‘Code Red': Andrews Animal Shelter reaches capacity on National Rescue a Dog Day

Yahoo

21-05-2025

ANDREWS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The City of Andrews Animal Shelter was in 'Code Red' on National Rescue a Dog Day because it is was full capacity and did not have room to shelter more dogs.
'It's hard, Code Red is, I mean, I hate even using the term because it's emotional for a lot of people. But we need to get the awareness out there that way,' Sara Brus, Animal Services Supervisor said. 'We have animals that are at risk of not making it, and animals that would otherwise be great family pets. The only reason they would be put to sleep is simply because we don't have the space, and especially on National Dog Rescue Day, where we celebrate and encourage animal shelter adoptions. It's really hard to have those two days coincide.'
National Dog Rescue Day is to bring awareness to the public and to encourage the community to adopt a pet. Shelter Staff said, bringing more awareness would help bring in more families looking to adopt a new best friend.
'As far as private adoption, if someone has been thinking about it and considering it, that kind of code red, and with it being National Dog Adoption Day,' Brus said. 'People will go 'you know what let's do it'. Now is the time to take a look at what they have. It definitely brings more people in.'
While being under a code red, the shelter began reaching out to recues in the area to help them carry the load.
'We work with quite a few in the area. We work really closely with Midland Humane Coalition, and so we can reach out to them, and they will say 'hey we have this many space for this many dogs' and they will come and look,' Brus said. 'I am in contact with a few recues right now that are looking to see what they can do.'
The animal shelter said it plans to break ground on June 2nd to add a new adoption center that will have 19 large dog kennels, nine small dog kennels, and nine cat kennels in addition to the existing shelter. This shelter will add more space to care for more dogs.
But adding space isn't enough. Brus said one way the community can help with the dog problem in West Texas is to have their dogs spayed and neutered.
On a lighter note, eight lucky pets were been adopted Tuesday.
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