Pets displaced from Friday’s fire at the Iconic Village Apartments and Vintage Pads Apartments in San Marcos are welcome at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter for temporary safekeeping.

Animal shelter supervisor Erin McCann said the shelter operated with its emergency management team that goes into action when there is a local disaster. The shelter is a 15,000-square-foot facility that serves all of Hays County.

McCann said the shelter opened at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and they are expecting more pets to need housing after being displaced by the fire. The early morning blaze damaged 110 apartments and left more than 200 people without a home.

According to McCann, the trauma of the event could have pets still hiding for a day or so after an event.

“And they need to be checked for smoke inhalation, burns, heat exhaustion and dehydration from the heat,” McCann said.

Temperatures Friday climbed from the mid 70s when the fire started to a high of 104 degrees according to the National Weather Service. Saturday’s temperature as the investigation begins by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are expected to reach 104 degrees again, with Sunday and Monday predicted at 106 and 107, respectively.

The record-high temperatures pose a danger to all pets, McCann said.

“Especially these pets [that moved because of the fire],” she said. “They may stay hidden for a day or two where it is cooler.”

The emergency plan for the shelter has been used in the past for flooding events. McCann said in her four years employed at the shelter, she has never seen a disaster other than flooding that affected so many pets.

The shelter is located at 750 River Road, San Marcos. Contributions of pet food are welcome. McCann said there is a need for dry puppy, kitten and cat food. For more information, call 512-805-2650.

After hours, the San Marcos Police Department non-emergency number may be used to contact animal control at 512-753-2108.