Animal Shelter reaches holiday adoption goal

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter surpassed its December goal of 120 new adoptions with 131 pets being placed in their forever homes during its Holiday Adoption Special. According to the City of San Marcos, these were pets at the shelter or in foster care who were already spayed or neutered and could go home to their new family the same day.

“We had some big adoption highlights including guinea pigs Thumper and Flower finding their new family, pup pals Madison and Baylor being adopted together and already loving their new life, five barn cats headed off to work, and 18 pets being adopted from foster homes,” said Animal Shelter Supervisor Christie Banduch. “It was a true success for our animals, for their new families, and for our staff who work tirelessly to find permanent, loving homes for each of our furry or feathered friends.”

The shelter thanked the public, volunteers, foster families and rescues for making its adoption effort a "huge success," the city said.

The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is offering an adoption special through Jan. 11. Above, Neville is available to be adopted at the animal shelter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Marcos

Additional Foster Homes Needed

Due to limited staffing and volunteers at the shelter as a result of social distancing, SMRAS' pets will be well cared-for, but would benefit greatly from the fun and attention provided in a foster home.

“We are looking for fosters through January 12, but any amount of time that you can open your heart and home to a loving pet will provide a great service to our community and our animals,” Banduch said.

The shelter provides basic medical care, food and a leash and collar or litter with each foster, the city said. Fosters are only asked to provide the love and attention.

Any pet currently available for adoption is available to foster. SMRAS is most in need of fosters for adult cats and adult dogs.

Fosters don’t have to live in San Marcos to foster but they do request that they have reliable transportation and live within an hour’s distance, in case of emergency.

Anyone qualified to adopt, can adopt their foster animal. SMRAS affectionately refers to this as ‘foster graduation.’

Additional information is available on the shelter's foster https://sanmarcostx.gov/2885/Become-a-Fosterhttps://sanmarcostx.gov/2885/Become-a-Foster. Foster applications are approved 48 hours or faster.

Lost and Found Pets

SMRAS is asking the community to help limit the number of stray animals entering the shelter and help reunite lost pets and owners by utilizing online resources such as the Lost and Found Pets of Hays County Facebook page, Nextdoor and Finding Rover. Please visit the SMRAS webpage for tips and links: http://www. sanmarcostx.gov/3260/ Lost-Found.

Animal Protection Officers will continue to respond to calls for aggressive, ill or injured animals, trapped wildlife and bite cases. For lost and found pets or officer dispatch during normal business hours, please call 512-805-2655. Emergency animal services are available outside normal business hours by calling the San Marcos Police Department non-emergency line at 512- 753-2108. For additional adoption information, contact the Animal Shelter at 512-805-2657 or email animaladoptions@sanmarcostx.gov. For information on fostering a pet, email foster@sanmarcostx.gov.

Adoption special underway as facility closes until Jan. 12

The SMRAS will be closed to the public until Jan. 12, along with all other City of San Marcos public facilities to protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19 following the holidays. All animals at the shelter continue to receive quality care and adoption fees will be reduced to $21 through Jan. 11.

All transactions including adoptions, fosters and intake/reclaim for lost pets will be handled outdoors and curbside while the shelter is closed to the public. Visitors are asked to look for instructional signs in front of the doors to the adoption center or intake/reclaim. Appointments are preferred and can be scheduled using Waitwhile application links. For adoptions and fosters visit https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/smrasadoption. For lost and found pets visit https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/animalreclaim

For more adoption details and to view the application, visit https://sanmarcostx.gov/3259/Adoptable-Animals.