Austin Pets Alive has rescued hundreds of animals from flood-ravaged areas across Central Texas, mobilizing search teams and emergency veterinary services as recovery efforts continue following the deadly July 4th weekend flooding that has claimed at least 68 lives in Kerr County alone. The organization transported approximately 100 animals from overwhelmed local shelters to its Austin facility since Friday, with additional transports arriving Sunday from Hill Country Humane.
The rescue operation represents one of the largest animal emergency responses in recent Texas history, unfolding as floodwaters from the Guadalupe River continue to recede across multiple counties.
Austin Pets Alive established a field veterinary hospital in Kerrville using a MASH-style setup to treat flood-injured animals on-site1. Teams of 20 to 30 volunteers are systematically scanning riverbanks for lost or injured pets, according to CBS Austin1.
"We've had so many situations where we've been able to help people keep the pets that they, even after they've lost everything, be able to keep their pet," Ellen Jefferson, CEO of Austin Pets Alive, told ABC News2. The organization has rescued animals from Kerr, Williamson, and Burnet counties, with more than 70 pets saved according to KSAT3.
The organization emptied local shelters to create space for lost-and-found operations, transferring animals to Austin Pets Alive's Town Lake facility1. Thirty-seven dogs and 75 cats were evacuated from Georgetown Animal Shelter and moved to Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, County Judge Steven Snell reported Monday2.
Austin Pets Alive is coordinating with Kerrville Pets Alive and multiple county shelters while managing both permanent relocations and temporary foster arrangements for pets whose owners are awaiting reunion3. The organization has initiated a separate tracking system for animals that will return to their families once owners recover.
Emergency foster volunteers are urgently needed, particularly for cats and ringworm-positive animals, with no experience required1. The organization accepts walk-in foster applications daily from noon to 6 p.m. at its Austin facility.
Donation centers have been established at Austin Pets Alive's Cesar Chavez location and in Kerrville, with supply drives extending beyond Texas borders23. Wisconsin-based rescue groups are organizing supply drives, demonstrating the interstate response to the crisis4.
Jefferson emphasized the complexity of coordinating the response from Austin Pets Alive's 75-year-old facility, noting that "there's not a single piece of this that has been easy or simple"5.
