Austin Pets Alive! Seeks Temporary Fosters and Supplies Ahead of Forecasted Freeze

January 21, 2026

Austin Pets Alive! is asking the Austin community to open their homes to dogs for a short period as a cold front moves into the area. The rescue set up daily pickup windows at its Town Lake Animal Center, located at 1156 W. Cesar Chavez, offering meet-and-take opportunities from noon to 6 p.m. through Friday, January 23. Homes are asked to keep foster dogs until Wednesday, January 28, when the temporary program will conclude.

The call for help comes as shelters across the region are operating at or beyond capacity, and some have paused intake, limiting options for animals during severe weather. Austin Pets Alive! currently has 75 dogs that need temporary indoor shelter while temperatures drop. Volunteers and short-term foster families can provide immediate relief and reduce strain on the shelter system.

For people who cannot take a dog into their home, the organization is accepting supply donations to support animals staying at the center and those heading home with fosters. Drop-offs are being accepted in front of Building C at the Town Lake Animal Center. The shelter requested medium, large, and extra-large dog crates, baby gates, long-lasting chews, and dog toys to help keep animals safe and occupied during the cold period.

Staff at the Town Lake location will help match dogs with suitable foster homes during the daily pickup hours, and they can answer questions about care and transport. The foster program is temporary, aimed solely at protecting animals through the forecasted cold spell, and Austin Pets Alive! will coordinate returns after conditions improve on January 28.

Austin Pets Alive! also released a set of cold weather tips for pet owners to help keep animals safe during low temperatures. The guidance covers basic precautions and care steps for pets exposed to cold, intended to reduce weather-related risks for animals across the city.

Organizers urged residents to act quickly while the pickup window remains open and supplies are needed, noting that community participation can make a direct difference for dozens of dogs at risk during the cold front. Those interested can visit the Town Lake Animal Center during the posted hours to foster or drop off requested items.