The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS) continues its urgent plea for assistance from individuals, volunteers or organizations to foster, rescue or adopt shelter animals to increase space within the shelter due to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Shelter Manager Jeanne Saadi said, "We are overwhelmed by the incredible response by our animal advocates and the public, but we still have about 70 animals that need to be fostered or adopted."
She added that fostering brings additional benefits to the family and the animal.
"Fostering a shelter pet is also a great way to pass the time, teach kids about volunteerism and responsible pet ownership, and give the animals a break from shelter life," she said. "If needed, foster families can be provided with food, veterinary services, a crate and other supplies. We are seeking 2-3 week foster homes for both dogs and cats."
Saadi said they are only doing foster appointments at the shelter and adoptions are being handled online. She said the shelter is also currently offering a Pay What You Can adoption fee special.
“We are offering virtual matchmaking and adoption deliveries for those families looking to add a pet to their household,” she said. “Adopters can contact us and let us know what they are looking for – dog, cat, large, small, etc. and we will send them some options with photos, video and descriptions.”
She said the animals will even be delivered to homes.
With kitten season upon us, Saadi said the shelter is also in need of people willing to bottle feed neonatal kittens.
“We had our first call today for a 2-day old kitten found alone in a resident’s garage,” she said. “We offer quality on-line training and being home 24/7 is the perfect foster placement for these kittens as they need to be fed several times a day.”
To sign up or learn more about fostering kittens, email foster@sanmarcostx.gov.
The community is asked to help limit the number of animals entering the shelter to maintain adequate space for emergency housing only. Residents who find a friendly stray dog or cat can place a listing on the shelter’s lost and found page.
If requested, SMRAS will send an Animal Protection Officer to the location to scan for a microchip and assist with other needs related to the found pet. Animal Protection Officers will continue to respond to calls for aggressive strays, trapped wildlife, injured animals, and bite cases.
SMRAS also wants to make it easy for you to reunite with lost pets should they end up in the shelter. Please call 512-805-2655 for assistance with establishing proof of ownership, reclaiming your pet, or any other pet assistance needs. The shelter’s goal is to return pets to their homes, and SMRAS is prepared to assist with financial or transportation barriers.
Current adoptable pets are on our website.
Complete a foster application on our website.
See our most foster-eligible animals on our Facebook page.
Shelter Manager Jeanne Saadi said, “By working together as a community and supporting each other through these challenging times, we are confident we can continue to provide the best care for our shelter residents, as well as to assist our dedicated team of staff and volunteers. We appreciate the public’s ongoing help and look forward to getting through this together.”
For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
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