Dear Hays County Community Members, Volunteers, and Staff,
As we reflect on the past few weeks, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible hard work, dedication, and support across our community. Together PAWS Shelter of Central Texas in partnership with Hays County Pets Alive! (APA!) has made significant progress toward expanding care, increasing adoptions, and strengthening support for pets and people throughout Hays County.
Here is an operational update on our recent accomplishments and what you can look forward to in the coming weeks.
Recent Accomplishments & Operational Progress
- Kyle Shelter Campus Preparation: Thanks to the hard work of PAWS volunteers and staff, all kennel and shelter spaces at the Kyle campus have undergone a thorough deep clean and reorganization. Hays County Pets Alive! Shelter Director, Mara Hartsell has worked diligently to hire and onboard new shelter staff, readying the team in time for a soft opening on Monday, October 26th. The day was a success, complete with our first adoption. A teeny orange kitten named Wasabi is the first Kyle resident to have found his loving home!
- Modern Adoption Program Framework: We have officially launched a conversation-centered framework at the Kyle campus. This updated method, using technology and one on one conversations, has proven successful in finding homes for pets with fewer returns. Introducing this process at PAWS Kyle helps people find connections with pets who match adopters’ family dynamics, home set ups and expectations. Opening conversation with adoption center guests creates opportunities for adopters to get to know a pet beyond the way they look, reducing pets’ length of stay and ultimately saving more lives. Plans are in progress to roll this framework out to the Dripping Springs location as well. We hope to see continued and growing streams of potential adopters coming to visit and get to know our amazing pets!
- Staff Engagement: Recent staff meetings at the Dripping Springs location focused on aligning teams around our Central Texas lifesaving goals, modern adoption processes, foster training, and expanding medical and behavioral support for pets in our care. I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and passion of this group of staff. They work so hard every day for the pets in their care and we are so proud to be working alongside them.
- San Marcos Thrift Store Prep: Space preparations and donor inventory organization are moving forward at 302 University Dr. Suite B in San Marcos. This thrift store will serve as a dedicated revenue source to directly fund Hays County animal care.
What You Can Expect Next
- Open Houses
- Kyle Campus Reopening & Open House: While our Kyle campus officially re-opened for business on October 26th, media announcements for the Kyle shelter opening will launch in early November, followed by a public Open House “come and go” celebration on Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 6:30-8:00 PM.
- San Marcos Thrift Store Grand Opening: Mark your calendars! The official Grand Opening for the Hays County Pets Alive! Thrift Store is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026. We can’t wait to see you there!
- Dripping Springs Open House: A dedicated Open House for PAWS fosters, volunteers, and donors will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2026. This event provides an opportunity for conversation, celebration and connection.
- Get Involved: Volunteers & Fosters
- Thrift Store Volunteer Opportunities: We are currently seeking volunteers with shifts available through November 6 to help sort, price, and create inventory displays in preparation for the grand opening! In addition, volunteer opportunities are open to assist during the Grand Opening event on November 7. If you’d like to help, fill out this form to receive shift details.
- Expanded Foster Medical Support: To make fostering as accessible as possible, veterinary technicians and a part-time veterinarian are being integrated to provide localized foster medical care across both the Kyle and Dripping Springs locations. Interested in fostering? Share your interest using this form or complete your application here.
- A Note Regarding Our Staff
- Role Stability & Operational Growth: No positions have been eliminated as part of this partnership. Daily operations continue with additional resources, new staff hires, and staff benefits integration.
- Training & Skill Building: Upcoming workshops and training modules, such as “Adopters Welcome” courses and client service training, will support staff through upcoming operational workflows.
- Leadership
- Board Membership: We are excited to welcome two members of the PAWS Shelter of Central Texas Board of Directors to the Austin Pets Alive! Board. Greg Sabatini and Jorge Valdespino have been incredible advocates for PAWS for many years. They bring invaluable historical organizational knowledge and a strong focus on local priorities in Hays County.
- What’s Next
- Lifesaving Dashboard: We will share how the partnership is essential to saving lives across Central Texas by sharing the numbers and stories of the pets that need us most. In the near future, you can expect to find numbers of the pets taken in, fostered, adopted and more.
I look forward to sharing more of the roadmap showing exactly how Hays County Pets Alive! and PAWS Shelters plan to make a bigger difference in moving Central Texas closer to No Kill.
Thank you for your continued dedication to saving lives and supporting pets in Hays County. We could not achieve these milestones without you!
Warm regards,
Dr. Ellen Jefferson
Austin Pets Alive! / Hays County Pets Alive!