TRAPRS - Trapping, Rescue, and Pet Recovery Service, Austin, TX (2025)

12/04/2025

Our hearts are broken.

This is the update that we all feared so much and honestly feel like we’re collectively shattering the hearts of everyone.

We are so sorry to share that we lost Brownie this morning.

After over 9 minutes of CPR, she could not be revived again. The amazing ER team did everything they possibly could to bring her back but the damage to her body was too extreme. They fear she had severe brain damage from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) to the brain for too long.

After arriving at the ER, their whole team worked on her nonstop for hours. She went in and out, blood pressure and blood sugar continuously dropping while they would counter it to stabilize over and over.

Neurologically, she wasn’t being responsive in the way she should. But we were all hoping it was due to the combination of pain meds and sedatives and know that neuro is always the slowest to regain function, all of us including the vet staff remained hopeful.

Just before she passed, the vet team let us know they gave her about 1% chance of leaving the hospital without severe brain damage if they were to be able to revive her.

Sweet girl fought so hard and we all know that had she not been rushed to the ER overnight, her passing would have been horrific if left alone without care.

We have all learned a lot about Brownie the last 24 hours. She was a very happy 5 year-old pup, who loved to cuddle and was a friend to everyone she met. She has helped her mom through so much and we know she leaves a gap larger than life.

Thank you so much to every single one of you who shared, donated, reached out.

Without the community support, we couldn’t have even tried to save her without you.

To the selfless vet clinic who worked tirelessly initially to provide urgent care at no cost, to the police officer who acted immediately and rushed Brownie to the closest clinic, to our volunteer who rushed her to ER while B cried😭, to the ER staff who worked overnight to provide nonstop critical care—thank you. Brownie’s mom is so grateful for everyone going above and beyond the call of duty to try and save her. We so wish we had a happy ending for her. 💔😭💙🙏

Rest in peace sweet girl.

12/04/2025

Today, we received one of the most gut wrenching phone calls we’ve ever gotten for help.

And to be honest, without yours, we can’t save her.

‼️GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING.‼️

Before we begin, please understand that we know this request and situation is extremely unorthodox. But there was no one else jumping to help and this dog deserves to live.

This afternoon, a local vet clinic called our hotline desperate for support. A few hours earlier, a police officer had come running through their door, with his jacket wrapped around a dog who was bleeding out from her neck, jugular vein clearly exposed. She was covered in bite wounds and in cardiac arrest.

Miraculously the vet team performed CPR and recovered her. If you’re familiar with canine CPR, you may know the recovery rate is nearly non existent and this in itself was a tremendous feat.

The next steps were stabilizing her and performing emergency surgery and wound cleaning.

This pup’s name is Brownie. She is an owned and very loved service dog.

—
Rewinding the clock, Brownie’s mom recently witnessed two dogs being thrown out of a car near her home. She kept them in her yard initially, and like so many of our community members, sought help but it fell on deaf ears. With a shelter closed to intake and no one claiming these pups, she was left with them and brought them inside. They warmed up to her home and dogs and had been enjoying a safe cozy space. She felt like she was doing everything right while she was trying to find a place for them. The city told her that since she brought them inside, they were hers now and they wouldn’t help.

But today, when she left home for an hour, she returned to find her own dog, Brownie, covered in bite wounds and bleeding out. Unable to drive herself due to medical reasons, she dialed 911. The heroic police officer mentioned above rushed in and, sirens on, drove Brownie to the nearest vet clinic.

Brownie’s mom is on disability and doesn’t have the financial means to cover this tragic situation, and the extremely kind vet clinic generously covered the initial costs.

Tonight after surgery, they called us to ask if we could help — they did not have overnight medical care, and they feared that if left alone Brownie would not make it through the night. She still needed additional treatment, stabilization, and critical care.

We called 4 different ERs, all who referred out due to the severity of her case.

We found one that finally said yes. Even though they were closed, the vet staff stayed with Brownie at the initial clinic until our volunteer could get to her and rush her to the emergency hospital.

She is in a tremendous amount of pain, and they are currently working on stabilizing her, she will need additional diagnostic tests, further wound cleaning, and hospitalization.

We are fundraising to cover the costs for Brownie. The are exuberent. The city and its current animal welfare situation has failed yet again and Brownie and her mom do not deserve the tragedy they faced today.

She is fighting so hard. Please help us save her. 😩🙏

https://givebutter.com/savingbrownie
Venmo:
PayPal.me/theTRAPRS
Zelle: [email protected]

12/03/2025

Can you help us keep saving lives?

2025 has been a wild one for our rescue and it’s only December. 🫠

We have welcomed so many deserving souls into the org from abandoned strays who just need a warm place to serious medical cases.

Our public shelter has been closed intake essentially since just months after we formed in December 2019 and our foster program has skyrocketed since. On top of that, the city funded ER clinic partnership has now also ended.

Over the last 6 years, with your help, we have saved hundreds of dogs and worked thousands of cases from lost pets to street dogs.

As the needs climb, so do our expenses and to keep doing what we do, every donation counts. Our team helps to fill the massive gap and it’s only getting bigger.

On this Giving Tuesday, please consider donating — either as a one-time donation or signing up to be a monthly supporter!

💙Our amazing partner .dogs is allowing us to gift any donor today and tomrorow a FREE Fi GPS collar and 6 mth subscription!💙

🙏DONATE:

www.givingtuesday.traprs.org

Alternate donation methods:

Venmo

PayPal.me/theTRAPRS

Zelle: [email protected]

‼️Note: if you use an alternate method, please email or DM us a screenshot of your donation with your email addresss so we can be sure you get your collar!💙

11/08/2025

🚨Sound the alarms! SOS — we’re drowning in medical bills and the requests to save the dogs on the streets is increasing weekly. 😩 We need your help to be able to keep saving lives.🙏

Over the last few months we have been slammed with major medical situation after situation. We’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone catch you up with all of these cases. 😭

Pictured above are just a few handfuls of recent medical needs that have surpassed $30,000 in vet bills alone.

❤️‍🩹 Zuko — dumped and being attacked by dogs.

❤️‍🩹 Brooke — abandoned and running terrified with a broken foot.

❤️‍🩹 Mav — major complication after neuter requiring another surgery.

❤️‍🩹 June — multiple ER appts, back to back surgeries - hydrometra & then breaking records with a rare case of endometriosis and a tangerine-sized mass removed.

❤️‍🩹 Winston — partly blind senior dumped in the middle of the road. Emaciated, anemic, eye infections and HW+

❤️‍🩹 Cinnamon — dumped and left for a year on the streets. Emergency surgery for pyometra & HW+

❤️‍🩹 Mama Penelope & party of 8 — vetting for all

❤️‍🩹 Manny — sudden internal bleeding & emergency surgery for cancer mass on spleen and liver

❤️‍🩹 Grace — all set for her final health check in foster and bam! We found cancer & she needed a surgery to remove the mass.

❤️‍🩹 Gia — left without her puppies on the streets, HW+

You may or may not have heard the news that the city of Austin has removed the portion of their budget allocated to emergency services through a local ER clinic.

This means that if you, as a community member find a dog who’s injured in the middle of the night, you can no longer take it to the city partner ER. For the last several years historically they have turned away many medical emergencies anyway, but now that option is gone completely. What now? If you want to save that dog, it’s out of your pocket and calls to us are increasing at an astronomical rate.

To keep going, we desperately need help.

🙏How you can help?
* Venmo
* PayPal.me/theTRAPRS
* Zelle [email protected]
* Mail: PO Box 90531 Austin, TX 78709
* Call our vet directly Southwest Vet 512-696-3980
• https://givebutter.com/2fyBEa

11/02/2025

14 days missing and over 20 miles traveled.

There’s a saying in rescue:
“At some point, the will to survive outweighs the fear.”

This means there will come a time when a dog (or other animals, at times), although terrified, will seek out human help or civilization because they know they need it.

Today was that day for Crux.

After covering a distance of 20 miles from the point of loss, a cold, super underweight, and cut-up Crux showed up on the back porch of a stranger.

The kind person, sensing his fear, made a trail of treats into her utility room, where Crux immediately cowered into a corner.

A neighbor had seen a flyer posted at a nearby garden center.

They called, and Crux’s foster mom went over and, after some coaxing, was able to scoop the scared baby up.

Day 14, and Crux is finally HOME SAFE! 😭💙

We’ll be working closely with his family to ensure this is his last great adventure.

Welcome home, Crux!

You’re one heck of a survivor. 💪

11/01/2025

Happy Howl-o-ween! 🎃

Swipe through many familiar faces — from adoptables, pups who have landed their forevers and even one of our lost dogs found!

If a pup says “adoptable”, they are available! All of these others are spoken for — either adopted or in their foster-to-adopt homes. 💙

Email our team for more info: [email protected]

Thanks so much to everyone for sending in these adorable pics. 📸💙

#ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ2025

10/26/2025

🚨LOST DOG - AUSTIN, TX🚨 NW Austin 78759
Barrington Oaks | Anderson Mill | Jollyville

Help us find Crux! He’s a scaredy foster dog who escaped a few days ago and the recent storms have made him bolt over 3 miles from where he went missing. 😩

Crux was originally lost at 183 & Duvall. There is always a chance that he loops back so we need all eyes on!

He’s wearing the BLACK collar in the photo.

We need everyone in this area to be hyper-vigilant and alert us if you spot him!👀

It is VITAL that you do NOT CHASE him or try and corner him. Please help us get the word out right away!

🏡Let’s get him home safe!🙏

If you spot him:
🚫 Do NOT call for
🚫 Do NOT chase
🚫Do NOT pursue in any manner

✅ Call (or text!) the hotline immediately with sighting details!

☎️ 844-287-2777

10/26/2025

Lend a paw anyone?🐾🥹

Our foster home needs are constant, but these are some of our current dogs that need placement! ‼️

While most of our fosters commit to fostering through adoption, occasionally there are emergencies, medical events, people moving, etc. which prohibit a foster from being able to foster until their pup is adopted.

Through no fault of their own these babes are looking for their next foster home or foster-to-adopt! 🏡

All of these dogs are currently in our program, so unlike when we initially pull them off the streets, we can share quite a bit of info about each one. (Aside from Storm and Sprite who are new this week in temp care, but we’re learning about them fast, too!)

📩 If any of these dogs catch your attention and you would like to learn more, please DM us or shoot us an e-mail: [email protected]

🤔 Looking for a different match for your household? Or want to be our list for short term and vacation needs? Please still send us a message!

08/30/2025

Help us give this sweet girl a new life!

Many of all know and love Baloo. (Photo 1)
He was dumped in Westlake, limping and peeing blood.

We all assumed he was hit by a car until we took him to the vet. The best guest was blunt force trauma- most likely someone intentionally kicking him. He fought his wild UTI and kidney infection for weeks and he has recovered beautifully in foster.

But now... in the exact same area, a female dog has appeared who looks to be his sister, she is also limping and terrified. And seeking help. (All other photos are of her)

We need a foster home to say YES so we can get her into our vet quickly.

She's been allowing two residents of a senior living facility to befriend her. But runs from everyone else. They can't foster her, so we need a family who can.

It was about to storm this afternoon, so she’s VERY temporarily staying in their apt but we need a foster home right away.

You know the drill:
✅ medical
✅ supplies
✅ support
All covered by us.

You:
💪Jump in with both feet, keep separate initially from resident pets + kiddos, and in it for the long haul with us.

🏡Apply to foster: bit.ly/fosterforTRAPRS
�Can’t foster, but still want to help?
❤️‍🩹Support her care!
Donate here: https://givebutter.com/gSoXcJ
Venmo:
PayPal.me/theTRAPRS

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08/29/2025

🥹 Manny made it. ❤️‍🩹
But we still need your help!🙏

Manny had his emergency surgery and it was successful. They were able to remove the large mass that was his left liver lobe and multiple other nodules on various lobes of the liver, all which were bleeding. The surgeon also removed his spleen. There is a lump on his hip that has to be looked at, but it is hopefully benign and not a priority for right now in case it’s something worse and would cause more internal bleeding if poked. 🫠

Manny spent two more days in hospital at risk of still internal bleeding and was anemic to the point where he was possibly need a blood transfusion at any moment.

The hospital ran out of blood during this and it was a bit scary there for a minute.

(Blood supply shortages in vet med aren’t uncommon, and this isn’t the first time our team has had that scare.)

He has pulled through it all and will be able to get discharged and headed home to continue his healing in his loving foster home.

His total bill increased and we’re only 1/3 of the way to our goal.

Please consider helping us with Manny’s care!
https://givebutter.com/fPgvpm

Venmo:
PayPal.me/theTRAPRS

08/26/2025

😭 We don’t know how we’re going to pull this off, but we have to try.

Sweet Manny is heading into emergency surgery NOW. His bill is at $8,000 and this comes at a time where we’ve got medical bills coming out of our ears, new intakes, and so many dogs in heartworm treatment.

Manny has been through so much since we rescued him — he had mast cell tumor, an amputation, and then heartworm treatment. He’s been doing amazing until suddenly he crashed this weekend. He became lethargic with heavy breathing and coughing. We rushed him into the regular vet and x-rays showed a mass on his liver.

Due to the high potential for internal bleeding, he was immediately hospitalized at AVES. He was anemic and in limbo for a blood transfusion overnight. Thankfully we made it through the night and he had the ultrasound this morning which identified the size and location of the tumor. However it was unclear if it had metastasized to his gallbladder or if his spleen was also affected.

The next step this afternoon was an urgent CT scan to determine if this was going to be operable or what decisions we had to make.

We just got the glass-half-full news that it is operable🙏😭, and it had not moved to the gallbladder. There is a lesion on the spleen so we will remove that at the same time. This is just considered an accessory organ in dogs and he will live fine without it.

The liver surgery should remove a mass in full and with the best guess of the type of cancer, it has a high rate of survival and low rate of recurrence.

Manny does have a mild to moderate risk of bleeding out during the surgery or during recovery. But the doctor is confident in moving forward with the surgery.

We know y’all have helped us rally before when we have these sudden and scary situations with dogs already in our foster program that we are not anticipating. 😭💪

Can you help us save Manny once again?
💙Venmo
💙PayPal.me/theTRAPRS
(note: these two donation methods are the fastest and get the funds to us immediately so we can get the money to the vet)
💙Fundraiser page: https://givebutter.com/fPgvpm

other donation methods available at the link in our bio!

TRAPRS - Trapping, Rescue, and Pet Recovery Service

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

12/03/2025

11/08/2025

11/02/2025

11/01/2025

10/26/2025

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