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7 Many good things are happening at the Bastrop County Animal Shelter and one of those is a new voucher program aimed at large dogs that weigh 40 or more pounds, according to Sherri DeLeon, chair of the BCAS Friends. The vouchers will pay for thespay or neuter of animals through Emancipet Mobile Spay and Neuter.
“Our main purpose is to make this available to the people of Bastrop County that are in a low-income bracket,” DeLeon said.
The vouchers will be available through October. Animal control officers will hand the vouchers out, as they make their rounds, according to BCAS director Troy Walters, and people can also call a dedicated number to request a voucher. That number is (512) 584-1509.
“The point is to reduce the pet population,” Walters said. “We decided to shake the tree and see if we get a good turnout.”
Walters said if the turnout is good for the large dog offering, next in line will be vouchers for small dogs.
“We wanted to do big dogs first because it’s easier to get small dogs adopted,” Walters said.
According to the program, when people call the dedicated line, they will answer several questions and if it is determined that they qualify for the program, an appointment will be set up with Emancipet.
Breely
The little dachshund came into the shelter as a stray. She was in so much pain and discomfort, when they laid her on an examining table she was a lump. Her entire body, including her eyes, was covered with mange.
“You hardly ever see it this severe. She was caked with scales,” Walters said. “She was very lethargic and very uncomfortable.”
Sometimes animals in this bad of shape cannot be saved, but Walters, an avowed animal lover himself who has adopted several dachshunds, was not going to let the little dog they named “Underdog” go without a fight.
“I took wet washcloths and softened her skin up,” he said. “When I cleaned her up, she blossomed. There was even a little tail wag.”
The staff, volunteers and Walters have taken pains over the last year to establish connections with rescue groups all over the state of Texas. Walters had worked with one such group that specialized in dachshunds, Texas Dachshund Rescue.
“I knew they were full but I called them anyway,” he said. “They posted her picture on Facebook and another rescue group, Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas, saw her story and jumped at the chance to take her. We met halfway and they took her.”
That was on Aug. 10. On Sept. 8, Walters received a picture of the dog now known as “Breely,” who was named after a volunteer at the rescue group that died in a car accident the day before “Breely” arrived there.
“I was shocked,” Walters said.
As can be seen in the pictures, the little “underdog” turned out to be quite a fighter – and quite a beauty. With just one month of tender loving care, Breely has turned into a shining example of a rescued dog.
Walters and staffer Patti Hilliard work hard to cultivate rescue groups, who come into the shelter on a regular basis, not only for breed-specific dogs, but also for dogs who are on the short list for euthanasia.
“They take dogs off the euthanasia list and dogs with serious health problems,” Hilliard said. “The rescue groups also pay for a lot of the veterinarian bills these animals incur.”
The shelter is always looking for financial donations, food, toy and bedding donations and volunteers. Call (512) 549-5160 to find out how to help.
Since when is the high kill shelter AKA Bastrop Animal Shelter now being called the Bastrop County Animal Hospital?
Vet hospitals are AROUND to diagnose and treat illnesses NOT to kill stray dogs or cats.
Please… recognize that the word Shelter was mistakenly typed as Hospital. Check with your local hospitals AROUND, they do euthanize (KILL) stray dogs and cats. How many have you adopted or rescued? This shelter is doing a great job. The employees have a hard job to do, the problem lies with responsible pet ownership. I repeat RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. Where do you think STRAYS come from? Hello?
I just want to commend Bastrop County Animal Shelter/Hospital, as no matter what your name is: Your staff went out of their way to help save Breely, as they have so many other dogs who would other wise not stand a chance.
We so often critize the Shelters and Rescues; When we should be directing our words to the ones who are responsible for their animals ending up Shelters and/or Rescues. AND we need to be singing praise for the Shelters that take that extra step to find a RESCUE that will take in the dogs that they have. Rescues are overworked, volunteers who’s hearts are with these animals, or they wouldn’t be doing what they are doing: some at their own expense..
Thank God for the Rescues out there.. You are really appreciated.
THANKS!!
Owner of 3 Rescued Dachshunds, and Proud of it.
Thanks Troy for all you do! The Bastrop animals are lucky to have such a strong advocate for them! We always try to help when we can!
Thanks to Diamond Dachshund for stepping up for this baby!
Linné Girouard
All TX Dachshund Rescue
Jeff,
I could understand if the word written that was mistakenly typed was the word “WOULD” when you meant “COULD” instead. That would be mistake as you describe.
I really don’t know how you could mistake the word Hospital for Shelter.
I know of one local vet hospital that DOESN’T take stray dogs. I found that out first hand.
As far as adopting animals, all the animals in my home are at their SECOND forever homes. I have been doing this for many many years both here in Bastrop county and around the country.
To Pat A.
Why can’t you find something nice to say about Bastrop County’s Animal Shelter. Compared to what it was like last year at this time I would think that you would be singing it’s praises. I wish that every dog and cat that arrived at the shelter (Hospital) could be saved as I am sure the staff would like and I KNOW that Tory Walters would like. However, we can’t save them all simply because we do not have the funds or the private donation base that large metropolitan areas have. I know Troy Walters and I have seen first hand how he feels about the animals that come under his care. The way that he goes out of his way to deal with these animals or how they deal with an animal before it is euthanized has earned the animal shelter the right to be called a “Hospital”. I am a firm believer and fierce defender of the constitution of the United States as well as Texas. However, there are times when negative people need to be quiet. Ms P. Anderson, I think this is one of those times.
Thank you Troy for all that you and your staff do to help so many animals in the Bastrop area. I’m in Dallas and very active in the rescue community – you and the Bastrop shelter are well thought of and doing a great job. I’m sorry a few people are losing sight of the true story here because someone made a simple typo.