The Williamson County Animal Shelter is asking the public to aid in adopting, fostering and rescuing animals at their shelter as they continue to run at overcapacity.
“Yesterday, 17 dogs and cats left the shelter and 20 came in 😭,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. “Our number today is 78. We are still over capacity. We need to find adopters, fosters, and rescues for 78 dogs and cat by the end of this weekend.”
Summertime is typically a busy time of the year for the shelter, April Peiffer, Community Programs Coordinator for the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, told Hello Georgetown. Between an increase in kitten intakes, as well as a slowdown in adoptions during the summer months, the shelter is usually very full.
“We’re taking in more animals than are being sent out the door, through adoptions and fosters, because of that normal fluctuation of human habit, I suppose you would say,” Peiffer told Hello Georgetown. “So, what that means for us is we have far more animals to care for here then is really comfortable. We have a commitment to give each and every animal the quality care that it deserves, and that the community has told us they want us to give to the animals, and because of that large number of animals we have here, we’re worried that we may not be able to continue to do that if we continue to see the intake outweigh the outgoing.”
Reuniting Pets with Owners Before Going to the Shelter
There are several things people can do to help the shelter. One way to help particularly fewer stray or lost animals come in, Peiffer said, involves keeping the lost animal around for a little longer and seeing if you can help reunite them with their owners yourself.
“We also encourage folks, if they find a stray pet, to hold onto it for a while, maybe walking around the neighborhood it was found in,” she said. “We’ve discovered over the last few years…that most animals are actually found within a mile or two of where they live. So, if you’re bringing an animal to a shelter that’s in Georgetown, and say you live in Leander, someone in Leander may not know that the shelter in Georgetown even exists, and if that animal is kept in the neighborhood in Leander, and say, walked around, put signs up, put posts on your local social media sources like Facebook and Nextdoor, you might have a really good shot at getting that animal home.”
However, Peiffer added, if you find a stray animal and can’t care for it, or it’s sick or injured, definitely don’t hesitate to bring the animal in.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Peiffer said. “We want those animals if they’re from within our jurisdiction to come to us. But, we’re finding that people, through a little bit of effort, are able to reunite animals with their owners pretty successfully through the use of social media, and even just standard, easy to do things like walking around the neighborhood, putting signs up…some people put signs in their front yard saying, ‘I have this lost dog here.’ There’s lots of creative things that people can do, and then of course, spay and neuter your pets.”
Locating Your Lost Pet Already At the Shelter
If you have lost your pet and they’ve been taken to the shelter, try looking online on the shelter’s website as part of your search process.
Lost animals can be viewed and located on the WCRAS website | Image Courtesy: WCRAS
“What we want the public to know is that we’re here,” Peiffer said. “If they’ve lost their pet, please come and find your pet here and take it home. Our website has a listing of the lost animals that are here at the shelter. If their animal has gone missing, they can see that animal possible on our website and come and reclaim it from us.”
The lost pets section of the WCRAS website can be found here.
Fostering Pets Already At the Shelter
With so many pets currently at the shelter, fostering is an especially great way to have an impact of multiple animals at the shelter, Peiffer said.
“When you foster a pet, you’re actually helping two animals,” Peiffer said. “Not only the animal that you take home with you, but you’ve created space in the shelter for another animal. So, you’re doubling your impact.”
Fostering isn’t difficult either, she added. Foster animals are paired with the right person, the right environment and even the right energy level.
“If you’re, say a retired senior who doesn’t have a lot of activity, we’re not going to send you home with a super high energy animal,” she said. “We’re going to find somebody who’s going to be a good match for your home.”
Additionally, the shelter helps foster volunteers with supplies like crates, if needed, dog beds, bowls, collars, leashes and sometimes even food depending on what the shelter has in stock at the time. WCRAS has also created a social media group for foster volunteers to support each other and ask questions.
“We have a Facebook group that is specific to fosters,” Peiffer said. “So, they can join the foster group on Facebook, and if there are any questions, plroblems, they need advice, things like that, they can post there [and] get help.”
The shelter also has people on staff fosters can contact in an emergency.
“We do every single thing that we can possible do to make sure that fosters feel supported through the process,” she added.
Applying to be a foster volunteer is easy. You can fill out the Foster Application by clicking the link here to give a dog or cat a two-week break from the shelter and make space for additional animals at the shelter.
Adopting a Pet from the Shelter
If you’re ready to permanently add a new furry family member, then adoption is great way to help the shelter too.
“Our special this week – FREE adoptions of all cats, kittens, and medium/large adult dogs if you make an appointment; $5 for walk-ins,” the shelter wrote on Facebook.
Animals available for adoption can be viewed online | Image Courtesy: WCRAS
WCRAS posts pictures and a profile of each adoptable animal on their website (which you can view by clicking here), and by simply emailing adoption@wilco.org, you can schedule an appointment to adopt.
“If you’re interested in adding a furry family member, now’s the time,” Peiffer said. “Don’t wait. You’re off for the summer, or the kids are home for the summer, now is a great time to adopt a new family member because now is when you have the time to let it get acclimated to your home.”
Other Ways to Help the Shelter
Additionally, the shelter is always in need of volunteers and donations. Monetary donations can be made or if you’d like to help out with supplies by purchasing from the shelter’s wishlist.
For more information about the shelter, adoptable animals and how you can help, visit http://pets.wilco.org, the WCRAS Facebook page or their Instagram profile.
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