Austin Animal Center asking residents to foster lost pets that are found

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AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Animal Center is now asking residents to foster lost pets that they find instead of bringing them to the shelter.

The Austin Animal Center is preparing for a potential impact to shelter operations in the event of a CO-VID 19 outbreak in Travis County. The animal shelter said in a series of tweets that they are preparing for the coronavirus pandemic to affect both the staff’s ability to report to work and foot traffic of potential adopters.

Residents in Austin-Travis County can help in two major ways, according to the Austin Animal Shelter. One, by taking steps to reunite lost pets with their families and, two, signing up to be an emergency foster in the event that the shelter's capacity is overwhelmed. 

Steps you can take to reunite lost pets with their families:

• Submit a Found Animal Report by calling 311 or using the Austin 311 app. 
• Take the animal to any Austin fire station or recreation center, a veterinarian, emergency animal hospital or pet store to have the pet scanned for a microchip.
• Post the pet as found on sites like Nextdoor, Craigslist and Austin Lost and Found Pets.
• Hang flyers where the pet was found, as most pets are found less than 1,000 feet from their home.

The Austin Animal Center is also asking for more residents to volunteer as emergency fosters.

The Austin Animal Center is not only preparing for a potential impact to shelter operations in the event of a CO-VID 19 outbreak in Travis County, but also expecting a massive annual influx of kittens due to kitten season.

"We're already preparing for a massive annual influx of kittens due to kitten season, a time in the spring and summer months when thousands of neonatal kittens flood shelters," Austin Animal Center explained in a series of tweets. "Without adequate staff and space, the potential exists for less kittens to survive this yr than in yrs past. In order to save lives, #AAC needs additional fosters willing to care for kittens."

To sign up to be an emergency foster or to learn more, click here.