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Town Lake Animal Shelter

Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) is dedicated to providing and promoting humane treatment of animals while protecting the public health by managing the domestic animal population. The center is a City of Austin/Travis County facility.

The animal center provides many services, including adoptions, impoundment, injured and stray animal rescue, pet registry info rmation (972-LOST), and spay/neuter education. The pet adoption center and offices are located at 1156 West Cesar Chavez between Lamar and Mopac. Animal Cruelty complaints can be reported to the Police Department by calling 3-1-1 .

Our phone number is 512-972-4738. Adoption and reclaim hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. Weekends. The receiving office and Injured Animal Rescue service operate from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., M-F and 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Sat/Sun. To report an injured animal or to have loose dogs picked up, please call 3-1-1 as soon as possible.

Adoption
Thinking about adding to your family? We have a wonderful selection of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Some have been turned in by their owners, and others were strays. These animals have been tested for health and temperament soundness and have proven themselves to be prime candidates for adoption.

Adoption hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays and 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekends. Adoption fees are $75 and requirements include landlord approval and veterinary verification of current vaccinations and pet registrations. The Adoption office is closed on holidays.

Impoundment
TLAC is the only impoundment facility in Travis County . If you have lost your pet, you must come here as soon as possible to search for and reclaim it. If your pet arrives at TLAC wearing an identification tag, a staff member will attempt to reach you. We cannot assist callers looking for unlicensed animals by phone, given the large number of animals we receive. Stray animals are held for a minimum of three days. Impound fees vary.

Receiving/Injured Animal Rescue
Receiving hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. , M-F and 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Sat/Sun. If you have found an injured stray animal between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. , please call 311 or you may leave the injured animal at the Animal Emergency Clinics at either 4434 Frontier Trail, behind City Market and next to Austin TELCO or 12034 Research. If the pet is a stray, you will not be charged for this service. If you have found an uninjured stray animal, you may leave it in the Night Receiving cages located in the lobby of the Receiving Office.

Our animal control officers pick up stray dogs seven days a week. If you notice a stray dog or cat and cannot provide for its health and safety needs yourself, you'll do a great service by reporting it to the Animal Control unit or bringing it to TLAC. At the shelter, the animal will receive food, water and shelter. We do our best to find new homes for animals that are suitable as pets.

To report an injured animal, please call TLAC 512-972-6060 or 3-1-1 as soon as possible.

Spay/Neuter
Last year, more than 11,000 animals--50 percent of those that we received--were euthanized (put to sleep) at TLAC. If you think that's a shame, we agree. Many animals are euthanized due to illness or injury, but the majority die because no one wants them. There are simply too many dogs and cats in the Austin area and not enough homes for them.

Spaying and neutering animals are the most effective and practical methods of ensuring that puppies and kittens won't be born in the first place. Local veterinarians generously donate spay and neuter services to all of our newly adopted pets before they go home.

TLAC also offers a free spay/neuter program for the pets of low-income, East Austin residents through the EmanciPet Mobile Spay/neuter van. We urge all animal lovers to help us spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering. Please encourage your family, friends and neighbors to spay or neuter their pets! For more info rmation, please call 972-4738 or 587-7729.

Pet Registry
Did you know that a city ordinance requires all dogs and cats to be licensed through the Pet Registry program? Registering your pet could save its life. There are many other benefits to registering your pet. You can register your pets at many local veterinary clinics or at the center. For Pet Registration info rmation, call the Pet Registration Coordinator at 972-6007.

Pet or Pest ?
So, you've adopted the pet of your dreams! What a proud moment it is to bring home a new dog, cat, puppy or kitten. With a new pet comes high expectations of happy times and a long, healthy relationship with the animal.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. So many of the animals we receive at TLAC arrive because their owners have given up on them. The pet has become a pest! This happens when animals are not provided opportunities to learn proper behavior. We highly encourage dog owners to have their dogs obedience trained. Dog and cat owners should ensure they provide their pets with proper toys and equipment--such as scratching posts for cats--plenty of exercise opportunities and lots of love and attention.

Source Information:
Town Lake Animal Shelter