Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) has announced the conclusion of its partnership with Hays County in managing the Hays County Pet Resource, Education, and Research Center (Hays PRC). The conclusion comes after the Commissioner's Court voted to terminate the contract to re-evaluate how to proceed with animal services in Hays County. Since its inception in April 2023, this collaboration has been instrumental in providing essential resources to pets and their owners throughout the county.
Over the past two years, APA! has achieved significant milestones, including supporting thousands of families through the virtual resource center and, in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank, providing food and supplies to more than 2,100 pets in need. Between 2024-2025 the Hays County Pet Resource Center provided food and supplies to 2,172 pets and 1,080 households.
Since the launch of the Hays County dedicated Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (P.A.S.S.) program in January 2024, the program has supported 1,159 families. The P.A.S.S. program also integrated with the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS) team to serve as the surrender prevention and intake diversion program. Through this collaborative effort, response time to residents reaching out to SMRAS for owner surrender assistance was reduced from over 2 weeks to 24 hours or less. Austin Pets Alive! and its community support program, P.A.S.S., will continue to support Hays County and the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter.
In March 2025, the Hays PRC held a community roundtable for social service and animal welfare agencies to collaborate on providing aid to families and their pets, including the Central Texas Food Bank to combat food insecurity, the American Red Cross for disaster relief, the Hays County Health Department to address holistic health needs, and Hays-Calwell Women’s Center for victims of domestic violence.
Hays PRC also held a multi-jurisdictional meeting last year to bring together local animal control representatives from the Hays County Sheriff’s Department, and the Cities of San Marcos, Kyle and Buda animal control for the first time to discuss integrating the program’s case management approach into their field work as an additional tactic to help support residents.
To maximize support for the Pet Resource Center's goal of assisting people and pets, outreach extended beyond social services and animal welfare agencies to include diverse organizations within Hays County.
Hays PRC ensured all outreach and resources were in English and Spanish, adhering to contemporary marketing best practices. Information disseminated via social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and email newsletter leverages the platforms’ native auto-translation functionality, ensuring accessibility to users in their preferred language. All graphic assets, which are not subject to auto-translation, were designed and distributed in both English and Spanish. This commitment to bilingual communication extends to all printed materials, which are consistently provided in both languages at public venues and community events.
Austin Pets Alive! followed contractual obligations, marking significant progress in the collaborative efforts to serve the people and pets of Hays County. Beyond the formal terms of the agreement, APA! demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the community by continuing to provide essential services for an additional five months without a formal contract in place. This act of good faith underscores APA!’s dedication to fulfilling our mission despite administrative delays, ensuring that vital resources remained accessible to those in need.
APA! extends its gratitude to the Hays County Commissioners Court and the residents of Hays County for their support and collaboration. The contract between APA! and Hays County is set to conclude in the next 30 days. While the future of a re-evaluated contract is uncertain, APA! remains dedicated to its overarching goal of ensuring that every companion animal has the chance for a better life.
For more information on Austin Pets Alive!'s contract deliverables with Hays County, see here.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ellen Jefferson
President and CEO
Austin Pets Alive!
