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    Austin Pets Alive!

    3.3 (313 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM

    Services - Austin Pets Alive!

    Animal shelters

    Pet adoption

    Austin Pets Alive! Photos

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    This charlie A Chihuahua  female

    I got a pure bred and I didn't get scam. My money was well spent, I got a female Chihuahua,spayed ,chip,and her shots,housebroken,leash train,well manner

    Moose-tache , Austin's most dapper cat
    Catherine M.

    We adopted our kitty, Moose-tache, from APA. The experience was amazing from start to finish. Their website is easy to use to find your next fur baby. They are a no-kill shelter. Consider supporting them through a donation, shopping at the APA thrift shop or donating the neuter/spay cost back to the shelter.

    Ending my volunteer shift!
    Karen R.

    The staff at Austin Pets Alive are unbelievable. The attention and care for all the fur babies cannot be matched. I started volunteering here a couple months ago and it was the best decision I made. If you have time, please come volunteer. It's needed!

    Dawn H.

    I love everything about APA! They are a "no kill" facility and do everything they can to assist our community, for both humans and our other than companions. Full disclosure, I have never adopted from APA. I sadly put my almost 17 year old, 55lb lil big guy to sleep just over three weeks ago (I had a team come to my home and it was very tranquil). My buddy's mind was still there and he had more love to give. His poor body just gave out and I promised him I would never let him suffer. Elvis was spoiled - not rotten - and he had A LOT of belongings. A bed in every room in my house (except the bathrooms and kitchen), his own toy box filled to the rim, a dresser with all of his clothes and blankets, special treats and so much more. When thinking of a place to donate - Elvis would've definitely wanted to share with others - Austin Pets Alive was my first choice. I have been a big supporter since moving to Austin over eight years ago, attending charity efforts, contributing to drives, etc. because I admire all of their efforts to heel and not kill animals. I called APA and inquired about what they would/would not accept and explained my situation to them. Every staff/volunteer I spoke to was so kind and empathetic. I knew I chose the right org to give my beloved's things to. After over two weeks of gradually boxing things up (some will never leave my home), and three full car drop offs later, I received an out of the blue condolence call. A few happy tears helped relief some of the pain, if only a bit. Thank you APA for everything you do. You care and it shows. I don't think I will ever get another furbaby, but if I did I know where I would head. xo

    Our new APA potential adoption dog
    Morgann G.

    Update: we have officially welcomed our new friend to our home. An unexpected bonus- they had a Memorial Day special so he was free!! I'm feeling truly blessed all the way around.

    Beautiful boy
    Meggie W.

    I'm dismayed by the negative reviews, when there are hundreds of people who will tell you what an incredible organization this is but it is usually an occasional negative experience that ends up being voiced here versus the many positive experiences. No rescue is ever going to be completely idyllic, because it takes a lot out of a person to devote themselves to animal rescue & keep things organized when all rescue groups experience limitations and unpredictability at some point. It's an emotionally taxing & exhausting line of work so it is important not to take things too personally. Ultimately, everyone wants to see rescued animals saved and into loving homes - often that means setting ones feelings aside. With that said, I want to emphasize what a truly amazing rescue organization APA has been for me and many lone rescuers I know. I live in Dallas and when I had trouble finding a home for cats, APA came to my rescue and offered to help me. I especially want to highlight the lovely coordinator woman in cat intake! She is a truly sweet and caring individual. She is professional, organized and incredible knowledgeable. She offered me guidance and support that I couldn't find locally. I truly appreciate everything APA does and cannot understand how anyone would bash them. Thank you to all the staff & volunteers who work so hard to keep things running. You deserve some praise!

    Sadie S.

    We were fostering two kittens from APA and during a late night/early morning emergency involving potential toxin exposure, we called the emergency line they give you at 10 p.m. We informed the person on-call about what happened and they did not seem to care or acknowledge any urgency even though we told them that the ASPCA toxicity hotline told us it was urgent to go to an emergency vet right away. Because of this we acted out of an abundance of caution and took the foster and the other kitten who we recently adopted to an emergency vet. We tried to communicate with APA through this emergency line for hours, each time we spoke to somebody they seemed indifferent and burdened by the wellbeing of the kittens. We had to explain what happened multiple times and were repeatedly told that it "wasn't an emergency and we could wait until the morning for a check up" even though the ASPCA told us the kitten could die. We went to the emergency vet with both kittens and had them checked in and were informing APA the entire time and it wasn't until 1 AM that we were informed we would not be reimbursed for medical services rendered by the emergency vet. They never disclose this whenever you are trying to foster. They did not offer until 2:30 AM the option to have the "on-call vet" meet us at the town lake location. They told us it would be 30 minutes to an hour until they could see the foster kitten. After hours of stress and worry and endless communication with the shelter, we finally got to APA and the people who met us there were upset, irritated, and did not know the details of what was going on despite us being in communication with them for the past several hours. We left the foster kitten there overnight by himself and in the morning we called to check on him and they told us, "I don't know what you want me to say. He's the same as he has been. You can pick him up after six". When we did pick him up, he was terrified, shaking, and covered in matted urine, feces, and litter. He had a bruise on his left leg presumably from the IV. It did not look like it had been cleaned and it was not bandaged. The kittens ended up being OK, but it was a horrible experience and we are incredibly grateful that he is safe and adopted. I sincerely hope that APA recognizes their shortcomings and failures so that they can work towards the goals they initially set out to achieve.

    James B.

    My wife and I had a 4-5 month old puppy who's name was Aloha, She tested positive for Parvo at this facility and the veterinarians and staff were so loving to us that they gave us $150 worth of medications for free to nurse her back to health. Unfortunately on the drive home and on the way upstairs to our apartment Aloha passed away from her Parvo Virus infection before we could administer the first round of meds and I.V. We thank this facility and it's staff for everything they did for her even though we lacked the funds to pay for treatment. God surely lives in this place.

    Rosa & Leia
    Suzi O.

    Great, great experience!! We've never had a cat b4 (we're dog ppl) and prob asked a millllion questions! But they were very patient w/ my adult sons an I and we honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience. We ended up adopting Leia-a 2 month old shorthair domestic kitten that had ringworm. Actually, listen to them about treatment bc it really is contagious-loll But this little Princess is TOTALLY worth it!!!

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    Hello Susan! We are happy that you found you companion from us!

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    A great place to get your furrever friend. These volunteers work hard to get these worthy animals placed in the best homes possible.

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    Sarah C.

    Hey Patricia, thank you for your kind words and 5 stars!

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Austin Pets Alive!

    Do they accept unopened bag of dog food? I'm switching my dog to another brand and I have a 50 lb bag of Valu-Pak 28-20.

    Yes! You can drop off donations any day of the week in front of our clinic at 1156 W Cesar Chavez St.

    How long does it take to get your spay/neuter deposit back?

    Hi Kelby! It usually takes about a week maximum after the surgery to receive your spay/neuter deposit back.

    Is all money raised go directly to this organization?

    According to Charity Navigator 80% of their revenue (donations, grants etc.) goes to the program. Looks like about 12% for fundraising and maybe 8% or less for administrative costs. It's rated 3 out of 4 stars. That's the breakdown. I use Charity… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Austin Pets Alive!

    My boyfriend and I stopped by ABGB to grab some beer and pizza and Austin Pets Alive happened to be having an adoption event...

    Mentioned in 55 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Lil' Paws Maltese Rescue and other Petite Paws

    Lil' Paws Maltese Rescue and other Petite Paws

    (18 reviews)

    Lil Paws Maltese Rescue is responsible for bringing joy into our home. We recently adopted an…read moreadorable little maltipoo. She came to us housebroken and full of love. I contribute that to the amazing and compassionate volunteers who run this rescue. Their puppies are raised in the homes of these caring individuals so they have been trained and socialized with love and care. If you are interested in adopting a dog needing a forever home, Lil Paws Maltese Rescue is where you need to go. They have meet and greets every month to find good matches for their puppies. We are so in love with our new fur baby.

    I'm sharing this as a genuine concern for animal welfare and transparency…read more I've noticed this individual adopting animals from local shelters while simultaneously requesting donations and then selling the animals at retail-level prices. That raises serious ethical questions. Animal shelters exist to place pets into safe, permanent homes--not to supply inventory for resale. If money is being exchanged beyond standard adoption fees, the public deserves clarity on where funds are going and whether shelters are aware. Donations should support care, vetting, and rescue efforts--not personal profit. If this is a legitimate rescue operation, transparency, nonprofit status, and itemized use of funds should be clearly provided. Otherwise, this feels misleading to donors and unfair to families who adopt in good faith. I hope proper oversight is in place to protect the animals and the community.Donations solicited under the appearance of animal rescue while animals are sold at retail prices.

    Austin Animal Center - Our adopted dog

    Austin Animal Center

    (245 reviews)

    East Austin

    I recently attended one of the free spay and neuter clinics hosted by Austin Animal Free Spay and…read moreNeuter Clinic and greater good charities for my puppy, and overall, I had a great experience with just a few things to keep in mind if you're planning to attend. The clinic was scheduled from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM. I arrived around 8:30, and as expected for a free event, the lines were long--but honestly, that's understandable when such valuable services are offered at no cost. One of the great things was that there was no limit to the number of animals you could bring. Once I got there, I was greeted by friendly staff who gave me paperwork to complete. A staff member kindly informed me that the process could take a while, which I appreciated. I ended up waiting in line for about four hours. If I had known ahead of time, I definitely would have brought snacks and water to help pass the time--but I was fine overall. Before they took my puppy back, they thoroughly explained the procedure and all the services included: the spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, microchipping, and preventative medications. Talk about saving money! They promised to take great care of him, and I felt reassured as they carried him back. Around 4:30 PM, I received a call to pick him up. He looked good at first, but as I drove down the highway, I noticed some bleeding. I turned around and rushed back to the clinic. The staff explained that male dogs can be a little more sensitive due to the number of blood vessels involved, and it wasn't unusual. They immediately took him back, cleaned him up, and made sure he was okay. One of the amazing volunteers even helped me clean the blood off my car and blankets--who knew peroxide worked so well? Once home, I noticed his microchip had started to migrate out. I texted the number they provided, and they told me to bring him back in for a check-up. I did just that two days later, and he was given a clean bill of health. They were quick, responsive, and made sure everything was taken care of. They also mentioned that they host these events frequently. If you're considering getting your pets spayed or neutered, I absolutely recommend bringing them here. The wait can be long, but the care and services are worth it. They treat your fur babies with love and compassion, and you leave knowing your pet got the attention they needed. Thank you to the entire team for your patience, hard work, and dedication. Look out for more free spay and neuter clinics it will save you tons

    They do horrible things to their animals. They throw animals with illnesses on you and REFUSE to…read morehelp you out or give your new baby medicine in the meantime while waiting for their first vet appointment. My baby had worms that they just "didn't notice" from March... it's MAY and they REFUSE to give him $20 dewormer. They're stingy and horrible people that don't care for the health of their animals. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SHELTER FOR ADOPTING, THEY WILL NOT HELP YOU CURE THINGS THEY GOT IN THE SHELTER. THEIR 311 NUMBER KNOWS NOTHING. IDIOTS. Thank god I rescued my angel from that horrible place. 1/10. Only not 0 because I found my angel there.

    Purr-fecto Cat Lounge - Lots to climb on and places to sharpen your claws

    Purr-fecto Cat Lounge

    (98 reviews)

    South Lamar District, 78704 (South Austin)

    A friend of mine talked me into going with her to Purr-fecoto Cat Lounge. She loves cats and I…read morelove coffee. I was lured in by the coffee aspect of the visit because I am allergic to cats. I can go about a couple of hours before my throat closes in and my eyes turn bloodshot red from an allergic reaction. Please note that they have drip coffee only. Their mission.."Purrfecto partners with Texas rescues to give adoptable cats an opportunity to find new homes. Just like humans, all cats have different purrsonalities, but they all need love. We have created the perfect environment for them to relax and meow around while they wait to discover their perfect match. We are hoping to reduce euthanasia in animal shelters and increase adoptions. We want to provide homeless cats with 9 lives full of love." Cool concept...you pay $15 for 30 minutes or $30 for 70 minutes to play with a cat in the lounge to determine whether you want to adopt a cat. The space is bright, welcoming and open. It is like a group cat love fest. The lounge has been in business for about 4 years and have had about 1,900 adoptions. My friend did not adopt a cat but she will return. You must make an appointment to visit with the cats.

    Purrfecto is the best place to adopt a cat. Our kitten is healthy and well socialized. Definitely a…read moregood place and choice for adoption. It's also very fun to just visit. Thank you Purrfecto!!

    Gold Ribbon Rescue - Marley

    Gold Ribbon Rescue

    (24 reviews)

    Downtown

    My husband Tyson and I lost our 5 year old Golden, Hopper, unexpectedly and quickly in January of…read morethis year. We had been following GRR on Instagram for years at this point and had always planned to eventually adopt with them we just didn't know how soon that opportunity would arise. GRR was thorough and thoughtful through every step of this experience. Every single person we encountered in this organization is a true Golden lover in every sense of the word. Our situation was handled with care and compassion as they worked with us at every step of the extensive but necessary process to find the right Golden baby for our home. Every aspect of our lives and our other pets lives was taken into careful consideration. Murphy came to live with us at the beginning of June and it's just as though he was always part of our family. We are so thankful to GRR for the work that they do and did how they have made a difference in our lives.

    We adopted our sweet Kinsey girl about 18 months ago from GRR and we couldn't be happier! Each step…read moreof the adoption process is clearly spelled out in GRR's website so there are no surprises. It is a volunteer organization and every person we spoke and met with were extremely kind, supportive and knowledgeable. There is also a lot of suppport after the adoption process if there are questions or need for additional training. In fact, we had such a great experience that I became a GRR volunteer! I love that GRR truly looks out for the best interest of every dog they rescue and goes to great lengths to place each and every dog with the right forever family.

    Siamese Oriental and Snowshoe Cat Rescue - Cashew

    Siamese Oriental and Snowshoe Cat Rescue

    (27 reviews)

    My communication with SOS began right before Christmas. I filled out an application and was…read moreinterested in 3 different kittens. Someone reached out to me stating the kitty I wanted was still available. I filled out an application, but for some reason, BOTH my references didn't receive their forms. So, we had to forward the form to them to get it filled out ASAP as SOS was indicating they hadn't heard from out references. We had the situation fixed within a day or two (it was during Christmas time). I sent an email to Dee to touch base if they've received the forms from our references and then nothing but crickets chirping. I waited and waited and waited (knowing my references filled out their form and giving them the benefit of the doubt) but then this morning a got an email that the cat we'd been waiting in for 3 weeks+ was adopted. No reason, no explanation, nothing. I even sent an email this morning (giving them the benefit of the doubt) and have not gotten an answer per usual. It's amazing to me, they want to come do a home visit, get our references, want to speak with our vets, want all our pets shot records at a fast rate, but their communication is slow AF. This was supposed to be a Christmas present for our family after losing 2 pets (we used to be a dog family until my son asked for a cat) but now 4 weeks of work is GONE without even an ounce of communication besides an email from Petfinder that the cat we were waiting almost a month for is adopted. I've helped neighbors, family members, friends, etc find various pets to love and find a good home within the San Antonio area, this place is the ONLY place where you gotta give a lot, but the respect isn't

    I'm officially a proud parent of one Siamese cat! We were on the hunt for our first kitten to adopt…read moreto our family, but wanted something more exotic. We found the Siamese Oriental and Snowshoe Cat Rescue network (SOS) via adoptapet.com. SOS is an incredible non-profit rescue center that takes in exotic breeds who have been abused or neglected. Though their application process is extensive, I appreciate how well they vet their candidates. They want to ensure their kittens find the purrrrfect forever home. In addition to the detailed application questions, you're required to submit your driver's license, a utility bill to verify your address, and 3-4 references (one of which cannot be a friend), along with your current pets' most recent vaccination records. Adoption rates vary depending on the feline's age and breed. Once your application is approved, you'll have a phone interview with a staff member or the executive director, Dee, to discuss the care of your potential new cat and address any lingering questions. Our application process took about 2.5 weeks from start to finish, including the interview. If you're in the area or want to make the trip to meet your potential new cat in person--it's definitely an option! We visited Ms. Dee's home and left that same day with the 9-week-old kitten we had applied for.

    Austin Pets Alive! - animalshelters - Updated May 2026

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