Summer is a time for rest and relaxation, but at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, the Summer season is one of its busiest. Not only does the amount of animal intake increase but so does the need for donations, volunteers, fosters and, most importantly, adopters. The shelter operates as the only intake shelter for all of Hays County municipalities. Although there are other animal rescues in and around Hays County, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is the only one that can not turn away animals. Although a great resource for animals that have no place to go, this leads to overcapacity issues that can result in the worst case scenario, euthanasia.
The city of San Marcos has voted to restrict intake access to just the San Marcos area as Hays County officials work on plans for pet resources for cities like Kyle and Buda. This new policy will go into effect in October of 2026. Adoptions will still be available to anyone who meets the adoption criteria, no matter their residency status. The decision by the city council will hopefully result in less strain on the animal shelter, but the year ahead will still be met with the usual challenges of overcapacity and limited resources.
Although the animal shelter faces capacity challenges, the team is committed to helping the animals live their best life and find their forever home.
“We are a small team, so if you are calling and you haven’t gotten through, there’s a very good chance that we are super busy,” Community Engagement Coordinator Minnie Buckhaults said. “We always encourage people to come in, even if you just have questions.”
The adoption center is open Mondays, Fridays and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. As well as Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12 to 7 p.m.
There is an updated list of all adoptable animals on the city website with photos, age, gender and breed listed. The shelter has an active social media presence, posting videos and photos of adoptable animals on their Facebook and Instagram page at @smtxanimalshelter. The team hosts frequent adoption events at places such as PetSmart, Triple Six Social, and even Friday at Shake Shack from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Adoption is the key to helping the shelter, there is a wide variety of cats and dogs ready to find their family. For those who are not in the position to adopt at the moment, the shelter offers multiple opportunities to help the animals from foster programs to volunteering.
This month the shelter has launched their Boost a Buddy program, which helps promote adoptable animals online through social media, word of mouth or optional in-person visits. This is a flexible yet impactful way to support shelter pets who need more visibility. An application can be found through their social pages.
There is a thorough list of ways to get involved depending on one’s availability and capacity at sanmarcostx. gov/3484/Get-Involved. The webpage outlines the foster program which is an invaluable resource for pets, directly improving their well being. If fostering is not in the cards one can still enrich a shelter pet by participating in the Dog’s Day Out program, which gives dogs a field trip so they can destress from the shelter environment. This enriches the animals by showing them new smells, places and giving them exercise. This helps their adoptability as well by allowing the staff to receive notes on how they act in everyday situations and learn more about their personalities.
The shelter also accepts volunteers who help aid in several activities in and around the shelter. Volunteering is available to those 18 and older or to children eight and older accompanied by a guardian. Some of the volunteer activities include walking dogs, cleaning kennels, adoption counseling, dog play groups, animal enrichment, cat room socialization, pet photography and veterinary assistance.
Another vital way the public can support the shelter is through donations. Although the shelter is publicly funded they have limited resources. Donations that are accepted all year round include kitten, puppy, dog and cat food as well as dog and cat treats. Durable toys, cleaning supplies, blankets and small beds are always a need. The shelter website updates specific needs throughout the season such as the current need for kitten and puppy milk replacement, Miracle Nipples, pet nursing bottles and heating pads. Early spring through late fall is known as Kitten season since unspayed female cats are most likely to get pregnant and give birth during this time. The animal shelter has a link to their Amazon wish list on their website, so donations can be as easy as the click of a button. Monetary donations are also accepted at sanmarcostx.gov/256/Donate- to-the-Shelter. Local businesses can even get involved in many ways from hosting donation drives and adoption events to team volunteer days at the shelter. A full list of business opportunities can be found at sanmarcostx.gov/3485/Business-Opportunities.
“There is so much good from a community that comes together for these animals and helps get them into a better situation or into a home and we can only do this with our community’s help,” Buckhaults said. She encourages the community to visit the shelter whether it’s to volunteer or to just learn more about what they do. “You may find a future here, you may find a calling. You may find your best friend here.”
