Austin Pets alive saves the lives of 12,000 pets per year, who come through the Austin shelter --…read moreand countless more with their outreach to animals and organizations throughout Texas and the country. APA!'s mission is to promote and provide the resources, education, and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals. Their vision is that every shelter animal, in Central Texas and beyond, gets a true chance at the life they deserve. Austin Pets Alive! is not an average animal shelter. They pioneer comprehensive, innovative programs designed to save the animals most at risk for euthanasia. They have a 95% animal save rate...the highest in the country. I volunteer as a dog walker every day. The dogs are well cared for, and they ensure that each dog gets walked 3 times a day. In addition, they participate in play year activities to make sure they get proper exercise and socialization. The kennels are always kept clean and hosed down after pet accidents. They have matchmaker services to make sure an adopted pet is compatible with their new owners. And they offer a lifetime of behavioral support, by dog behavior experts, for adopted dogs. Austin Pets Alive values their volunteers and hold appreciation meetings twice a year. The most recent one as at AGBG, with free pizza for everyone. They were voted best nonprofit for several years.

a super sketchy pet rescue…read more they don't let anyone comment on their content. Post dogs that are already gone and just give an overall "will probably scam you" vibe. would not recommend.

We adopted Doodlebug (now known as Mabel!!) from this rescue and couldn't be happier. She was very…read moreloved and well taken care of Trina in foster care. They really made sure we were a good fit and have checked in on her to make sure the transition was going smoothly. I'd recommend this rescue highly. We are so happy with our new girl!!

From the owner: Abby's Little Friends Rescue is a not-for-profit (501(c)(3)), no-kill organization that is…read morededicated to rescuing pets and giving them a second chance in life. These pets have been abandoned, lost, abused or for other reasons given away. We give them the health care and love that they may need, evaluating them for behavior and temperament, and placing them in the loving homes they deserve.

AP really cares and does a great job saving lives and helping to get these cats and dogs into new…read morehomes. Super appreciate all they do.

Great place, found our new dog here. Staff was helpful. Animals are well taken care of.read more

Lil Paws Maltese Rescue is responsible for bringing joy into our home. We recently adopted an…read moreadorable little maltipoo. She came to us housebroken and full of love. I contribute that to the amazing and compassionate volunteers who run this rescue. Their puppies are raised in the homes of these caring individuals so they have been trained and socialized with love and care. If you are interested in adopting a dog needing a forever home, Lil Paws Maltese Rescue is where you need to go. They have meet and greets every month to find good matches for their puppies. We are so in love with our new fur baby.

I'm sharing this as a genuine concern for animal welfare and transparency…read more I've noticed this individual adopting animals from local shelters while simultaneously requesting donations and then selling the animals at retail-level prices. That raises serious ethical questions. Animal shelters exist to place pets into safe, permanent homes--not to supply inventory for resale. If money is being exchanged beyond standard adoption fees, the public deserves clarity on where funds are going and whether shelters are aware. Donations should support care, vetting, and rescue efforts--not personal profit. If this is a legitimate rescue operation, transparency, nonprofit status, and itemized use of funds should be clearly provided. Otherwise, this feels misleading to donors and unfair to families who adopt in good faith. I hope proper oversight is in place to protect the animals and the community.Donations solicited under the appearance of animal rescue while animals are sold at retail prices.

I recently attended one of the free spay and neuter clinics hosted by Austin Animal Free Spay and…read moreNeuter Clinic and greater good charities for my puppy, and overall, I had a great experience with just a few things to keep in mind if you're planning to attend. The clinic was scheduled from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM. I arrived around 8:30, and as expected for a free event, the lines were long--but honestly, that's understandable when such valuable services are offered at no cost. One of the great things was that there was no limit to the number of animals you could bring. Once I got there, I was greeted by friendly staff who gave me paperwork to complete. A staff member kindly informed me that the process could take a while, which I appreciated. I ended up waiting in line for about four hours. If I had known ahead of time, I definitely would have brought snacks and water to help pass the time--but I was fine overall. Before they took my puppy back, they thoroughly explained the procedure and all the services included: the spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, microchipping, and preventative medications. Talk about saving money! They promised to take great care of him, and I felt reassured as they carried him back. Around 4:30 PM, I received a call to pick him up. He looked good at first, but as I drove down the highway, I noticed some bleeding. I turned around and rushed back to the clinic. The staff explained that male dogs can be a little more sensitive due to the number of blood vessels involved, and it wasn't unusual. They immediately took him back, cleaned him up, and made sure he was okay. One of the amazing volunteers even helped me clean the blood off my car and blankets--who knew peroxide worked so well? Once home, I noticed his microchip had started to migrate out. I texted the number they provided, and they told me to bring him back in for a check-up. I did just that two days later, and he was given a clean bill of health. They were quick, responsive, and made sure everything was taken care of. They also mentioned that they host these events frequently. If you're considering getting your pets spayed or neutered, I absolutely recommend bringing them here. The wait can be long, but the care and services are worth it. They treat your fur babies with love and compassion, and you leave knowing your pet got the attention they needed. Thank you to the entire team for your patience, hard work, and dedication. Look out for more free spay and neuter clinics it will save you tons

They do horrible things to their animals. They throw animals with illnesses on you and REFUSE to…read morehelp you out or give your new baby medicine in the meantime while waiting for their first vet appointment. My baby had worms that they just "didn't notice" from March... it's MAY and they REFUSE to give him $20 dewormer. They're stingy and horrible people that don't care for the health of their animals. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SHELTER FOR ADOPTING, THEY WILL NOT HELP YOU CURE THINGS THEY GOT IN THE SHELTER. THEIR 311 NUMBER KNOWS NOTHING. IDIOTS. Thank god I rescued my angel from that horrible place. 1/10. Only not 0 because I found my angel there.

I had an excellent experience adopting my cat Macaroni from AHS…read more Very easy to get signed in, look at cats, and find the perfect friend for you! The staff was super helpful and extremely giving (we forgot a carrier and they gave us one for free + a blanket). I'd highly recommend for adoptions/fostering. These cuties need a good home! It was $85 for my 3 year old cat

I volunteer here once a week and I love it. This organization relies heavily on volunteers…read more The staff is helpful and seem to really care for the animals. They also host some fun events. I can't wait to go to the Puppy Bowl coming up next week!

A friend of mine talked me into going with her to Purr-fecoto Cat Lounge. She loves cats and I…read morelove coffee. I was lured in by the coffee aspect of the visit because I am allergic to cats. I can go about a couple of hours before my throat closes in and my eyes turn bloodshot red from an allergic reaction. Please note that they have drip coffee only. Their mission.."Purrfecto partners with Texas rescues to give adoptable cats an opportunity to find new homes. Just like humans, all cats have different purrsonalities, but they all need love. We have created the perfect environment for them to relax and meow around while they wait to discover their perfect match. We are hoping to reduce euthanasia in animal shelters and increase adoptions. We want to provide homeless cats with 9 lives full of love." Cool concept...you pay $15 for 30 minutes or $30 for 70 minutes to play with a cat in the lounge to determine whether you want to adopt a cat. The space is bright, welcoming and open. It is like a group cat love fest. The lounge has been in business for about 4 years and have had about 1,900 adoptions. My friend did not adopt a cat but she will return. You must make an appointment to visit with the cats.

Purrfecto is the best place to adopt a cat. Our kitten is healthy and well socialized. Definitely a…read moregood place and choice for adoption. It's also very fun to just visit. Thank you Purrfecto!!

it helps animals in need of adoption and humans can come to see animals and pet and buy themread more

This rescue is amazing! It is 100% Foster-based, which means all of the animals in their care are…read morein homes with families to look after and care for them until they are adopted. Everyone associated with the rescue is a volunteer and they give their heart and soul to provide opportunities for dogs to find forever families. Most of the dogs are coming from shelters and other rescues in areas of Texas where the support services for animal welfare are lacking. Full disclosure, I am a foster with AjK Family Rescue, and have the upmost respect for everyone involved in the organization. My family has personally adopted two dogs from AjK.

I just recently adopted my new dog through GRR and it was an incredible experience start to finish…read more Yes, it's thorough and yes it takes time, but I definitely feel like that is by design and ultimately matched me with a pretty incredible pup - you shouldn't be in a hurry to find your next family member! The care and passion for each dog is apparent, and I had a whole support team throughout the process to ensure I had all the information and resources I needed to bring my Cooper home.

UPDATE: After the long process of filing a complaint with the Texas Bar Association, we were…read moreextremely relieved to learn action was taken to ensure others do not have to endure the hell we went through with GRR. It doesn't bring back our Scout girl but feels like there was some justice at the end of the day. We continue to pray that Scout is in a good home, loved, and well cared for. Check the names of people leaving positive reviews with GRR's board members and you will find significant overlap. These are their "experts" who have no more qualifications than any other previous pet owner. You would think at the very least, that their medical expert would be a qualified vet, but you'd be wrong. They are the top experts because they've been doing this for x amount of years. I wish we would've listened to our vet when she told us she'd heard horror stories about this organization over her 35 year career in the industry but the heart wants what the heart wants. We so badly wanted to see the good in this organization and for them to do what was morally right. Please don't go in as naively as we did. TL;DR- avoid at all costs! These are some of the most unprofessional people that I've ever had to deal with. Your "team of experts" are board members with strong opinions. No one with any formal training in veterinary behavior, medicine, or adoption. Every decision about the dog is made by a group of 10 or so Karens who somehow feel empowered after acting solely in their best interests with zero regard as to what's most beneficial for the dog. It still makes me nauseous a year later. I strongly urge anyone considering Golden Retriever Rescue (GRR) to read their reviews and research past lawsuits before donating, adopting, or fostering. We had a dog in our home for a year--loved and cared for her like family--only to be forced to return her after GRR launched a prolonged legal battle. I couldn't bring myself to drop our baby off for them to pick up but I know my husband was sobbing, our attorney was sobbing, and the dog was audibly crying out as my husband was forced to walk away. Despite advice from three attorneys that our offers were more than fair, GRR refused to compromise. Their founder, an attorney, used her legal background to push the matter through court. Even after we won an initial motion, we were facing over $15,000 in legal fees and emotional exhaustion. We simply couldn't keep fighting. The reasons they gave for reclaiming the dog had nothing to do with her well-being and everything to do with personal bias. Internal emails we obtained (photos attached) show their decision was based on disliking us--not any failure to care for the dog. They cited things like "renaming her", asking about delaying spaying based on science, asking questions, and a 1 day late foster report (which we immediately corrected). To make matters worse, when we tried to resolve things peacefully, they refused to return the dog's medicine and even attempted to involve the police. Their behavior made it painfully clear they prioritized control over compassion. Disturbingly, GRR's founder was also breeding and selling golden retrievers for profit during her time as president of this nonprofit--raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest and potential tax fraud. This organization may not be what it claims to be. We are heartbroken and disgusted. Please think twice before working with GRR if you care about ethical practices and the true welfare of animals.

I absolutely love SOS and the work, dedication, passion, and love that Dee puts into her rescue and…read morecats. Yes, the application process is long, but this is how passionate she is about ensuring that these babies go to the right home. She's always been there to provide advice and help even after adoption. Our two babies have been amazing. They are the perfect emotional support kitties, very loving and affectionate. I highly recommend going to SOS. These are my SOS babies!

My communication with SOS began right before Christmas. I filled out an application and was…read moreinterested in 3 different kittens. Someone reached out to me stating the kitty I wanted was still available. I filled out an application, but for some reason, BOTH my references didn't receive their forms. So, we had to forward the form to them to get it filled out ASAP as SOS was indicating they hadn't heard from out references. We had the situation fixed within a day or two (it was during Christmas time). I sent an email to Dee to touch base if they've received the forms from our references and then nothing but crickets chirping. I waited and waited and waited (knowing my references filled out their form and giving them the benefit of the doubt) but then this morning a got an email that the cat we'd been waiting in for 3 weeks+ was adopted. No reason, no explanation, nothing. I even sent an email this morning (giving them the benefit of the doubt) and have not gotten an answer per usual. It's amazing to me, they want to come do a home visit, get our references, want to speak with our vets, want all our pets shot records at a fast rate, but their communication is slow AF. This was supposed to be a Christmas present for our family after losing 2 pets (we used to be a dog family until my son asked for a cat) but now 4 weeks of work is GONE without even an ounce of communication besides an email from Petfinder that the cat we were waiting almost a month for is adopted. I've helped neighbors, family members, friends, etc find various pets to love and find a good home within the San Antonio area, this place is the ONLY place where you gotta give a lot, but the respect isn't