PASS-Pet Resources Guide (HAYS COUNTY)

Hays County Pet Resources Guide

Pet Resource, Education, and Research Center

In this guide you will find the following:

About PASS

Community Resources

Housing/Utilities

Food Assistance

Temporary Fostering

Medical Assistance

Behavior Resources

Rehoming Support and Services

Helpful Tips and Tricks for Rehoming

Evaluating Potential Adopters

The Adoption Process

Pet Relinquishment

End of Life Resources

About PASS

Our Austin Pets Alive! Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS) program is designed to help you keep your pet instead of surrendering them to the shelter. Contact PASS to discuss your needs and challenges to help you keep your pet instead of surrendering them to the shelter. Our team can provide:

  • Emergency pet food
  • Pet resource assistance
  • Referrals to outside social service and animal welfare agencies

While our goal is to help you resolve the problems you are experiencing so that you can keep your pet, we also understand that some problems are out of your control and may require you to relinquish your pet. Our PASS case managers will walk you through the process to help try to set your pet up for success with PASS. 

To request assistance from a PASS case manager, please submit this form: https://form.jotform.com/doobertrescue/apa-pass-form

For additional support, a variety of other programs are also searchable by zip code at findhelp.org

For Lost or Found Animals IN HAYS COUNTY, please check the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter info HERE.

For Found Kittens (under 8 weeks), please view this guide.

Community Resources

  • Housing/Utilities

  • Including pet deposits

  • Food Assistance

  • Mental and Behavioral Health Assistance

  • Temporary Fostering Options

             Pet Emergency Sheet: PDF I DOC : Fill out a copy to have on hand for each pet in  

           case emergency placement is needed.

        Red Cross Pet Emergency Preparedness Planning

Temp foster agreement template

A variety of other programs are also searchable by zip code at Findhelp.org

Medical Assistance

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter cannot treat owned animals due Texas Veterinary/Legal restrictions.

AFFORDABLE URGENT CARE VET SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH:

CENTRAL TEXAS FREE/AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY CLINIC CALENDAR

PALS TNR, SPAY/NEUTER/FOOD PANTRY CALENDAR

Affordable Veterinary Care

Veterinary Surgical Solutions

9231 Burnet Rd. #102

Austin, TX 78758

(512) 428-6167

Emancipet Clinic

Multiple Locations

(512) 587-7729

Banfield Pet Hospital

Multiple Locations

VetCo

Multiple Locations

VCA Animal Hospital

Multiple locations

Wildflower Animal Hospital

20640 Ranch to Market Road 150, Unit B

Driftwood, TX 78619

512-943-6990

ZippiVet Kyle

5896 Kyle Pkwy, Kyle, TX 78640

(512) 548-4041

Apollo Veterinary

101 Twilight Trail, Wimberley, TX 78676

(512) 648-6477

Central Texas Emergency/Urgent Care Clinics

CTVSEH - South Austin

4434 Frontier Trail

Austin, TX 78745

512-892-9038

i35 Market Place Animal Hospital

651 N Business IH35

Suite 1310

New Braunfels, TX 78130

(830) 209-6600

Veterinary Emergency Group - S. Lamar

4211 S. Lamar Blvd.

Suite A-10

Austin, TX 78704

737-243-9408

NB Animal Urgent Care

280 North Business Interstate Highway 35

Suite 100

New Braunfels , TX 78130

(830) 223-4830

Allure Integrated Pet Specialists

22525 IH 35 N,

New Braunfels, TX 78132

(210) 874-2727

Vet Bill Assistance

  • Email a request with pet details, clinic contact info, and other pertinent info for review by a Pet Support Specialist

Pet Insurance/Discount Programs

Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Vaccines, Microchips, Preventatives

Bastrop County:

Hays County

Caldwell County

Comal County

Guadalupe County

Blanco County

Austin Pets Alive! Medical Resources

The Austin Pets Alive Medical Clinic cannot legally treat owned animals! The clinic team manages care/treatment/surgeries for over 1,000 pets in Austin Pets Alive’s custody at any given time that we pull from partnering shelters in Texas who are most at risk of euthanasia.  

Please review the Community Clinic Calendar and resources listed above to get your pets vaccinated, chipped, and spay/neutered for free or affordable rates!

  • If your dog is showing symptoms of parvovirus (lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, the Austin Pets Alive Clinic can test them for just $20. Please email medicalreception@austinpetsalive.org with Parvo test in the subject line and include pics, how long ago the symptoms started, and any other details.
  • If the pup is stable enough for at home treatment, our clinic can provide three day treatment for just $150.

Behavior Resources

If your pet has a behavioral issue, there are many resources on the internet to assist you. You’re also welcome to post on the PASS Facebook Community page and ask for trainer recommendations.

DOGS:

CATS:

RABBITS:

Grooming Services

Boarding/Sitting Services

Rehoming Support and Services

DO NOT REHOME FOUND ANIMALS!  Please refer to the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter Lost & Found guide for more information.

If you adopted your pet from APA!, please email adopt@austinpetsalive.org with the name of the person who signed the adoption paperwork or your pet's microchip number, and the reason for the return, so they can locate the info in our system and send you return information.

If not, did you adopt from any other rescue? Most take their animals back.

If you are short on time, we suggest making a shelter appointment so you will have it in case rehoming does not work.

Helpful Tips and Tricks for Rehoming

Deciding that your pet needs a new home is not an easy decision. We’re here to support you and your pet. Finding a home for your pet on your own and keeping them out of the shelter is beneficial to both YOU AND YOUR PET.

Feature your pets on the APA! website for just $1!*! Through our unique partnership with AdoptaPet.com, we are excited to feature pets in our community looking for new homes on our website, which receives over 35,000 views a month.

To list your pet, simply:

*Please enter this coupon code to have your listing fee reduced to $1:RCXHAQTL2U8AD8Z

Classic Canines Rehoming Courtesy post form (for pups 7+yrs or older)

You’re also welcome to reach out to other rescue partners directly: San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter Approved Partners List

  • A healthy pet is easier to rehome. Make certain your pet is up-to-date on all vaccinations. Provide copies of the vet paperwork. If your pet is not spayed or neutered, we highly recommend getting this done. See low cost services above.

  • It is better for your pet if you are able to rehome them yourself. The shelter can be a very stressful environment for any pet. Ask people in person, but also leave a flyer so they can contact you if they know of someone or decide to adopt your pet themselves. Ask family, friends and co-workers if they know anyone who is looking for a new pet.

  • Location
  • Pets Name
  • Age
  • Breed
  • Sex
  • Spayed/Neutered
  • Vaccine Status
  • Flea meds
  • Brief bio
  • Good with Kids?  Other pets?  Favorite Toys?  Temperament?  Bite History?
  • Rehoming Fee
  • Recent photos

Evaluating Potential Adopters

Use the Dog Adopter Questionnaire and Cat Adopter Questionnaire to help!  

  1. Interview carefully. You should interview potential adopters carefully to ensure they are a good fit for your pet. You can use the sample adoption interview questionnaire we have provided for you in this guide.
  2. Be thorough. You should thoroughly review all questionnaire forms and information. Being thorough will help you evaluate whether or not the potential adopter and their home is compatible with the unique needs of your pet. Does your pet get along with small children? Does your pet need a lot of room to run? Does your pet get along with other animals? Does your pet have a lot of energy? It is important to make sure that your pet fits into the life and lifestyle of a potential adopter and that your pet is a good match for the type of companion animal the potential adopter is looking for.
  3. Going above and beyond. If you are looking for additional ways to make an informed decision on whether or not the potential adopter is a good placement option for your pet, you can ask for additional information including references from a friend or neighbor, what clinic or practice they currently seek veterinary care from or where are they looking to establish a relationship for veterinary care, or whether the potential adopter’s current pets are received routine medical care.
  4. Give yourself some time. Rehoming your pet is a big decision and a difficult one at that. Take the time you need to review applications and interview potential adopters. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured into making a quick decision or a decision that you are not completely comfortable with. Your judgment is your best guide and if you do not feel that the potential adopter is a good fit, chances are you are right.
  5. Follow-up. Establish a communication plan with the potential adopter so that you can follow-up with them and give them an opportunity to contact you with any questions or concerns they may have. Open and honest dialogue is an important part of the rehoming process. Be sure to establish a communication plan so that you can follow-up on your pet after they are adopted to see how they are adjusting in their new home with their new family.

The Adoption Process

Once you have found the perfect new home for your pet, the adoption process can begin.

  1. Arrange the meetup. Arrange a time and public place for you and the adopter to meet up. A well known spot and area is recommended for your safety. To help your pet transition into their new home, it is important to provide their favorite toys, bedding, carrier, kennel, litter box, and/or other familiar items. It is also nice to give the adopter any remaining pet food you have so they know what diet your pet is eating so they can either continue to provide the same food or successfully transition the pet onto a new diet.
  2. Transfer records. It is important to provide the new owner with copies of any and all veterinary records you have. To make the transfer super easy, you should offer to contact your veterinarian to send the pet’s records directly to the new owner’s preferred veterinary clinic. You may need to provide this request in writing to your veterinarian. Be sure to alert your clinic of the new ownership in the process.
  3. Document the change of ownership. It is incredibly important that you create a written document and record the transfer of ownership to the adopter. The document should be signed by both you and the adopter and as the previous owner, you should retain a copy for your own personal records. Use the Transfer of Ownership Agreement or Temporary Foster Agreement.
  4. Update the microchip. If the pet is microchipped, it is important to update the information registered to the microchip. You can do this by contacting the database where the microchip is registered (such as Found Animals, Home Again, 24PetWatch) and notifying them of the change of ownership and the new owner’s contact information. Be sure to provide the new owner with the pet’s microchip information and remind them to keep their own contact information up-to-date on the registry. Microchips can be registered for free with Found Animals using their website at

https://www.foundanimals.org/microchip-registry/

  1. Notify the shelter or rescue. If you adopted the pet from a local rescue or shelter, be sure to contact them and let them know that you have rehomed the animal and give them the new owner’s information so they can update their ownership records.

Pet Relinquishment

We urge you to exhaust all other resources and alternatives before surrendering your pet to an open intake shelter. This helps shelters ensure resources are available for the pets that need it most -- those who are lost, displaced, homeless, injured, or sick.

Austin Pets Alive! is not a municipal intake shelter!

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter will ONLY take owner surrenders from service areas (Kyle, Buda, Hays County, and San Marcos). Before surrendering your pet to San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, you must submit the Intake Diversion Form. You’re also welcome to reach out to other rescue partners: San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter Approved Partners List.

If you adopted your pet from APA!, please email adopt@austinpetsalive.org with the name of the person who signed the adoption paperwork or your pet's microchip number, and the reason for the return,  so they can locate the info in our system and send you return information.

If not, did you adopt from any other rescue? Most take their animals back.

If you are short on time, we suggest making a shelter appointment so you will have it in case rehoming does not work.

Municipal Intake Shelters in Central Texas (click for map view)

  • Travis County

Austin Animal Center

7201 Levander Loop Austin, TX 78702

Open: Mon - Sat: 11am - 7pm (Closed Sunday)

Owner surrender consultation appt link

  • Bastrop County

Bastrop Animal Services

589 Cool Water Drive

Bastrop, Texas 78602

Open: Wed. - Sun. 11am - 4pm (Closed Monday and Tuesday)

  • Hays County

San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter

750 River Road

San Marcos, TX 78666

Open: Mon. - Fri: 8am-6pm (Closed Saturday and Sunday)

  • Caldwell County

Lockhart Animal Shelter

547 Old McMahan Road

Lockhart, TX 78644

Open: Tue - Fri: 11am - 6 pm, Sat. 12 - 4pm (Closed Sunday and Monday)

  • Guadalupe County

Seguin Animal Services

555 Fred Byrd Drive

Seguin, TX 78155

Open: Mon. - Fri: 9am - 5pm. Sat. 9:30am - 12pm (closed Sunday)

  • Comal County

Comal Animal Services

End of Life Resources

Additional Information & Assistance

This guide is updated regularly, so if there’s anything missing or you need more in depth assistance, you’re welcome to contact pass@austinpetsalive.org

To request assistance from a PASS case manager, please submit this form: https://form.jotform.com/doobertrescue/apa-pass-form