Happy Pets

Finding your cute companion

If you are new to Austin it may not take you very long to see that here in Austin, we LOVE our pets. There are lots of great state parks, dog parks, and even some of our restaurants don’t mind if you’ve got your pet with you while you’re out on the deck. Some will even provide water and a treat! Usually where pets are mingling, so are their owners. So, where can you find a four legged familiar of your own?

A truly great place to find a dog or a cat is one of the local animal shelters here in Austin. Animal Trustees of Austin was one of the most popular places to adopt between 1993-2006, but they have moved away from maintaining an adoption program.  That being said there are still several other choices including Austin Animal Services, Austin Humane Society, and Austin Pets Alive.

Now, there are some very important things to consider before you go visiting an adoption center. First, be sure to have an idea of what type of cat or dog you would like.  Are you looking for a kitty or pup? Would you rather adopt an adult cat or dog? Sure, puppies and kittens are absolutely adorable, but they can also be a handful. If you’ve got the time and energy to invest in bringing them up, great! If you’d rather have a pet with fewer surprises (Are they house broken? Do they play nice with others? How big will they get? What sort of energy level do they have?) then full grown pets can make fantastic friends. Expect to give several visits to multiple shelters to find your perfect companion. When you choose a pet, remember it’s for the long haul so don’t rush into anything.  A healthy dog or cat can live to be by your side for 10 to 20 years! Be sure that the pet you have chosen is the right fit.  This is for their benefit as well as yours. If you would like some help in making your decision before you make the commitment, feel free to speak with one of our staff here at Spicewood Animal Hospital, we would be more than happy to help you in making the right decision.

After the adoption

Schedule an appointment with us within the first few days of bringing your new pet home.  All first-time appointments for shelter adoptions are free of charge.  We will get you started on the right foot with the future healthcare of your new pet.

Be aware that it is not uncommon for a dog or cat from a shelter to have an upper respiratory infection and/or parasites.  This should not deter you from adopting them as these are very treatable ailments.  Another disease you may come across is heartworm disease which can also be treated quite successfully, though it is a more involved treatment course.  We treat all heartworm positive dogs from the Humane Society at cost. Austin Animal Services pays for the treatment of heartworm positive dogs. Animal Trustees of Austin has a program called Recovering Hearts which helps with heartworm positive stray dogs.

Remember these points:
1)  Go in with a plan
2)  Expect more than one visit
3)  It is not unusual for there to be some minor ailments

Animal Shelters of Austin, Texas

Austin Animal Services
7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78721
(512) 978-0500
http://austintexas.gov/department/animal-services

Austin Humane Society
124 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78752
(512) 646-7387
http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/

Austin Pets Alive
1156 West Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78703
512-961-6519 (Phone)
http://www.austinpetsalive.org/