Shelters offer pets for free
Some Central Texas animal shelters are offering free dogs, cats, puppies and kittens through July 4.
Pets are available without an adoption fee for a 10-day period at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown, Austin Pets Alive, Pflugerville Pets Alive and PAWS Shelter of Central Texas in Kyle.
A Utah-based nonprofit group called Best Friends Animal Society has raised money from donors to pay the adoption fees through July 4 for more than 270 rescue groups and shelters across the country. The goal is to find homes for 10,000 pets in 10 days, according a news release.
The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter hopes to find homes for 200 pets during the 10-day free adoption period, said Cheryl Schneider, the shelter’s executive director.
“We are very excited to be able to have this opportunity,” she said.
The shelter is at capacity and needs to clear out some space because it receives more strays around July 4, when animals tend to get scared and run away at the sound of fireworks, said Misty Valenta, the community program coordinator for the shelter.
The shelter usually has only one free day for adoptions in August, when it is usually over capacity, she said.
Free cat adoptions will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11