Animal center waiving pet adoption fees

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin Animal Center is waiving adoption fees for all animals this weekend as an incentive to move potential pets out of the over-capacity facility.

All pets adopted from the center and at the offsite locations will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and will go home with a collar, tag and microchip. These services, valued at more than $200. The offer runs Friday through Sunday.

For the past month, the Austin Animal Center has faced an ongoing capacity crisis as hundreds of new animals continue to enter the animal shelter.  As of Thursday, the shelter faced a deficit of more than 60 cages, meaning many healthy and adoptable dogs and cats may be at-risk of not finding a home this holiday season.

“The kennels are full, the weather is getting cold, and the animals are eager to find a warm and loving home,” said Abigail Smith, chief animal services officer. “Many people are waiting until the Christmas Eve weekend to find a new companion animal. We’re offering waived fees to let them know that this weekend is the best time to adopt.”

The special will apply to all animals at the Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop.

Additionally, the Center will be waiving adoption fees Saturday at the Sunset Valley Petsmart, 5207 Brodie Lane, and Sunday at the Lakeline Petco, 14010 U.S. 183; Tomlinson’s, 4211 South Lamar Blvd.; and Petsense, 7900 N. FM 620, Suite 110.

The special will also apply to dogs being housed at the Center’s overflow facility Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St.

The Austin Animal Center is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.