In the aftermath of the catastrophic July 4 floods that swept through Kerrville and surrounding areas, animal rescue groups launched a swift and large-scale operation to save pets displaced by the disaster. Austin Pets Alive! (APA) led the response, transferring over 150 animals from impacted shelters in Kerrville, Burnet, and San Angelo to their Austin facility within days.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, APA quickly activated its Elgin Transport Hub to coordinate nationwide transfers, partnering with Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue to airlift over 125 dogs and cats to shelters in Fort Worth and Utah. These transfers allowed shelters in flood-affected areas to concentrate on reuniting pets with families and treating urgent medical needs. In just 10 days, APA took in more than 600 animals, facilitated over 400 transports to out-of-state shelters, reunited dozens of pets with their owners, and placed more than 500 animals in new homes, all with the help of over 4,300 volunteers.
Other organizations joined the effort as well. San Antonio Animal Care Services, with help from the Bissell Pet Foundation, transported 89 pets to shelters across the Northeast on July 11, followed by 122 more cats on July 16 in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society and San Antonio Pets Alive. Amid the crisis, these coordinated efforts highlight not only the vital role of shelters, but the compassion and strength of communities coming together to protect vulnerable lives.
