AUSTIN (KXAN) — While Central Texas deals with crippling heat, there are thousands of adoptable animals that would love to be curled up in the air conditioning with you. “Clear the Shelters” is happening at rescue organizations area-wide right now. It turns out that program is critical for places like Austin Pets Alive! (APA).
“There are so many animals out on the streets and in shelters, it would feel wrong just getting a purebred,” Anastasia Andraga said. She was one of dozens of people visiting the shelter on Saturday.
That alone has enough to get tails wagging at APA on a brutally hot summer day. The shelter is a nonprofit that is focused on giving dogs, and other animals, that might have unique behavioral or medical quirks a second chance, Adoption and Foster manager Sara Miles said.
The shelter is packed with pooches and crammed with cats, hoping to find their forever home.
“There’s a fantastic selection. There’s a lot of different breeds, and they all have very different temperaments, so no matter what’s someone’s looking for they will probably find it,” Andraga added.
APA is one of a handful of Austin-area organizations participating in the annual event which began a decade ago. To date, “Clear the Shelters” said it has helped get more than one million animals adopted nationwide.
Miles said she knows the importance of events like this.
“Every year we are just blown away by how many community members just want to step forward and help us get the dogs out,” she said.
The help could not come sooner.
“The hot weather with the dogs in our kennels [is tough],” Miles said. “We have misters and fans for them.”
Everyone, even those with four legs, battled to keep cool.
“The best way for the [animals] to get help is for them to find their forever homes,” Miles added.
A good suggestion as the dog days of summer do not appear to be going away any time soon.