How to Help Texas Animal Rescues and Shelters Affected by Freezing Weather

“We are facing Pupageddon,” the rescue group Dallas DogRRR – Rescue.Rehab.Reform wrote on its Facebook page Feb. 18. Record-breaking freezing temperatures have left millions without heat or electricity in Texas, including animals and the people who rescue and shelter them.

Here’s what you can do to help some of these shelters and rescues. If you know of others that need help due to the freezing weather, please leave a comment and I’ll add them to the list.

Austin Pets Alive!

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is serving as a “mega-center” during this disaster, according to a Feb. 19 post on its Facebook page.

“Despite facing countless challenges, including a days-long power outage, impassable roads, water loss, and facility damage, APA! has continued life-saving efforts,” wrote the nonprofit, which is dedicated to keeping Austin no-kill.

In the coming weeks, APA! estimates that over 5,000 animals in Austin and the surrounding areas will need help. “Our team is already fielding requests to pull animals from hard-hit areas across the state and we continue to receive requests for help with food, bedding, water and supplies as so many are displaced from their homes,” APA! wrote on its website.

You can help by:

• Making an online cash donation via the APA! website.
• Donating items from APA!’s Amazon.com wish list. Check its website for the current most urgent needs.
• If you’re in the Austin area and need or can donate pet items, check out the APA! Cold @ Emergency Response Facebook group.

Dallas DogRRR

“It’s bad here in the Rio Grande Valley—really really bad. Moms frozen with their babies, people trying to put together makeshift shelters and tents for some strays, the dogs are dropping like flies!” wrote an animal rescuer in the Rio Grande Valley who is partnered with Dallas DogRRR, a group of volunteers that rescue animals mainly in the southeast Dallas area.

“The shelters are bursting,” the volunteer wrote. “Owner surrenders right and left. Shelter having issues with frozen bursting pipes. Trying to hold the cold back and find rescue to get the dogs out.”

You can help by:

• Making an online cash donation via DogRRR’s website.
• Donating items from DogRRR’s Amazon.com wish list.

Yaqui Animal Rescue

Located in Sullivan City in the Rio Grande Valley, Yaqui Animal Rescue is a no-kill, non-profit shelter on an 80-acre ranch. According to its website, the Rio Grande Valley and neighboring cities have the largest stray animal population in the United States.

This week Yaqui Animal Rescue lost power and all of its pipes broke, leaving the shelter without water.

You can help by:

• Making an online cash donation via the Yaqui Animal Rescue’s website.
• Donating items from Yaqui Animal Rescue’s Amazon wish list.

Houston SPCA

As temperatures plunged to single digits, the Houston SPCA received about 150 phone calls each day about animals left outside in the freezing cold, CNN reports.

The nonprofit’s team of 10 cruelty investigators has been putting in long hours saving the lives of these animals.

“Now that we are warming up … now is when our work is really going to start,” Julie Kuenstle, Houston SPCA vice president of communications, told CNN. “That’s what usually happens with a disaster.”

You can help by:

• Making an online cash donation via the Houston SPCA’s website.
• Donating items from the Houston SPCA’s Amazon.com wish list.