The Long Stay Project

07/09/2025

Today I watched 4 couples in an hour stop at Chuck’s kennel, glance at him, and keep walking. No questions. No interest.

The first three times, he was sitting at the door. The last time, I didn’t see him at his door. After they passed, I walked up to see what they saw. He was in his bed, just looking back at me. 🥺 And that, physically hurt my heart. 💔

That was just 4 couples in one hour. Chuck’s been at Austin Pets Alive since May 2023. Thinking about the number of people he’s watched pass by since then is unbearable.

I’ve posted everywhere. I’ve begged. But still—no adoption inquiries. Not one. It’s crushing to see such a special dog be so invisible. And as his friend and advocate, I feel like I’m failing him.

If you can’t take him home, help him be seen by sharing this post or any of my other posts of him.

If you’re interested in meeting Chuck, please go to Austin Pets Alive 1156 W Cesar Chavez any day between 12-6. He’ll be waiting patiently for you.

IDEAL HOME TYPE UPDATE -

Dogs - He’d do best as the only dog but if juuust the right fit came along, there’s potential to live with a well matched dog sibling.

No cats

Kids - potentially older teenagers.

https://www.austinpetsalive.org/adopt/dogs/apa-a-119901

07/08/2025

Austin Pets Alive! has had a large influx of dogs from Kerrville, Georgetown, and other impacted flood areas ‼️

APA is helping local shelters by creating space for animals affected by the floods, allowing them to prioritize lost and found animals and focus on reunification efforts. 💕

🚨🚨

𝗙𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦/𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗡 𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗!

🚨🚨

Here’s some dogs you can adopt or foster to free a kennel up for another dog from a flood area!

Dogs shown are:
- In a kennel or on a short term sleepover expected to return within a few days.
- In the care of Austin Pets Alive over 365 days.

One of the many perks to helping a long stay? Many have home notes and a support team to guide you!

If you’re interested in adopting, fostering, or taking a dog on a sleepover, you can do any of the below:

🚘 Visit APA’s Town Lake location 1156 W Cesar Chavez any day 12–6 [𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱]

👩‍💻 Read bios/apply at austinpetsalive.org/adopt/dogs.

📧 Email [email protected] (𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬)

Harley - Intake: 9/14/2021
Jada - Intake: 6/29/2022
Bree - Intake: 8/14/2022
Chili - Intake: 11/17/2022
Nitro - Intake: 11/27/2022
Jingle - Intake: 12/31/2022
Mellie Mel - Intake: 1/30/2023
Magnum - Intake: 2/17/2023
Chuck - Intake: 3/24/2023
Momo - Intake: 4/18/2023
Maximo - Intake: 5/1/23
Xylo - Intake: 6/8/23
Pillow - Intake: 7/19/23
French Fry - Intake: 7/28/23
Teddy Bear - Intake: 8/23/23
Picasso - Intake: 8/31/23
Missio - Intake: 9/6/23
Fuego - Intake: 9/9/23
Khonshu - Intake: 9/10/23
Scooby - Intake: 11/2/23
Chester - Intake: 11/18/23
Grizelda - Intake: 11/21/23
Wade - Intake: 12/30/23
Greg - Intake: 1/2/24
Cheddar Cheese - Intake: 1/25/24
Bandito - Intake: 2/22/24
Oro - Intake: 4/6/24
Fudgsicle - Intake: 6/3/24
Petey - Intake: 12/9/23
Ginseng - Intake: 7/2/24

07/08/2025

THE POWER OF MICROCHIPPING! 🩷

07/06/2025

UPDATE:

Please read the screenshots for updates from Austin Pets Alive! and their flood relief efforts with Kerrville Pets Alive and Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

This is a very fluid situation. Please be sure you’re following all of their social media accounts to stay the most up to date.

Here’s some links referenced:

🐶 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗔𝗣𝗔):

Where to get regular updates -

Follow them on social media and/or visit:

https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/helping-our-neighbors-affected-by-devastating-floods-in-kerr-county

Where to donate funds to APA’s flood relief -

https://donate.austinpetsalive.org/campaign/674763/donate?c_src=KerrCountyFlood-45839&c_src2=Blog

Where to drop off donations at APA -

1156 W Cesar Chavez Austin, TX
Any day 12-6pm

Volunteer form for APA (may experience delays in replies) -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCHpMBd3Sf0BOQ6cWtvv007TSityc5CoOScaov5Nb8h4tCTw/viewform

🐶 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲:

Where to get regular updates -

Follow them on social media

Where to donate funds to Kerrville Pet’s Alive flood relief -

https://kerrvillepetsalive.com/
VENMO

Where to report a lost, found, or pet that was left behind -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Aa7tam65l3bQqOSf1-4H99kZSN-SqQHaz9AwAmZse00/viewform?edit_requested=true

🐶 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿:

Where to get regular updates -

Follow them on social media

Lost & Found Pets -

https://www.wilcotx.gov/167/Lost-Found

Note:

⭐️ Austin Pets Alive is only bringing in pets to there caee that were at the shelter 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 to flooding so those shelters have space for their local pets that were displaced during/after the floods.

⭐️ You may experience delays in replies to emails and online inquiries due to their emergency flood response efforts and the influx or responses. Please be patient and kind. We’re all doing our best. 🩷

⭐️ If you want to be an emergency foster for dogs or cats at Austin Pets Alive, please *go in person* (see screenshot)

*I’m a volunteer at APA

07/06/2025

Please also check Kerrville Pets Alive for more ways to help!

Every pet we find matters and will be remembered. Deceased pets from the flood will be retrieved and cremated if we are not able to find their owners. They will not be left behind.

Donate:
Kerrvillepetsalive.com
VENMO@kerrvillepetsalive

07/06/2025

The priority need at right now is emergency fosters. I unfortunately can’t help with that at the moment. But, I can and will volunteer my time and heart to these dogs. There was a LOT going on at the shelter today. With increased foot traffic (a wonderful problem to have!) along with it downpouring all day, occasional thunder, shortened outings due to the weather, a lot of dogs coming and going, etc - I noticed that some dogs were more stressed than usual. So, I dedicated my time and heart to comforting the shutdown ones (my favorite ❤️‍🩹), quick potty breaks, giving enrichment, doing treat puzzles/games with them in their kennels, and drying up their kennel space.

So many people showed up today. It was incredible to witness what happens when the community comes together.

They still need emergency fosters for cats and dogs. I *𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗬* recommend going in person if you can foster. 1156 W Cesar Chavez Austin, TX any day between 12-6.

Be patient and kind with staff/volunteers. Everyone is swamped and we’re all doing the best we can. 🩷

07/05/2025

𝙋𝙍𝙄𝙊𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙔 - 𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙍𝙂𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍: foster a dog or cat. Dogs are also being returned this weekend from their short term firework fosters and there’s a large influx of pets coming from other shelters.

𝙑𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧: transport animals and/or supplies, accept and sort donations onsite, support the intake team, and help with care and placement of onsite animals.

𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨: pet food, carriers/crates, tarps, and towels.

If you can support in one of the ways above, fill out the form (pictured) here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCHpMBd3Sf0BOQ6cWtvv007TSityc5CoOScaov5Nb8h4tCTw/viewform?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLWSu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp77q5LUIi_DH8x8gs0coyDCwMnfEal648Hso9_S6nZ1KJsge1jLeXYFhyTZD_aem_44HG6VxyqnlqZ_Am8NOBxw

Donations can be dropped off at Austin Pets Alive.

Austin Pets Alive!
📍1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX
🕝12pm - 6pm 7 days a week

𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥. 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱.

UPDATE:

Link to new blog on APA’s website that will be updated regularly with what’s needed and how to help:

https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/helping-our-neighbors-affected-by-devastating-floods-in-kerr-county

07/04/2025

Happy USA day or whatever - Love, Delta ❤️🇺🇸 If you’re looking to adopt, Delta is taking applications! She can even live with a well matched dog. 😉

If you’re interested in learning more about her, you have a few options!

➡️ Message her foster

➡️ Email her long time friend who knows allll the Delta things at [email protected]

➡️ Visit www.austinpetsalive.org/adopt/dogs and search by her name or pet ID APA-A-93370

➡️ Message Delta’s Instagram .bellyrubs

If you can’t adopt, please share her. She’s been waiting a really REALLY long time. 🥺

- Austin, TX

07/04/2025

CHUCK GOT A FIREWORK FOSTER!! 😭🎉 He’ll be safe and sound in a home instead of stressed in a kennel during the fireworks near the shelter!

I was stressssin y’all. 😅 Shortly after the shelter closed yesterday for the holiday, his foster sent me that picture. Thank you so so much Michelle for giving Chuck a place to stay and to everyone for sharing my bajillion posts!

If anyone wants to be Chuck’s forever firework foster, he’s available for adoption at !

07/03/2025

My buddy Gavin is OUT.✌️After a year in the shelter, he’s officially adopted! 🎉💙

07/02/2025

Resharing this post because as of right now, Chuck still doesn’t have a firework foster. 🥺 Without one, he will be at the shelter while Austin puts on a firework show essentially right above the shelter.

If you can give a Chuck a quiet place to crash 7/3-7/5, please go to Austin Pets Alive IN PERSON by 7/3. They are closed 7/4.

Okay guys, Chuck put on his BEST bow tie to ask y’all a big favor…

✨Is anyone able to let him sleepover 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟯𝗿𝗱-𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟱𝘁𝗵?✨

There’s a huge firework show on July 4th in Austin riiight next to the shelter and I’d love to make sure Chuck doesn’t have to go through the stress of it!

If you have other dogs, you’re still able to help as long as you have the space to keep them separate from the resident dogs!

I 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 going to the shelter as I’m not sure they’ll get to your email/app in time.

Austin Pets Alive - Austin, TX
12pm - 6pm daily [𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟒𝐓𝐇]

Read more about him:
https://www.austinpetsalive.org/adopt/dogs/apa-a-119901

06/30/2025

🚨 Austin Pets Alive! dogs really need you Austin! If you can host a shelter dog 7/3-7/5, please 𝙜𝙤 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 on or before this Thursday 7/3!🚨

1156 W Cesar Chavez St Austin, TX
Hours 12-6pm daily

The shelter is closed to the public July 4th. Staff and volunteers will be there all day as well as during and after the firework show to ensure the dog’s safety. ❤️

Bonus points if you take a long stay in 😊