Austin Pets Alive! | Neko
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Neko

APA-A-187404

Looks Like
Mastiff / Akita

Sex
Male

Current Weight
85 lbs

Estimated Age
3 Years
3 Months

Location
TLAC
C-ISO

Adoption Fee
Not available for Adoption
Looks Like
Mastiff / Akita
Sex
Male
Current Weight
85 lbs
Estimated Age
3 Years
3 Months
Location
TLAC
C-ISO
Adoption Fee
Not available for Adoption

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Meet Neko, a 3-year-old Mastiff/Akita mix with a gentle soul and a very treatable medical need—he just can’t heal in the shelter.

Neko was recently hospitalized for increased respiratory effort, which doctors believe is due to severe heartworm disease causing congestive heart failure–type symptoms (pneumonia was also considered). The good news? He responded well to treatment, stabilized on medication, and received his first fast-kill heartworm injection (Immiticide). He is now bright, alert, responsive, eating well, and breathing normally at rest.

🏥 What Neko Needs Now
Neko’s recovery depends on something the shelter cannot provide: strict, quiet rest in a home environment.

For the next 8 weeks, he must have:

Strict crate/cage rest

Only slow, short leash walks to potty or sit quietly outside

Careful monitoring of his breathing and appetite

Medication administration (all provided and manageable)

This rest is critical to safely complete heartworm treatment and prevent life-threatening complications.

INTERESTED IN FOSTERING?

This pup is currently located at our Town Lake Animal Center (1156 W. Cesar Chavez, but use 1200 Reserve Road for mapping purposes). We'd love to show them off to you! To learn more about them, head in any day between 12:00PM - 6:00PM. We are open 7 days a week! Go to Building B and ask to speak with a Matchmaker about fostering this pup. You will sit down and discuss all we know about them and, if it's a good fit, get to meet them then! Please budget for a wait time unless you arrive right at opening as we cannot dictate walk-in traffic (wait times tend to be highest in the evenings and on weekends). If this pup ends up not being the best fit, we have so many other pups in need that we can suggest for your household on the spot!

Come meet your new best friend
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Jan 21, 2026

Winter Storm Warning: How You Can Help Austin Pets (and Keep Your Own Safe)

As temperatures drop later this week, APA! is asking the community to step up for pets who need warmth and safety during this Winter Storm Warning.

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