Ever thought about adopting or fostering an animal?
There's never been a better time.
It's well known Austin is a pet-lover's paradise, but you'd still be surprised to learn there's still a large animal population in and around the city looking for forever homes. We've teamed up with Austin Subaru and their partner Austin Pets Alive! to build this handy guide that will hopefully answer all your questions about the process and resources available to you when you decide to adopt or foster.
Austin Subaru helps fund community programs like Austin Pets Alive! through their work with the Continental Automotive Group. From the people and pets of Austin, to the outdoor landscapes that we all enjoy, CAG is committed to positively impacting our local communities.
Since 2008, Austin Pets Alive! has served as a safety net for the most at-risk dogs and cats of Austin, in an effort to help create and maintain Austin as a No-Kill city. Since their inception, they've saved over 130,000 lives, and they facilitated over 10,000 adoptions and 11,000 foster placements in 2023 alone. Needless to say, they've helped shape the animal-loving culture here in Austin, and they're a purr-fect paw-tner on your journey to making a new furry friend!
As part of our partnership with Austin Subaru and APA!, Do512 is also pledging to foster a dog! Read on to meet our new office pup, and learn how you can get involved, too.
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Step 1: Find a Furry Friend!
This is the fun part - picking a pup or kitten to take home! We just know at least one of them is going to make you say... "That's the one!" The APA! listings are constantly being updated with available animals, so make sure you check back regularly.
Austin Pets Alive! - Available Dogs
Austin Pets Alive! - Available Cats
Make note of a few different animals that stand out to you, where they are located (ex: Are they in a foster home? The TLAC location? Tarrytown?), and what is most important to you in a pet. From there, you can reach out to [email protected] with which pets you’re interested in, or come on down to one of the shelter locations to meet them!
In addition to the pets that you’re interested in, it's also good to be open for other recommendations of pets to meet. The APA! Matchmakers know these dogs and cats very well, and are dedicated to introducing you to pets that fit your lifestyle. Once you find the pet you’re ready to adopt, you’ll fill out any necessary remaining paperwork and chat through any education consults.
If required, post-adoption instructions will be given to you during your adoption consult. Visit the Adoption FAQs page for more info.
If you're interesting in fostering an animal, make sure you fill out the foster application; it only takes a few minutes! We've got more info on fostering below.
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Step 2: Know About Resources Available
Fostering or adopting an animal can sound daunting if you've never done it before. Fortunately, APA! has a ton of resources and a highly-trained staff to help you manage the details and answer any burning questions you might have.
The Austin Pets Alive! Adopter Resources database is likely where you'll discover the assistance you need, whether it's for Training, Lost & Found information, affordable vet service providers, and more. Thru the P.A.S.S. program, there's also information on Food Assistance, community pet support and more.
If you're fostering, make sure you bookmark the Foster Resources page, which has fundamental resources like Dos and Don'ts, medical and behavior support information, how to market your animal for future adoption, and more.
If in the event your adopted or fostered pet need medical attention, you can visit APA!'s clinic website to find information to report signs of illness, book an appointment or refill prescribed medications.
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Step 3: Have Some Fun (And Spoil Them A Little Too)!
Now that you're hosting a new furry friend, it's time to give them a little love. Take them out to a scenic dog-friendly park like Red Bud Isle or the Vic Matthias Shores Off-Leash Area. We recommend a little retail adventure at spots like Half-Price Books or even Nature's Treasures. Find even more friendly spots to take your pup with our Dog-Friendly Guide to the city. When the weather heats up, it's also a good idea to visit a safe-for-dogs place to swim!
All that swimming, frolicking, and strolling probably has Fido a little fatigued, so it's time to wind down the day and give them a treat! We recommend stopping by Paws On Chicon for something sweet, or grabbing a tasty morsel from the Barkin' Creek Kitchen. Check out our full guide to Dog-Friendly Treats in Austin for more ideas.
*NOTE: Please remember pets in foster care should NOT be taken to an off-leash area.
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Some More Helpful Info About Fostering
Why foster?
Fostering saves lives! Many traditional shelters are under-resourced and may be faced with killing for space. Finding a foster home for an animal is sometimes the only way to save them. Because shelters have limited capacity, the number of lives they save depends entirely on the number of fosters willing to open their homes to them.
In addition to increasing a shelter’s lifesaving capacity, fostering improves the quality of life for each homeless pet. A home environment transforms pets for the better, significantly improving their mental and physical wellbeing. Fostering is also an important step on a pet’s journey to their forever home.
The Benefits of Fostering
- Have an animal companion without the lifetime commitment.
- Help an animal recover from an illness/injury, with medical care covered by APA!.
- Give extra TLC to puppies and kittens too young to be adopted.
- Foster homes help animals transition from the stress of living at the shelter.
How long do I keep a foster dog?
Ideally you would keep your foster dog until adoption, but APA! requires a minimum two week commitment (although there are frequently shorter-term options available). They are unable to predict how long it will take for your foster dog to be adopted as it is case specific. Young puppies are typically adopted very quickly, while adult dogs can take a few weeks and sometimes longer.
What does APA! provide to its fosters?
- Certain supplies like collars, leashes, and crates (as available)
- Assistance with caring for your foster dog, including behavior and medical support
- All medical care for your foster dog, as deemed appropriate by our Medical Team
- Dog sitters for when you go out of town
- Assistance with marketing your foster dog for adoption and interacting with potential adopters
- Educational resources and opportunities
- Responsive communications
Who do I contact if I want to be a foster or have questions about fostering?
You can email [email protected]
For more info, visit the Dog Fostering FAQ or the Cat Fostering FAQ on APA!'s website.
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This guide wouldn't be possible without support from our friends at Austin Subaru and the Continental Automotive Group. Over the years, CAG has donated millions of dollars in support of bettering Texas communities. Apart from the monetary donations, many of the people who work to keep CAG a great place day-to-day also donate their time volunteering around town, too! See a full list of partners and contributors here - you'll likely recognize a LOT of the names!
And that's not all...
We wanted to get in on the fun and do our part, so Do512 is fostering an animal too!
Say "hello" to Chestnut!
Chestnut
Male
Age: 4 months
Breed: Terrier Mix
We'll be taking him around the city while on our fostering journey, so make sure you're following us on Instagram to join us!
