$100K GRANT FUELS LIFESAVING EFFORT AT ELGIN HUB

Austin Pets Alive! and its Elgin- based initiative to save pets from overcrowded shelters across Texas recently received a substantial $100,000 grant.

The APA! Transport Hub in Elgin, which opened in May, connects rural Texas shelters with rescues across the country that have more space and demand for adoptions. The hub coordinates animal transport and provides health certifications and care for pets during layovers.

Last year, APA! transported 2,676 animals from 74 Texas shelters to 65 destination partners, and the new facility aims to save an additional 8,000 lives over the next three years with the help of the PetSmart Charities donation, according to a prepared release.

“Transport programs are vital to increasing pet lifesaving efforts in Texas,” said Clare Callison, senior director of care operations at APA!. “With the help of the PetSmart Charities grant, we can help close the gap and connect under-resourced shelters in Texas with communities up north, saving the pets most at risk of euthanasia.”

PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in the U.S., is proud to support APA! in its efforts, the report said. “As many communities grapple with animals staying longer in shelters and work to build out long-term solutions, partnerships with regions that have capacity to bring in animals is paramount to our collective lifesaving efforts,” said Heidi Marston, director of pet placement initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “We’re proud to support Austin Pets Alive! and their work to ensure adoptable pets find their families as quickly as possible.”

According to APA!, these efforts come as around six million pets enter U.S. shelters annually, often