where they are found. “By walking the dog around, knocking on doors and posting on Nextdoor and Facebook, finders can significantly increase the chance of the dog being reunited with its family. Keeping a dog out of the shelter helps keep that pet healthy and saves space for dogs that have no other options,” adds the release. Want to offer a shelter dog a temporary foster home? Read about fostering here, view the list of adorable mutts who need foster homes here and then fill out a foster application here.