Austin-area animal shelters busy over July 4 holiday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas animal shelters were busy over the July 4 holiday as many dogs were brought in, likely due to fireworks that spooked them.

Austin Animal Center took in 66 dogs and 47 cats between July 2 and 7, despite the shelter closing its intake last week due to overcapacity problems, a spokesperson said Monday. In this period, 74 dogs and 113 cats were moved out of the shelter via adoption, returning to owner, transfer and foster homes.

Austin Animal Center closed its animal intake July 2 and changed its intake to accept only animals that are a “clear public safety risk or are experiencing life-threatening illness or injury.”

A spokesperson said intake will reopen when its capacity is manageable. The shelter has 299 medium and large dogs as of Monday — well above the Austin shelter's capacity cap of 252 medium and large dogs. The shelter is also over capacity for puppies and small dogs and for cats.

In Williamson County, the regional animal shelter accepted 38 lost dogs between July 4 and July 7. Of these pups, 11 were put into foster and 13 were reunited.

The shelter's animal services director, Misty Valenta, said this year's intake numbers were comparable to previous July 4 holidays. This year, the shelter promoted reunions and fosters, which have "produced positive change."

Austin Pets Alive! does not have public intake, but the shelter made an effort to make room for new animals ahead of its busiest sheltering week of the year. A spokesperson said the nonprofit found homes for 218 pets before the July 4 holiday through adoptions, fosters and sleepovers.