Austin Animal Center Reaches Capacity, Pauses Intake

As of Tuesday, the Austin Animal Center is temporarily pausing intake due to overwhelming overcapacity. The center will only take in animals facing life-threatening injuries/illness or those posing a public safety risk.

According to a news release, the shelter has taken various actions to ameliorate the overcapacity problem...including waiving adoption fees [and] paying for boarding services for 24 dogs...racking up a weekly cost of about $5,000 to $6,000.

Despite their efforts, Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland stated that as of Monday morning, the center had 24 dogs and 5 cats without adequate kennels. With intakes outpacing adoptions, the center is left with no choice but to pause admissions.

Advice to Austin Residents:

• For assistance with injured animals, call 311 and ask for an animal protection officer.
• For non-injured loose pets, file a found pet report and check the center's lost animal portal.
• The center remains open for adoptions/reclaim every day from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Intake will resume once kennel space becomes available.