SHELTER SERVICES
For numerous reasons, owners relinquish their pets to the Humane Society. The Humane Society takes in
approximately 2,700 unwanted dogs and cats a year. Animals are evaluated for their health and temperament,
and if adoptable, they are accepted and placed in the Pet Adoption Center.
Stray Animals
The Humane Society is a no-kill facility that accepts adoptable animals from owners and surrounding municipal shelters.
Our space is limited, and we do not have the capacity to handle strays.
If you have found a stray animal, please contact the Town Lake Animal Center
to ensure the best possible chance for the owner to reclaim the animal.
The Town Lake Animal Center is located at 1156 W Cesar Chavez, and the phone number is (512)972-4738.
Owner Surrender
If you have an animal that you would like to surrender through our program,
you must first make an appointment. Please contact us at 512-646-7387, ext. 241 and leave a description of your pet. You may also email our receiving department at receiving@austinhumanesociety.org. Please specify pet age, breed, size and reason of surrender, and include your name and a number where you can easily be reached. We will return your call within one business day to discuss the process or give you other resources if we cannot accept your pet.
Adoptable includes:
- an animal 8 weeks of age or older that, at the time:
- has manifested no sign of behavioral or temperamental
defect that could pose a health or safety risk to the public
or other animals and make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet.
- appears healthy, is showing no sign of disease, injury, congenital
or hereditary condition that might affect the health of the animal in the
future.
Requirements for acceptance:
To ensure and protect the health of our animal population, we have several requirements that must be met once the animal is accepted into the program and an appointment has been set. You must take care of this at your local veterinarian at a minimum of 7 days prior to the appointment and bring documentation from the vet to the receiving appointment.
- A heartworm test on dogs 6 months and older
- A Feline Leukemia / FIV combo test on cats 4 months and older
- A Feline Leukemia test on cats under 4 months.
- There is also a re-homing fee of $75
Required Vaccines:
- Within 6 months of the appointment, dogs must have Bordetella (kennel cough) and a (DHLPPcv), which
vaccinates for: Distemper, Hepatitis, Lepto, Parvo, Parainfluenza and Corona.
- Puppies must have their first DHLPPcv and Bordatella at a minimum of 7 days before the receiving appointment.
These requirements will be explained in detail if your animal is scheduled for an intake date.
Please do not abandon any animal at our facility.
Any abandoned animal will be sent to Town Lake Animal Center.
We do not have the capacity to handle animals that we are not prepared for and have no history on.
Feral cats have been identified as the number one factor in our city's high cat euthanasia rate. AHS is committed to reduce the feral cat population through an aggressive two-part Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program.
FERAL CAT SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM
This community program embraces the Trap/Neuter-Return (T/N/R) method of feral cat population control. T/N/R works! It is humane, non lethal, more effective than trap and kill, and is more reflective of a caring society. AHS provides a public spay/neuter program for Travis, Williamson, Bastrop and surrounding counties.
If you have or know of a feral cat colony that needs our attention, please contact Leticia Stivers at 512-646-7387 Ext. 245 or email at lstivers@austinhumanesociety.org
For a list of Clinic Dates and more information click here
Our clinic runs weekly and by appointment only.
Please contact Leticia Stivers, Program Coordinator for more information and to schedule your
appointment at 512-646-7387 Ext. 245 or email at lstivers@austinhumanesociety.org
**Stayed tuned as we keep you posted on our new 'Trapping Classes'. Learn the skills to become a certified trapper and help us save the lives of the thousands of feral cats living in Austin and surrounding areas!
A little history of our new program: On Friday, March 2, 2007, AHS launched the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Clinic at our facility on 124 West Anderson Lane. Thanks in part to the generous PetSmart Charities and ASPCA Mission Orange grants, the clinic offers sterilization and ear tipping of feral cats, along with a general exam, vaccinations and flea preventative. Experienced trappers can phone Leticia Stivers, Program Coordinator, for an appointment.
Pet Loss Support
The Pet Loss Support Group meets on the last Monday of every month from 7pm to 8:30pm. This group offers an environment of caring,
compassion and understanding for those who are anticipating the loss, or who have lost a cherished member
of their family. The support group meets in the Humane Society's Conference room
and is facilitated by dedicated staff and volunteers. The Pet Loss Support Group was created 15 years ago by Debra Rimmer LMSW-ACP, a licensed and practicing social worker of 20 years.
For more information on the Pet Loss Support Group, Please contact our Community Relations department by email at lstarr@austinhumanesociety.org, or by telephone 512.646.7387, Ext. 226
Dog Training
A Happy Dog is a Well Trained Dog
(Not to mention the owner!)
Two types of dog training classes are taught here at the Austin Humane Society: "Dog Manners", and Puppy "Head Start".
Classes use positive reinforcement based training, with no need for choke collars, pinch collars or shock collars!
The classes are limited to eight dogs to allow each dog and his or her family plenty of one-on-one time with our
trainers. All of our trainers are very experienced, and they are all members of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).
Classes are held in the evenings at the Austin Humane Society. New classes begin every month, so please check the calendar below for the next date to get started!
Puppy Head Start
Puppy Kindergarten is a 4-week class focusing on the important aspects of puppyhood such as socializing
with people and dogs, housebreaking, chewing, how dogs learn and stopping problems before they start. This class also
covers basic obedience issues such as sit, down, watch, not jumping on people, coming when called and walking on a
loose leash. The first class will be mandatory orientation. This orientation will provide the handler with an overview
of the classes and what they can expect from them. This class is for puppies between the ages of 8 weeks and 18 weeks
(4.5 months).
Dog Manners
Dog Manners is a consecutive 8-week class focusing on manners of the family dog such as sit, down, walking on a loose
leash, coming when called, not jumping on people, waiting at doors, stay and not stealing items from counters and tables.
The first class will be mandatory orientation. This orientation will provide the handler with an overview of the classes
and what they can expect from them. This class if for puppies and dogs ages 5 months and up.
Course Pricing
- $95.00 for dogs adopted from the Austin Humane Society or Town Lake Animal Center
- $105.00 for dogs not adopted from the Austin Humane Society
or Town Lake Animal Center
Course Schedule
Here's our Dog Manners and Puppy Kindergarten class schedule for 2008. Class space is limited so if you are interested in signing up, please contact us at the email or phone number below. Please indicate whether you have a puppy (under 5 months). Thanks!
| Class begins |
Meets weekly on: |
Class Offered |
Time |
January 30 - March 26 |
Wednesday |
Dog Manners |
7 - 8pm |
| January 30 - March 26 |
Wednesday |
Dog Manners |
8:15-9:15pm |
Tuesday, March 4 - March 25
|
Tuesday |
Puppy Head Start |
7 - 7:45pm |
March 20 - May 8
|
Thursday
|
Dog Manners |
7 - 8pm |
| March 20 - May 8 |
Thursday |
Dog Manners |
8:15 - 9:!5pm
|
| April 22 - May 13 |
Tuesday
|
Puppy Head Start |
7 - 7:45pm |
| April 30 - June 18 |
Wednesday |
Dog Manners |
7 - 8pm
|
| April 30 - June 18 |
Wednesday |
Dog Manners
|
8:15 - 9:15pm
|
| June 3 - June 24 |
Tuesday |
Puppy Head Start |
7 - 7:45pm
|
| June 26 - August 14 |
Thursday |
Dog Manners |
7 - 8pm
|
| June 26 - August 14 |
Thursday |
Dog Manners |
8:15 - 9:15pm
|
For more information please contact dogtraining@austinhumanesociety.org or call (512) 646-7387 ext. 234.
|
