The Austin Animal Center is encouraging people with pets to prepare for the drop in temperatures across the Hill Country over the next few nights. Temperatures will go below freezing in some parts of Travis County.
Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for pets. Outdoor pets should be brought indoors and out of cold weather. If pets cannot be brought inside, people should provide a warm space out of the rain, wind or cold. Line dog houses and sheds with blankets, bedding or straw.
Pets and wildlife will be seeking warmth. If you leave your car out overnight, make sure to bang the hood of the car with your hand before turning on the engine. Neighborhood cats or other animals can crawl inside engines to find warmth and can be seriously injured if your car is turned on.
Austin Animal Center, Austin Humane Society and Austin Pets Alive! are accepting donations of dog houses, hard-sided crates, large plastic storage tubs for cat boxes, blankets, bedding, towels and straw to provide to members of the community who are in need. Likewise, if you or someone you know is in need of help with pets, please stop by any of these locations to pick up donated supplies. If residents cannot get to one of these locations, please call 311 and Animal Services while be notified for assistance.
“Pets are family and it is important that we do our best to ensure their safety during cold weather. We want to help people keep their pets safe this winter,” Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond said. “We urge everyone to reach out into their community with this information and share it widely on social media, social services and with faith based organizations so that we can reach everyone regardless of their location, language or access to the internet and electronic communication”
For more information, go to www.austinanimalcenter.org, call 3-1-1, or visit www.facebook.com/austinanimalcenter for daily animal updates.
Austin Animal Center, located in East Austin at 7201 Levander Loop, is open from 11am to 7pm daily.
Austin Humane Society, located in North Austin at 124 West Anderson Lane, is open from 12 to 7pm Monday through Saturday and 12 to 5pm on Sunday.
Austin Pets Alive!, located in Central Austin at 1156 West Cesar Chavez Street, is open from 11:30am to 7pm daily.
