Austin Pets Alive! and PAWS Shelter of Central Texas announced a new partnership to launch the Hays County Pets Alive! initiative. The collaboration will expand animal services to save more pets in Hays County.
The overview
The new partnership will allow PAWS to continue offering the high level of animal services it has developed in Hays County with the resources of Austin Pets Alive!
Hays County Pets Alive! was created after the boards of directors from both organizations met to discuss a potential partnership to support PAWS and its efforts to provide Hays County with animal services, according to a news release.
The collaboration will provide essential animal services to the region, according to the release. Clinical service days at the PAWS Dripping Springs shelter will be increased.
Parts of Hays County are in the process of reevaluating options for animal services after the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter announced its intention to end regional partnerships.
The San Marcos shelter continues to provide support to cities including Kyle and Buda as they look at options for their own services. The city of Kyle’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget features payments to the shelter for continued animal services, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Looking forward
PAWS will continue leading operations at the Dripping Springs shelter location. Both organizations are working to reopen the Kyle shelter location by the end of the year, according to a social media post.
On July 17, PAWS announced its intention to wind down operations and close the Kyle shelter because the organization could not logistically and financially maintain it and the Dripping Springs shelter, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Donations made to PAWS will continue to support animal services in Hays County, according to the social media post.
