Latest news with #AustinPetsAlive!
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
Dog attack left tiny kitten in peril. But she's ‘fighting with all her might'
A precious little kitten with an adorable name to match a cute face is on the mend thanks to the help of a Texas shelter that's been working overtime this summer. Lunchbox is a tiny kitten with a big appetite for life and a strong curiosity. According to Austin Pets Alive!, the little tot is currently recovering from a heinous attack during her first weeks of life. 'At barely 2 months old, little Lunchbox was the victim of a brutal dog attack. The injuries this baby kitten bore were severe—a broken leg, a swollen and injured eye, and a fully degloved tail. She could barely walk, and to make matters worse, her wounds were infected,' the shelter said in an Aug. 6 Facebook post. 'Lunchbox was fighting with all her might to stay alive when Austin Animal Center brought her to APA! for immediate medical attention. Our clinic team sprang into action, giving this kitten all we have to help her overcome her injuries.' The social media post included photos of the sweet sea salt gray girl with beige and black stripes along her coat, with her eye visually in distress. But they also posted a video of Lunchbox playing innocently with a house plant and a photo of herchowing down on a treat. 'Lunchbox is on the road to recovery, but her journey isn't over yet. This week, she'll have surgery to amputate her damaged tail and undergo an eye enucleation,' the shelter said. For more information on how to help Lunchbox, visit the shelter's website.
Newsweek
25-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Beloved Dog Who Went Missing During Texas Floods Found Alive
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog that went missing during the devastating floods in Central Texas earlier this month was found alive with help from a trackable GPS collar. The Context During the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Texas experienced severe flash floods, particularly along the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers. The flooding left a trail of devastation, with over 100 people reported dead. What To Know Erin Doguet was 1,500 miles away in Colorado when she learned that her ranch, which backs up to the Medina River, was flooding and her livestock guardian dog, Ziva, was missing, People reported. Over 200 animals at the ranch had been left in the care of Doguet's sister, Shannon, and a pet sitter, Taelyn. "Ziva took off after a predator or possibly also spooked by the big storm, causing her to end up on the back section of the ranch, which is bordered by the Medina River. As she crossed the river, the flood waters rose swiftly, trapping her," Doguet told the outlet. Doguet had previously fitted Ziva with a Tractive GPS collar. Using the device's app, Doguet helped guide Shannon and Taelyn to Ziva's location. After spending approximately 16 hours in a flooded gully, and with help from an audible sound feature on the collar, Ziva was found and rescued by Shannon and Taelyn. "The app worked flawlessly in guiding us to her location," Doguet told People. A photo shows flooding caused by a flash flood at the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on July 5, 2025. A photo shows flooding caused by a flash flood at the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on July 5, 2025. Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images Doguet said Ziva was physically unharmed but exhausted. The dog drank water and rested for over 12 hours upon returning home. Across Central Texas, other survival stories have emerged from the devastation. A dog named Superman was found atop debris after being swept away by the floods. Animal organizations, such as Austin Pets Alive!, have taken in hundreds of displaced pets, mobilizing veterinarians, staff, and volunteers to aid in the emergency response. What People Are Saying Erin Doguet told People: "I burst into tears knowing they found her alive! When the collar kept reporting her same location for hours on the river, I feared she was dead." Suzie Chase, a community affairs officer for Austin Pets Alive!, previously told Newsweek: "The Central Texas community has been incredibly generous, dropping off canned pet food, blankets, towels and crates. They have volunteered to help transport animals from Kerr County and help with the search and rescue efforts. We are so grateful!" What Happens Next Austin Pets Alive! announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that its flood response efforts are ongoing. "You can help us continue to be there for Central Texas pets and their communities through our disaster relief efforts by donating funds or supplies, volunteering, fostering, or adopting," the organization said. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Owner ‘never lost hope' for cats missing in Texas floods. See emotional reunion
A woman is rejoicing after reuniting with her beloved cats who went missing when a tree crashed through her home during the devastating Central Texas flooding. Austin Pets Alive!, a shelter helping pets displaced due to the tragedy, posted a warm story about Cindy, a woman whose two cats vanished after losing her home. 'Cindy's home was destroyed during the early morning hours of July 4, when a tree branch went through her home,' the shelter said in a July 12 Facebook post. 'Her cats went missing and for the past week, our volunteers have been searching for her missing cats named Rambo and Mo. Like so many, she lost her home, but she never lost hope that the cats would be found.' The shelter posted a video of Cindy, whose last name wasn't given, joyfully being reunited with one of her two cats, Mo. 'We're so very happy to share that Cindy was reunited with Rambo earlier this week and finally, Mo, today! The joy that spread across her face is the best way to describe the relationship between people and pets,' the shelter said. 'As soon as Cindy took a pause from reuniting with her own kitty, she immediately asked about her neighbors' cats, who we've also been working to recover.' The shelter, along with Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue, has been working overtime to help owners affected by the flooding find their missing pets. The three teamed up to airlift animals from local shelters to Fort Worth to make more room. 'We are heartbroken by the devastation caused by the Central Texas floods, but we're also deeply moved by the compassion and urgency shown by so many, including our partners at Austin Pets Alive! and Wings of Rescue,' Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle said. 'In the face of disaster, we remain committed to doing everything we can to support impacted shelters and save as many lives as possible.' Heavy rains over the July 4 holiday ravaged the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, killing 132 people. Authorities believe around 170 people are still missing, the Associated Press reports. Kerr County is about a 125-mile drive west from Austin.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Dog was ‘swept away' from Texas home as flood killed his owner. Meet Superman
A dog is safe at a foster home after his owner was killed in the flash Central Texas flooding that's claimed the lives of at least 120 people as of Thursday, July 10. Appropriately named Superman, he was rescued by crews and volunteers who were aiding those displaced in Kerr and Williams counties, according to Austin Pets Alive!, which is caring for the pup as his surviving family grieves. 'Superman was found alone on a large pile of debris after the devastating floods in Central Texas that tragically took the life of his person,' the shelter said in a July 6 Facebook post. 'Fearful and aching after being swept away from his home, Superman was hesitant to trust the search and rescue crews, snapping as they were trying to save him. With patience and a bit of dog-whispering, volunteers were finally able to earn his trust and safely remove Superman from the scene.' Though Superman does have a family, the shelter was able to find a suitable foster to love on him while he waits to go home to his people. 'His surviving family, now grieving and having lost everything, (is) doing everything they can to hold on to the last piece of their past that remains — Superman,' the shelter said. 'But they can't do it alone, so we quickly got to work to find their beloved pet a temporary foster until they get back on their feet.' Superman was transported to the shelter after being medically cleared by Kerrville Pets Alive. 'It's been devastating for all living beings,' APA! President and CEO Dr. Ellen Jefferson said. 'So many people are searching for their pets that are the last connection they might have to a lost family member. Pets are so intertwined in this saga and it's so important.' As of Thursday, 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County, which is about a 125-mile drive west from Austin, the Associated Press reports.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
As Texas flood waters recede, efforts to rescue pets intensify
As the search for signs of life in flood-stricken Texas Hill Country continue, the race to save pets impacted by the devastation is on. Non-profit pet shelter Austin Pets Alive! has taken in over 230 animals primarily from shelters impacted by the floods that began July 4. The shelter said in a July 6 blog update it is coordinating a volunteer search and rescue group to find animals in impacted areas. The shelter also said it is seeking donations to provide support to families that have lost pets, including body recovery and cremation services. "It's been devastating for all living beings," Dr. Ellen Jefferson said in a July 6 Facebook post. "So many people are searching for their pets that are the last connection they might have to a lost family member. Pets are so intertwined in this saga and it's so important." Suzie Chase, the shelter's community affairs officer, told USA TODAY in a July 7 interview that the Austin shelter has served as a sanctuary for pets who have lost their family in the destruction the storms wrought. "We've had some cases where extended family members have asked us to foster animals because the animal's family perished in the floods," Chase said. "The extended family members just need to be able to figure out what to do next with the dogs and cats that have been located." Chase said that it is not the first time the shelter has been a part of a large-scale animal rescue, pointing to efforts following Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri. Lindsay O'Gan, the shelter's Instructional Design Manager who is in Kerrville with the rescue and reunification efforts, said in an interview with USA TODAY that the devastation in Central Texas was "hard to describe." "It happened so fast. In the same way we are seeing so much human missing and casualty ... I think the numbers are going to be much higher than we realize," O'Gan said. "Maybe 80%, 90% of the animals that are reported to us are lost, their owners are also lost or deceased." Texas flooding death toll hits 104: Hard-hit areas face new flooding risks Pet reunifications bring respite One of the pets the shelter was able to reunify with surviving family was Superman. The medium-sized mixed breed was found in the debris and was wary of rescuers, snapping at them before they earned his trust. "His surviving family, now grieving and having lost everything, are doing everything they can to hold on to the last piece of their past that remains," the shelter wrote in the July 6 Facebook post. O'Gan noted that the staff at Kerrville Pets Alive!, where the recovery effort is based, continued their work despite connections to the unfolding tragedy. "They've lost their own family members, or they've lost their own friends, or they've just had tragedy rolling in on their phones as they are working and they would keep going," O'Gan said. "I can't imagine what it's like, that it's in their own community and they have their own losses to deal with but they just keep going." She described the moments when pets can be reunified with families as, "Christmas, New Years and birthdays all combined." "We all really absorb those moments, because they are so rare," O'Gan added. What does the pet shelter need? On its website, Austin Pets Alive! said its largest need is monetary donations. The shelter also said the following supplies are needed: Chase noted that the list on its website is updated as needs change. O'Gan added that the shelter will need support long after the waters recede. "There's always this outpouring of support right after a disaster that dries up and I understand that as folks move on," O'Gan said. "We're going to be working on this for the next months after the news moves on. Hopefully they'll keep us in their thoughts and keep sending those donations because they are going to be needed for the foreseeable future."
