Central Texas floods spotlight need for Clear the Shelters

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Every year, KXAN partners with Central Texas animal shelters and rescues with the goal of getting thousands of animals adopted into forever homes. However, some of these groups say this year's Clear the Shelters campaign is more important than ever, just one month after deadly and devastating flash floods ravaged the area.

Austin Pets Alive! helped coordinate search, rescue, recovery and reunification efforts across more than six flood-affected counties. The organization reported taking in more than 2,000 animals, with the help of a network of adopters, fosters, volunteers and other rescues.

"When they've lost everything, people need their pets. They need them to be there. They need to know that they're safe," said APA! President and CEO Dr. Ellen Jefferson. "When we've encountered people that have lost literally everything -- a home, their car, family members -- even the pet still plays an integral role, and not losing that pet becomes one of the most important things that that they have."

On July 4, within hours of reports of the devastation from the Guadalupe River, volunteers and staff were on the ground in Kerr County. They worked to clear out dogs and cats from kennels in Kerr County, in order to make room for other animals coming in.

"To make sure that pets weren't accidentally euthanized in shelters because they ran out of time to be found by owners or they were in shelters before the flood hit," Dr. Jefferson explained.

These efforts continued and even expanded, as flash floods threated other areas such as Sandy Creek in Travis County and Georgetown in Williamson County.

In all, APA! reported more than 1,000 animals went to foster homes and more than 800 were adopted. Plus, more than 700 dogs and cats were transported to other locations for a chance at a new life. Some were even flown out of state to safety, with the help of groups such as Best Friends Animal Society, Dog Is My CoPilot, Petco Love, and Wings of Rescue.

Dr. Jefferson said crisis gives this year's Clear the Shelters a new meaning and a new goal. This year, APA! is aiming to get 1,000 animals into homes during the campaign -- an increase from last year's 615.

She emphasized that it's not only about adoptions but also looking at the whole system and helping people be part of a solution.

"How do people and pets stay together? How do we help people help pets, rather than trying to re-home people's pets?" she said.

'A really remarkable time'

In the aftermath of the floods, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter began pointing people toward Petco Love Lost, a lost-and-found pet database.

"We believe if there is a family searching -- longing to be reunited with that pet -- why are we looking for a new one?" said Animal Services Director Misty Valenta.

For months, the Georgetown city shelter and WCRAS had been planning a major merger, scheduled for August. The goal was to better serve the people and pets in the county.

However, those plans changed in the early morning hours of July 5. Just one day after the disaster began down in Kerr County, floodwaters began to rise in Williamson County, as well. Valenta said they got a sudden call from Georgetown, saying the city shelter was at risk of flooding and needed to evacuate.

"That's not a call that we took lightly," she said.

Within three hours of that phone call, the city shelter had been emptied. The Georgetown pets had all been moved to either WCRAS or to foster homes.

Two days later, as rain and the threat of rising rivers continued across Central Texas, another call came in from the shelter in Lampasas. It faced evacuation, and again, Williamson County stepped up again.

"Within days, we had taken in almost 200 animals -- above the 350 we were already caring for --and in that period of time, we had families step up so much that 300 pets went into foster during that time period," Valenta explained. "It was a hard time, but also a really remarkable time. We're always talking about how our community is the best community, and they proved it again and again."

She said WCRAS hopes to extend that kind of helping hand to small shelters again, during its Clear the Shelters event on August 23. They are teaming up with Killeen Animal Services, the Lampasas Animal Shelter, and the Hill Country Humane Society at the WCRAS campus from noon until 6 p.m.

'That's the reality'

This year's Clear the Shelters comes as the municipal shelters in both Travis and Hays counties face critical capacity levels.

At the Austin Animal Center, some animals are staying in crates and kennels in offices or hallways. At times over the last few years, it has had to close intake -- meaning it would not accept owner-surrendered or healthy, stray animals.

The city's new interim chief animal services officer, Rolando Fernandez, told KXAN they are working hard to keep intake open.

"Our data says this: we have more animals coming in that we have coming out, and that's the reality of it," he said.

According to a national database known as the Shelter Animals Count, more than 800,000 animals came into Texas shelters in 2024 -- more than any other state in the country. Its end-of-year report also showed dogs are staying in shelters for longer stretches of time.

Fernandez pointed to a new strategic plan for animal services, passed by city council and meant to guide the department over the next five years. Under that plan, he said they hope to offer more resources to families to keep them with their pets. He also said they may ask community members to care for an animal for a found animal for few days, while they work to find them a home.

"That plan requires us -- and asks us -- that we work with other people in our community," he said. "We can't do it alone. We have to work with other agencies in the community to best serve our community."

Fernandez took over in April, after the center's former top leader, Don Bland, was put on administrative leave and ultimately retired. Bland had faced criticism over issues at the center, including overcrowding.

While only on the job for a few months, Fernandez said he's focused on supporting the center's staff -- as well as the goal of preventing pets from ever entering the shelter system.

When he thinks about the Clear the Shelters push, he said he has a prayer and an ask for the Austin community: "What I would love to see is: we have all animals, you know, adopted or fostered, and my staff can take at least one good breath of respite for that day -- knowing that we're probably gonna have more animals come in the next day."

In Hays County, San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter echoed the overcrowding concerns. Its community engagement coordinator, Minnie Buckhaults, said they've been at critical capacity for around three years, as they try to serve all of growing Hays County.

"We are seeing several medium to large dogs sit for several months," she said. "It's a concern because of kennel stress, deterioration. We want them at their mental and healthiest when they go home," she explained.

The end-of-year report from the Shelter Animals Count reveals, dogs stayed in shelters for longer periods of time in 2024 nationwide.

That's why the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is waiving adoption fees at its August 23 Clear the Shelters event. Their goal is to get at least 30 dogs adopted and potentially even "clear out" their cat room.

She's seen it happen in years past and said she hopes the community will come through again to give staff -- and the animals -- a moment to breathe.

"We are so happy they are in a home, getting walked twice a day, getting love and affection," she said. "I know people say animal shelters are sad, but without good people coming to them and adopting or fostering or volunteering their time, it would be even sadder."