Rehoming Your Pet?

Animal shelters should be the place of last resort for dogs and cats – even the best of shelters can’t compare to a loving home.

Although our vision is to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal, this is a challenge since all animals are accepted from our jurisdiction regardless of health, age, or behavior. There are many community animals that may need shelter more than one that has a home already.

We ask that you exhaust all options before deciding to bring a pet to the shelter.
Do what you can to rehome your pet. Check with family, friends, co-workers, and rescue organizations. Since you know your pet, you are the very best judge of the perfect new home for him, and by rehoming yourself, you will have peace of mind in knowing that you chose a good home for your pet.  

Helpful tips to rehoming a pet:

• Spay or neuter your pet.
• Make sure your pet is healthy and current on vaccinations.
• Work with your pet to make sure he is friendly and comfortable with different people and situations.
• Allow your pet indoors, so that he can learn better social manners.
• If it is a behavior issue, there are a lot of resources on the internet to assist you. Visit our Training & Resources page to find helpful tips and tricks. The shelter may also be able to assist you in finding an appropriate behaviorist to work with.

Rehoming resources available:

• List your dog or cat on Adopt-A-Pet.com. They have a new rehoming service!
• Contact the organization or individual from whom you received your pet.
• Contact local rescue groups. Groups can be found by doing a search on the Internet and by visiting Austin Animal Center's Rescue List.
• Network your pet on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.
• Use local classifieds, like craigslist, to find a new home for your pet (be sure to charge a rehoming fee).
• Place a want ad in the local newspapers.
• Visit the Austin Pets Alive! PASS Program Facebook page.
• Contact the Austin Humane Society or Texas Humane Heroes.

Surrendering a Pet to the shelter:
If you are unable to rehome your pet after considerable effort, you can arrange to surrender your pet to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

Follow these Steps:

• Call 512-943-3322 or email the shelter at wcras@wilco.org to schedule an appointment
• Be prepared to take about 30 minutes while at the shelter to answer questions about your pet. This will assist us in placing him in the best home possible.
• Bring your ID with address or other proof of residency in our jurisdiction and a $25 surrender fee. Texas driver’s license or other proof of residency in this jurisdiction will be required for owner surrender of animals.
• Please bring all veterinarian and/or vaccination records.

*** High Risk/ Euthanasia Fee ***

After staff evaluation, if your pet is deemed a medical or behavioral high risk, there is an additional $35 fee for the extra labor, behavioral enrichment, hospice care, medication, and possible euthanasia if you choose to still surrender your pet to the shelter.

Surrendering your pet to our shelter means you are giving up all rights to that animal. We are not required to notify you of any development regarding health or status, nor will we give the animal you surrendered special treatment over another animal. You may use our website or call the shelter for updates.

WCRAS is an open intake shelter serving all of Williamson County with the exception of the cities of Georgetown, Taylor, and Austin. We accept any animal from our jurisdiction that needs shelter regardless of age, health, species, breed, or behavior and no matter whether it is a stray or owned animal.

Click here to print this page: Rehoming a Pet.pdf

Are you feeding stray cats? We offer a free spay/neuter service for stray, feral, or free-roaming cats in our service area. Left un-fixed, free-roaming cat populations quickly grow out of control. 

Trap, Neuter, Return is the only proven method of controlling feral cat populations, where cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated and returned.

Removing cats from an area by killing or relocating them will not solve the issue. Scientific research states that catch and kill does not clear an area of cats. Each time a cat is removed, a new one will appear through a natural phenomenon known as the "vacuum effect." This creates an endless cycle of trapping and killing.

TNR is the only proven, effective, and humane way to control the cat population. Neutered cats are returned to live out their natural lives. The breeding cycle stops - no more fighting, spraying, yowling, roaming, and reproducing. The cat population stabilizes and declines over time, reducing the surplus of cats to the shelter and lowering euthanasia rates.

How it works:

• Make an appointment.  Call 512-943-3322 or email wcras@wilco.org.  Cats must come from the jurisdictions we serve.  Space is limited and there may be a wait for an appointment.
• Bring the cat into the shelter in the morning.
• Pick him up in the afternoon
• Release the cat back where he was trapped.
• Congratulations! You contributed to help control the cat population and lower shelter intake and euthanasia rates!

Tips on Trapping:

• Line the bottom of the trap with newspaper, cardboard, or a towel.
• Do not leave the trap unattended, for protection of the cat.
• Consider placing a food bowl inside a slightly larger bowl of water to discourage ants.
• Cover trap with a sheet or towel, for the cat’s protection. Do not bring in feral cats without a cover.
• Remove cat to a safe place once trapped.
• Never move trapped cats in an enclosed trunk or bed of a pickup truck. If you must transport the cat in the back of a truck, make sure it is secure and covered properly.
• Cats will be returned to the trap after surgery and should be kept in a safe place one night after surgery to regain its functions.
• Provide food and water as soon as you get home with the cat. Release cat only into its home territory or follow relocation guidelines.

Check out these rental properties and listings of area apartments with no breed discrimination!

• https://everythingaustinapartments.com/austin-apartments-with-no-breed-restrictions-2/
• https://www.mypitbullisfamily.org/housing/
• https://www.galleryatdomain.com/gallery-at-domain-austin-texas/

Are you scheduled to deploy and need a safe and caring place for your pets? Contact these organizations for help.

• Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet 
• Dogs on Deployment 

Did you adopt a military pup and need help? Contact Mal-FFunctions Disqualified Military Working Dog Rescue.