12-07-2025
How to help reunite missing pets after the Independence Day Floods
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Flash flooding has left a trail of devastation, with search and rescue teams focused on victim recovery and aiding affected families across more than 40 miles of river. Adding to the heartbreak, countless families are still missing pets.
Central Texas animal rescue groups have united together to recover and reunite displaced animals with their families.
MAP: Where have flash flooding fatalities been confirmed in Texas?
Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), which recently flew over 130 animals out of the state to create more shelter space, has been steadfast in their search for missing pets since deploying Friday afternoon.
In partnership with Kerville Pets Alive, APA! cleared all the animals from the Kerr County Animal Shelter so that only recently-recovered pets remained in the flood-affected shelters.
Since then, both Pets Alive locations have enlisted their teams of veterinarians, volunteers and staff to the surrounding shelters to support incoming pets. This work includes searching for missing pets.
'One of our volunteers, who is an expert cat trapper… went two doors down and was able to get a cat that was about to go underneath the home,' said Suzie Chase, Austin Pets Alive! community affairs officer. 'She was able to retrieve it and give it back to the home owner's daughter.'
Chase emphasized that pets are family.
'Just like if you are missing a person, you would also want to have everyone out supporting you and looking for your pet,' Chase said.
Whether you're missing a pet or you've found one, PetcoLoveLost is a good first place to look, according to Chase. The website uses image-recognition technology to notify families when photos of lost dogs match photos of found dogs. You can also manually search its national database of photos.
Posting pet information on community platforms can also assist in the search process. Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and Hill Country Humane Society have photos of animals on their social media. And of course, reach out to your local animal shelter.
'The people who have microchipped their pets are getting their pets back faster,' Chase said as a helpful reminder.
If you find a dog, follow all the same steps, including taking the pet to get scanned for a microchip.
April Peiffer, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter's community engagement coordinator, said that if it's an option to shelter the animal at your home, hold onto missing pets until recovery efforts slow down.
'It's just better for the pet if they don't have to stay here at the shelter,' Peiffer said. 'Not only is it more comfortable in a home environment but they're also less likely to be exposed to illnesses.'
Luis Sanchez, Austin Pets Alive!'s director of public relations, said that all found pets should stay in or near the local community to give owners at least 10 days or more to find them.
Currently, Chase said the best way to help is with monetary donations. The money will go to veterinarian supplies, medicine, animal rescue staff resources and more. If you have the space, fostering pets allows animal shelters to take in more displaced pets.
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