APAustin Pets Alive Inc
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About Austin Pets Alive Inc
Austin Pets Alive! is built around the animals that are easiest to overlook, dogs and cats with medical, behavioral, or shelter-related needs that put them at higher risk for euthanasia. Since 2008, it has saved more than 130,000 shelter pets, and in 2024 alone it took in over 8,000 animals, placed nearly 7,000 in homes, and sent close to 10,000 into foster care. For a donor, that means support goes directly toward real, hands-on work, from medical treatment and behavior support to foster placement and help for pet owners who are trying to keep their animals at home.
What sets Austin Pets Alive! apart is how specifically it shows up for animals in crisis. Its work includes shelter medicine, foster and adoption placement, transport, thrift retail, and surrender-prevention services, all aimed at pets most at risk for euthanasia. It also shares what it has learned through American Pets Alive! and Human Animal Support Services, extending that approach beyond Austin.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Adoption and foster placement
Places dogs and cats into foster homes and adoptive homes to give at-risk animals a chance at a forever home.
Medical triage and wellness
Provides spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, veterinary exams, and specialty procedures for animals in care.
Parvo ICU
Cares for puppies with parvovirus and other critical medical needs.
Neonatal kitten nursery
Cares for neonatal kittens who need round-the-clock support.
Specialized cat programs
Serves cats with specialized needs and supports their adoption.
Dog behavior program
Provides behavior sessions for animals in care and in adoptive homes.
APA! Thrift stores
Operates thrift stores across the Austin area, with proceeds going directly into animal care programs and monthly adoption events.
Community outreach
Provides education, services, and supplies that help keep pets safe, cared for, and out of the sheltering system.
Positive Alternative to Shelter Surrender (PASS)
Supports community members facing challenges keeping their pets with resources, temporary fostering, and supplies.
Human Animal Support Services (HASS)
Works with shelter partners to support the human-animal bond and connect people and pets to community-based help.
Transport
Moves animals from source partners to destination partners across the United States to connect them with rescue placement.
About this work
Mission
To promote and provide the resources, education, and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals.
Who they serve
At-risk companion animals, especially dogs and cats, and pet owners facing barriers to keeping their pets.
Their impact
- Since 2008, more than 130,000 shelter pets have been saved from euthanasia.
- In 2024, over 8,000 dogs and cats were taken in, nearly 7,000 were adopted, and close to 10,000 were placed in foster care.
- In 2024, the medical triage and wellness program performed over 5,000 spay and neuter surgeries, about 2,500 monthly vaccinations, roughly 3,000 monthly veterinary exams, and 1,000 specialty procedures.
- The parvo ICU saved nearly 900 puppies in 2024, and close to 10,000 since inception.
- The neonatal kitten nursery cared for over 2,000 kittens in 2024 with a save rate just under 90%.
- In 2024, specialized cat programs served more than 1,300 cats and adopted out nearly 900.
- The dog behavior program conducted almost 3,000 sessions in 2024.
- The PASS program supported over 8,000 cases in 2024 and distributed over 80,000 pounds of pet food.
- The transport program transported nearly 2,500 animals in 2024.
How your donation helps
- Construction of the APA! Shelter Pet Hospital
- Lifesaving medical care for at-risk pets
- Support for PASS resources, temporary fostering, and pet food distribution
- Transporting animals to rescue partners
- Animal care programs funded by APA! Thrift store proceeds
Need help?
How someone in need can access Austin Pets Alive Inc’s services.
People seeking help with a pet can use the pet support services search to find resources such as low-cost veterinary care, temporary fostering, and rehoming help. The PASS program also provides resources and services to community members who are facing challenges keeping their pets.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
We used to say our mission was to make Austin No Kill as fast as humanly possible. The mission and movement now is to apply that urgency across the entire country.
Many senior dogs in Central Texas are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of Austin Pets Alive!.
In the news
Recent independent coverage of this organization.
- Screwworm could have implications for Texas' crowded animal shelterslmtonline.com · 6/20/2026The article says Austin Pets Alive could be affected by New World screwworm quarantine restrictions that may worsen animal shelter overcrowding in Texas. It describes Austin Pets Alive’s role partnering with shelters in South and Central Texas to receive about 2,500 animals a year and transport them to other states and Canada.
- Hundreds of pets in Austin found foster homes before freeze | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Stationkut.org · 1/29/2026The article reports that Austin Pets Alive placed more than 200 dogs and cats into foster homes ahead of a winter freeze, leaving the shelter unusually empty. It also details foster and adoption outcomes, including that 203 dogs were placed in foster homes over the weekend and that many were already adopted or extending their stay.
- Austin Pets Alive! receives record amount of fosters ahead of winter stormfox7austin.com · 1/28/2026Austin Pets Alive! reports an unusually quiet shelter during an arctic blast because the community fostered hundreds of dogs. The organization says it placed over 200 dogs into foster in three and a half days, reducing on-site dogs to 18 and enabling improved care, while continuing to prepare for incoming transports.
- Austin Pets Alive! treating Yorkie mom for parvo as she nurses three puppiesnews4sanantonio.com · 4/7/2026The article describes a Yorkshire Terrier named Saturn receiving parvovirus treatment and nursing surviving puppies at Austin Pets Alive!. It also cites Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo ICU outcomes and the costs of each treatment, and urges donations, fosters, and volunteers.
- Photographer's portraits give shelter dogs second chance at adoptionlocal12.com · 3/15/2026The article describes a program by Austin-area photographer Kim Ortiz that provides professional portraits to shelter dogs to help them get adopted. It says dogs from Austin Pets Alive have been photographed through the program, which costs $100 for businesses to sponsor a session.
Grant support
$1,960,984 from 58 funders · through 2024 (IRS 990 records).
- THE PATTY & JOE ROTUNDA CHARITABLE TRUST — $80,000 (2024)TO FUND THE POSITION OF QUALITY CONTOL AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE
- Meadows Foundation Inc — $75,000 (2024)Toward the expansion of companion animal transportation and animal care education programs to increase live release rates in Texas
- Garrison Family Foundation — $50,000 (2024)General & Unrestricted
- JAMES A BUDDY DAVIDSON — $50,000 (2024)MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
- AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC — $27,650 (2024)GENERAL SUPPORT
- CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $25,000 (2024)GENERAL ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
- The Henry Foundation — $25,000 (2024)Medical Triage and Wellness Clinic
- THE BARILLA FOUNDATION INC — $22,000 (2024)GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION
Events
APA! Thrift adoption events
monthlyMonthly events at APA! Thrift stores that include available pets for adoption.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Austin Pets Alive Inc has shared.
Current needs
- Support for rebuilding the Town Lake location
- Funding for the APA! Shelter Pet Hospital construction
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- 2018 grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization for senior dog care
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Austin Pets Alive Inc from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How do people find pet support services?
They can use the pet support services search to look for help like low-cost veterinary care, temporary fostering, and rehoming assistance.
What does the PASS program do?
PASS gives community members resources and services that help them keep their pets safe, cared for, and out of the sheltering system, including temporary fostering and supplies.
What kinds of animals does APA! focus on?
APA! focuses on the animals most at risk for euthanasia, including dogs and cats with medical, behavioral, or other urgent needs.
What is Human Animal Support Services?
HASS is an APA! project that works with shelter partners to support the human-animal bond and help pets stay with people in their communities.
Similar nonprofits
Other animal protection & welfare nonprofits in TX.