Austin Animal Center reduces animal intake hours due to 'critical capacity' issues

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Animal Center is restricting intake hours to help alleviate capacity issues, with the center currently operating at "critical capacity."

As of May 20, 654 cats and dogs were onsite at the animal shelter, according to a city memo, a 15% increase just since May 8. In addition, before the shelter opened on May 20, "there were area residents with animals lined up outside the building requesting intake," Jason Garza, deputy chief animal services officer, said in the memo.

Compounding the capacity issue, the shelter took in a seizure of 40 cats from the Travis County Constable's Office, after the owner surrendered them.

"Unfortunately, there is no space for incoming medium/large dogs, small dogs, cats or kittens," Garza said. "Five roosters are currently being housed in covered, outdoor kennels because they were displaced from indoor kennels due to an influx of guinea pigs and rabbits over the weekend."

The shelter is limiting intake hours to between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day, starting Friday, in an effort to alleviate capacity issues and avoid issuing euthanasia notices. The only exceptions are if an animal shows extreme signs of distress, such as heat stroke, young litters that need to be bottle fed and animals with obvious injuries.

For those looking to adopt a pet, the shelter is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shelter is located at 7201 Levander Loop.