Each summer, litters of kittens and puppies are born during what is known as "puppy season" by those in the rescue community, according to Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter Programs Coordinator April Peiffer.
Below is information on three pet foster and adoption organizations in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto.
Blue Dog Rescue
Founded in Round Rock in 2010 by Lisa Taylor, the foster-based Blue Dog Rescue serves Central Texas in its mission to find good homes for the dogs which come under its care.
As the annual “puppy season” fills area shelters with animals in need of homes, local rescues are in need of foster homes and volunteers as well as donations to assist in the upkeep of local dogs, Taylor said.
National animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society shared a study in August detailing a decrease in adoptions. According to the report, diminishing adoption rates combined with staffing shortages and reduced operations are overwhelming shelters and rescues across the country.
Blue Dog Rescue has seen an increase in the number of animals needing to be adopted, but not so much a return of animals previously adopted from its rescue, Taylor said.
“As far as our return rate, it's still very low, because we're very thorough, as far as people and we are really, really seeing that play out. I think this is kind of a good thing,” Taylor said.
Still, Blue Dog Rescue is seeking additional fosters and adopters in order to serve a larger number of dogs, Taylor said.
“We are looking for people that are able to foster on a long term basis with us,” Taylor said. “Not that they have to [take in] a dog every time a dog gets adopted, but somebody that can see a dog through his adoption, and if it doesn't work out during that home visit, [they would be ready for] the dog to come back to their home.”
Information regarding adoption and fostering applications are available on the Blue Dog Rescue website.
Blue Dog Rescue
As the annual “puppy season” fills area shelters with animals in need of homes, local rescues are in need of foster homes and volunteers as well as donations to assist in the upkeep of local dogs, Taylor said.
National animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society shared a study in August detailing a decrease in adoptions. According to the report, diminishing adoption rates combined with staffing shortages and reduced operations are overwhelming shelters and rescues across the country.
Blue Dog Rescue has seen an increase in the number of animals needing to be adopted, but not so much a return of animals previously adopted from its rescue, Taylor said.
“As far as our return rate, it's still very low, because we're very thorough, as far as people and we are really, really seeing that play out. I think this is kind of a good thing,” Taylor said.
Still, Blue Dog Rescue is seeking additional fosters and adopters in order to serve a larger number of dogs, Taylor said.
“We are looking for people that are able to foster on a long term basis with us,” Taylor said. “Not that they have to [take in] a dog every time a dog gets adopted, but somebody that can see a dog through his adoption, and if it doesn't work out during that home visit, [they would be ready for] the dog to come back to their home.”
Information regarding adoption and fostering applications are available on the Blue Dog Rescue website.
Blue Dog Rescue
[email protected]
Services offered to Blue Dog Rescue dogs:
While in the care of Blue Dog Rescue, dogs receive needed medical care, temperament testing and foster homes until they are adopted.
![Courtesy Pflugerville Pets Alive]()
Pflugerville Pets Alive!
Kim Waters founded Pflugerville Pets Alive with a group of local volunteers to serve the area and help support pets in the Pflugerville Animal Shelter.
Despite having multiple animals that would normally be in high demand, including “cute, scruffy small dogs,” there aren’t enough people willing to adopt them at present, Waters said.
She said this may be due to the recent push to return to the office after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as perceived difficulties accessing vet care and people traveling more.
“It's taking longer for us to get appointments, so it takes longer to get them adopted, which fills up foster homes, and you can’t pull others out of the shelters," Waters said. "It's a never-ending circle at the moment.”
Like other area rescues, PPA is looking for additional foster homes and people who are able to adopt the animals there.
Requirements to foster include being able to provide a leash and harness, and Waters said a yard is preferred but not required. Prospective fosters and adopters will also need to fill out an application available on the PPA website.
The rescue also offers a spay and neuter assistance program that helps owners get affordable alteration procedures for their pets to avoid unwanted litters or behavioral problems. More information is available on the PPA website.
Pflugerville Pets Alive!
www.pflugervillepetsalive.com
[email protected]
Animals available for adoption through PPA:
Pflugerville Pets Alive facilitates the adoption of both cats and dogs of varying age and size.
![Courtesy Abby's Little Friends]()
Abby’s Little Friends
A branch-off of the Florida dog rescue Abby’s Little Friends, Trina Purcell has been working with the organization since 2016 and founded its Central Texas sister organization three years ago to serve dogs in the area.
Abby’s Little Friends serves the Central Texas area, including Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto.
The rescue is foster-based, meaning there is not a central facility where animals are kept, Purcell said.
Instead, the animals live in the homes of volunteers who care for, socialize and train them.
Purcell said foster homes constitute the largest need for Abby’s little friends, in addition to adopters looking to provide permanent homes for dogs.
“That's where the dogs live while I'm trying to find people to adopt them,” Purcell said. “I can't tell you how many times people call me and they want to surrender a dog, and I have to say no, because I don't have a place for that dog to live.”
At present, many local rescues are in need of more adopters and fosters, as the summer months are high-yield seasons for newborn puppies that need homes. Purcell said Abby’s Little Friends is no exception.
Potential fosters may fill out an application available on the rescue’s website, and they will then be vetted and considered for by the rescue.
Adopters must also fill out a pre-adoption application and be subject to a home visit, among other considerations.
Abby’s Little Friends
www.gooddogsforgoodpeople.org
737-443-9442
Services offered to dogs in care Abby's Little Friends include:
Medical care, temperament testing, training, fostering and any other needs an animal may have while it waits to be adopted.
Services offered to Blue Dog Rescue dogs:
While in the care of Blue Dog Rescue, dogs receive needed medical care, temperament testing and foster homes until they are adopted.
Pflugerville Pets Alive!
Kim Waters founded Pflugerville Pets Alive with a group of local volunteers to serve the area and help support pets in the Pflugerville Animal Shelter.
Despite having multiple animals that would normally be in high demand, including “cute, scruffy small dogs,” there aren’t enough people willing to adopt them at present, Waters said.
She said this may be due to the recent push to return to the office after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as perceived difficulties accessing vet care and people traveling more.
“It's taking longer for us to get appointments, so it takes longer to get them adopted, which fills up foster homes, and you can’t pull others out of the shelters," Waters said. "It's a never-ending circle at the moment.”
Like other area rescues, PPA is looking for additional foster homes and people who are able to adopt the animals there.
Requirements to foster include being able to provide a leash and harness, and Waters said a yard is preferred but not required. Prospective fosters and adopters will also need to fill out an application available on the PPA website.
The rescue also offers a spay and neuter assistance program that helps owners get affordable alteration procedures for their pets to avoid unwanted litters or behavioral problems. More information is available on the PPA website.
Pflugerville Pets Alive!
www.pflugervillepetsalive.com
[email protected]
Animals available for adoption through PPA:
Pflugerville Pets Alive facilitates the adoption of both cats and dogs of varying age and size.
Abby’s Little Friends
A branch-off of the Florida dog rescue Abby’s Little Friends, Trina Purcell has been working with the organization since 2016 and founded its Central Texas sister organization three years ago to serve dogs in the area.
Abby’s Little Friends serves the Central Texas area, including Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto.
The rescue is foster-based, meaning there is not a central facility where animals are kept, Purcell said.
Instead, the animals live in the homes of volunteers who care for, socialize and train them.
Purcell said foster homes constitute the largest need for Abby’s little friends, in addition to adopters looking to provide permanent homes for dogs.
“That's where the dogs live while I'm trying to find people to adopt them,” Purcell said. “I can't tell you how many times people call me and they want to surrender a dog, and I have to say no, because I don't have a place for that dog to live.”
At present, many local rescues are in need of more adopters and fosters, as the summer months are high-yield seasons for newborn puppies that need homes. Purcell said Abby’s Little Friends is no exception.
Potential fosters may fill out an application available on the rescue’s website, and they will then be vetted and considered for by the rescue.
Adopters must also fill out a pre-adoption application and be subject to a home visit, among other considerations.
Abby’s Little Friends
www.gooddogsforgoodpeople.org
737-443-9442
Services offered to dogs in care Abby's Little Friends include:
Medical care, temperament testing, training, fostering and any other needs an animal may have while it waits to be adopted.
