Tag: Houston SPCA

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:

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:

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:

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:

How to Help Animal Shelters and Rescues Affected by Texas Floods

AUGUST 2017 UPDATE: Here’s how to help animal shelters and rescues affected by Hurricane Harvey.

JUNE 3, 2016 UPDATE: Exactly one year later, Texas is again being pounded by record-breaking rain. Here’s information about how to help more animal shelters and rescues.

Texas, as you know, has been deluged with rain over the past couple of weeks, resulting in devastating flooding.

Animal shelters and rescues throughout the state are being overwhelmed by the influx of homeless pets. The following are just a few that need our help so they can continue helping these four-legged flood victims.

Dallas DogRRR

Back in March, Dallas DogRRR–Rescue.Rehab.Reform. made news headlines twice: for rescuing a puppy daddy who led volunteers to his puppy mama and their litter; and, just two weeks later, for rescuing “Pitty and Kitty,” a starving Pit Bull and the abandoned 2-day-old kitten she was nursing.

Now, after severe weather hit the area, Dallas DogRRR really needs our help.

“Boarding, vet bills and supporting the fosters are costing us thousands, and especially with the recent flooding and weather here in Texas, we’re struggling keeping up our donations to support those efforts,” said volunteer Jennifer Garrison.

You can make a donation to Dallas DogRRR through their Crowdwise donation site.

Dallas DogRRR also needs to find forever homes for homeless dogs like best friends Ellie and Lily. Ellie is a young Black Lab who thinks she’s a lap dog. She gets along well with other dogs, cats and kids. Lily is a Chocolate Lab mix who has a big personality and, like Ellie, also gets along well with other dogs, cats and older kids. For more information, email LindsayDallasDogRRR@yahoo.com.

The rescue will be holding two dog adoption events this month at these Texas locations:

  • June 6 – Hollywood Feed, 2170 FM 423, Little Elm; 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • June 27 – Alamo Drafthouse, 100 S. Central Expressway, Richardson; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Austin Pets Alive!

When local animal lovers found out the Austin Pets Alive! shelter had been flooded over Memorial Day weekend (that’s the shelter in the photo at the top of this post), they lined up in the rain to do what they could to help. Many of them fostered the displaced pets, while many others helped clean up the mess at the shelter.

Thanks to these awesome people, as well as a grant from the Petco Foundation, APA! was able to save 340 animals.

To make a donation to help APA! help more animals, click here. The rescue will also be holding several fundraising events this month. Check its website for the dates and locations.

Maybe the city’s famous slogan “Keep Austin Weird” should be changed to “Keep Austin Weird — and Compassionate!”

Houston SPCA

“Due to the severe weather, there have been a lot of stray animals caught in precarious situations,” Lisa Rotter, community outreach manager for the Houston SPCA, told ABC News last week, after a tornado swept through part of the city.

Volunteers supplied loving care, food and water to four-legged survivors staying in an American Red Cross evacuation center, while other volunteers worked at the Houston SPCA shelter.

“Dedicated staff and volunteers made their way to the Houston SPCA despite flooding and road closures to ensure that the animals are cared for and safe,” the Houston SPCA wrote on its Facebook page May 26.

To make a donation to the Houston SPCA, click here.

Photos: Austin Pets Alive! Facebook page; courtesy of Dallas DogRRR; Houston SPCA Facebook page

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