In January 2024, we launched a new virtual pet resource center as a part of the Hays County Pet Resource Center, expanding the Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (P.A.S.S.) program to further support people and pets in Hays County. The virtual resource center provides a centralized place where pet owners and concerned residents can go for help to keep more pets in homes and out of the local shelter through information, assistance accessing resources, and case management.
As a part of the virtual resource center, the Hays County Pet Resources Guide (available in English and Spanish), provides a list of community resources, medical assistance, behavior resources, rehoming support and more. Hays County community members can also use the Pet Help Contact form for assistance from a P.A.S.S. case manager.
In the first 2 months, the dedicated Hays County program has helped almost 150 families!
Missed the live Q&A? You can watch here!
Lucy Fernandez, P.A.S.S. Program Manager, recently answered your questions about the Hays County virtual resource center via Facebook live. There were a lot of great questions asked; more than we had time to address. But never fear, Lucy has answered all your questions here!
So, what is Hays County P.A.S.S.? P.A.S.S. stands for Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender and has been one of Austin Pets Alive’s key lifesaving programs since 2010. This program has offered support for pet owners throughout the entire state of Texas. With APA’s Hays County Pet Resource Center agreement, we’re more intentionally promoting and integrating local support to reach the residents of Hays County. It’s about building a more reinforced and strategic community to help people, help pets.
How can I volunteer or get involved with Hays County P.A.S.S.? Join the Hays County Urgent Pet Help Facebook group and APA PASS Facebook group. Learn and share the resources from the Pet Resources Guide.
Who do I contact for more information? [email protected] or [email protected]
Are you working with the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS)? Absolutely! With the municipal shelter’s collaboration, we’re able to assess and support the gaps in service for when members of the community need help. Not only does that keep pets out of the shelter, but also frees up the shelter’s limited resources to better care for and find homes for the pets in their custody.
Is APA assisting with food donations? We sure are! Since Austin Pets Alive has quite the social media and public following, we’re sometimes offered generous donations from partners. From those offerings, we assist individual families with pantry requests along with distribution to our hardworking friends at Pet Prevent A Litter-PALS, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, and small rescues in the Hays County region.
Can you deliver pet food to people? Unfortunately, no. Austin Pets Alive’s main mission is to focus on rescuing, treating, rehabilitating, placing, and adopting out pets most at risk of euthanasia from under-resourced shelter partners. With only 2 full time staff on the P.A.S.S. team, it’d be unrealistic to deliver to individual families in Central Texas, while managing the 800-1,000 cases and critical needs. We rely on partners like PALS and SMRAS to distribute to families in need in their own neck of the woods.
Can you set up a collaboration with Emancipet and Austin Humane Society for getting community cats TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)? TNR programming is primarily funded through municipal shelter taxpayer dollars. That covers volunteer coordination, veterinarians to provide high quality/high volume spay/neutering, microchipping, vaccines, etc. Learn more about SMRAS and PALS TNR support programming.
Can Hays County use the community cats at Emancipet and Austin Humane Society AHS? Since Austin Animal Center (the Travis County municipal shelter) funds the TNR programming between Austin Humane Society and Emancipet, the community cats using those services must be trapped from within Travis County. Other TNR support programs within Central Texas can be viewed here.
What are you doing to prepare for kitten and puppy season? Spaying and neutering (PREVENTION) is always the key! Of course, if the babies are already there, PREPARATION IS KEY! No kitten/puppy season survives without help from members of the community who are prepared! The San Marcos shelter has a chart and tips for how to handle what to do with found kittens: https://sanmarcostx.gov/3416/Kitten-Season
What challenges and needs for volunteers are presented most often? Learn and share the info from the resource guide to your neighbors, friends, and family! Join the Facebook communities or your local Next Door community to share the info. Unfortunately, one of the largest challenges is the spread of misinformation and judgment. If we can be as patient and compassionate with our neighbors as we are with pets, I’d probably be out of a job!
Do you plan to build out volunteer opportunities for delivery due to limited transportation in rural Hays for marginalized communities, as a need for PRC? That would be amazing! As stunning as Dripping Springs and Wimberley are, I’ve gotten lost several times that I’ve gone out to assist clients and their pets. Perhaps an area ambassador training volunteer opportunity in those areas would help. Fortunately, we have relationships with Wimberley Adoption Group - WAG and PAWS so that would be a great start.
There's a need for preventative meds for flea, tick, heartworm, and I'd like to help build corporate sponsorship relationships with Petco or other companies. That would be fantastic since we know flea/ticks/HW are such nasty situations that run rampant in Texas. Most preventatives do require a prescription and mis-dosing could be life-threatening to pets, so getting a veterinarian group to support that would be required.
Is there assistance provided with fence repair? SMRAS doesn’t have fence repair support funding for Hays County residents. Since there’s local zoning considerations for each town within Hays County, equipment/supply costs, etc, each need would vary. If there is a need request, I’d recommend getting an estimate and details posted to your NextDoor community and local Facebook community groups. #ittakesavillage is the foundation of helping people help pets.
Is P.A.S.S., APA, or SMRAS approved for community service hours? Volunteering for SMRAS to fulfill court order community service hours is available. Court ordered community service hours are not available for Austin Pets Alive or P.A.S.S. (which is a program of Austin Pets Alive). It is authorized for school or other organization community service hours.
Find this information AND MORE in THE HAYS COUNTY PASS RESOURCE GUIDE. Also, AVAILABLE IN SPANISH.
