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  • Austin Pets Alive! | This APA! puppy was found floating down a river…

    Austin Pets Alive! | This APA! puppy was found floating down a river…

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    Oct 25, 2022

    In early October, Austin Pets Alive! received a call from another Texas shelter–– a man had just come in with a puppy he’d found floating in a box along the river, and he needed help the shelter was unequipped to provide.

    A photo taken by the person who found Kayak.

    Why was the shelter unable to help this adorable little puppy? Because the 2-month-old had tested positive for Parvovirus—a highly contagious, life-threatening virus that’s considered a death sentence at many animal shelters. Fortunately for the puppy, APA! was ready to help save his life. As a rescue that operates one of the country’s only Parvo ICUs, APA! has treated nearly 1,000 parvo positive dogs a year. The Parvo ICU tackles high-risk cases, once considered impossible to treat in the shelter environment, that other shelters are unable to handle due to the highly contagious nature of the virus. Slowly but surely, APA! has set a precedent nationwide for treating parvovirus in the shelter setting, proving that it is possible to save more lives than once thought possible.

    After a two-hour drive to Austin, Kayak arrived at APA! lethargic and pale. Medical clinic manager Lauren Heymann immediately recognized that the tiny pup was crashing and that he needed immediate

    Kayak was so sick during his first week of treatment that he didn’t show any signs of his personality. Slowly but surely, under the careful treatment of APA! staff and volunteers, Kayak’s true wiggly and happy self began to blossom. As he started gaining weight and recovering from his bout with parvovirus, Kayak began seeking attention from his human caretakers, wagging his tail emphatically to visitors and offering sweet kisses to his friends.

    Within no time, adoption applications for the happy boy began to stream in. Kayak soon found a loving home where he is now free to become his full outgoing, sweet self. And while Kayak is living his best life, dozens of other APA! parvovirus survivors are still looking for success stories of their own. Even though adopting a parvo survivor may sound scary, it’s essential to know that puppies like Kayak are no different from any other puppy and live long, happy, healthy lives with few to no additional considerations or care requirements.

    Kayak with a member of the APA! staff
    Kayak with a member of the APA! staff

    Kayak is a survivor, thanks to the tremendous efforts of the kind human who saved him from his floating box and the dedicated staff at APA! who nursed him back to health. Even more importantly, he’s a healthy, wiggly boy who’s ready to experience all that life has to offer in his new home–– and we’re so incredibly thrilled for him!

    Kayak with his new family.
    Kayak with his new family.

    But the work of APA! never stops–– so long as animals like Kayak and other puppies with parvo need help, APA! will continue to challenge the status quo through constant innovation, compassion, and revolutionary lifesaving programs.

    If you’re interested in helping our lifesaving efforts:

    Donate to help APA! by clicking here.

    OR
    To adopt or sponsor a parvovirus warrior like Kayak, check out our dogs currently available for foster or adoption by clicking here.

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Growing the Family after Hurricane Harvey

    Austin Pets Alive! | Growing the Family after Hurricane Harvey

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    Sep 24, 2021

    When Hurricane Harvey devastated much of Texas and Louisiana in 2017, the APA! community leaped into action with the goal of evacuating and saving as many lives as possible.

    Thanks to the amazing support that we received from donors, fosters, volunteers, and the APA! community both near and far – you! – we were able to transport over 5,000 animals to safety, stand up three temporary shelters, gratefully accept truckloads of donations, and record nearly 30,000 volunteer hours.

    But the impact of Harvey didn’t end in 2017. It only just began for the thousands of adopters that added new additions to their families. This included Patrick and Lauren. Just recently engaged, the couple took the opportunity to grow their family while helping pets in need.

    “It was my birthday,” said Lauren. “He [Patrick] has this habit of sending me pictures with no explanations and then I have to guess why he’s sending it to me. On my birthday he sent me a picture of a dog in a crate and it got me really excited. I thought he had gotten me a dog for my birthday. When I found out he was just sending a picture of a cute dog, I got really upset.”

    But when Lauren mentioned that APA! was rescuing thousands of cats and dogs from Houston and surrounding areas prior to and following Hurricane Harvey, the next day Patrick snuck out of the house and headed to APA!.

    That’s when Patrick first laid eyes on Wren.

    “I’m afraid she may have been in a hoarding situation or with someone who was trying to turn her into a hunting dog…going through that process and maybe she didn’t take. Maybe they saw the hurricane as an opportunity to ditch her,” Patrick said.

    For Patrick and Lauren, saving Wren was also about starting a family.

    “I love Wrennie,” said Joey, Patrick and Lauren’s two-year-old daughter, with a hiccup. Joey gave Wren that name as soon as she could talk. They’ve been best friends since the start.

    “It’s been interesting because when we first adopted Wren, she was our only family,” said Patrick. “She was all of our attention and spare time. It’s been really interesting to see the family grow around her, see the dynamics change and see how she’s adapted and adjusted to not being the boss of everything, even though she still thinks she is. She’s always been very maternal. She’s been good with kids.”

    From being stranded among the floodwater from Harvey to a loving home complete with a young friend to play with, Wren is just one of the thousands of lives that have been saved by everyday people looking to make a difference.

    “I understood the need to adopt because there are so many dogs out there that need rehoming. I don’t think I would ever do anything differently now,” Lauren said.

    “I always thought that if I got a dog, I would get a shelter dog. I don’t like the idea of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on something that comes from a puppy mill or breeding facility,” said Patrick. “When Harvey came along it felt good to try to help a cause. I would do it again.”

    Patrick & Lauren: we’ll be here, waiting for when y’all are ready to adopt all over again. Adopters like Patrick and Lauren are just some of the people who have made our #NoKillDecade possible. You can join the No Kill movement by making a gift today to ensure another 10 years of lifesaving. Thanks to an anonymous board member, all gifts will be DOUBLED, up to $10K!

    Want to share your experience with Hurricane Harvey? Whatever your APA! story is, we want to hear it. Interact with all of our social posts this week to tell us your story using #NoKillDecade.

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