October is recognized as Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals designated this month to bring awareness of dogs who need a home and to encourage people to adopt who may not have otherwise been considering it. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that animal shelters care for 6.3 million dogs and cats every year in the United States. Unfortunately, of those dogs and cats, 920,000 are euthanized. Even if the dogs remain at a no-kill shelter, an adoption will give the dog a better quality of life as shelters can easily get overcrowded. Rescuing a dog relieves the burden on these shelters and allows other dogs to receive the care, attention, and quality of life they need.
There are many dog adoption shelters in the Coastal Bend area for those interested in adopting a dog. The Gulf Coast Humane Society was founded in 1945 and was then called the Gulf Coast Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The Society eventually built its kennel to house stray or abandoned animals that local police or citizens picked up. The kennel is located at 3118 Cabaniss Parkway, Corpus Christi, Texas, and can be reached at (361) 225-0845. The Corpus Christi Animal Care Services offers dogs for adoption as well. Unmarked strays without collars or identification are brought in and are held for about three days. Pets thought to be owned remain at the animal care center for five days. Along with this, Peewee’s is another great shelter in our area. It is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter that is located at 1307 Saratoga, Corpus Christi, Texas. The shelter is committed to rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing small animals. They can be reached at (361) 888-4141.
The Port Aransas Animal Shelter is situated at 403 W. Cotter Avenue. It was built in 1987 after a series of fishing tournaments to raise money for such a shelter in the town. The Animal Friends of Port Aransas is a nonprofit organization that helps the area by volunteering for the shelter and providing care, treatment, and re-homing services for the animals. They can be reached at (361) 749-5941.
The Humane Society & Adoption Center of Rockport-Fulton (HSAC) was established in 1988 and is currently located at 1308 Myrtle St. in Fulton, Texas. The shelter has fifteen fenced yards for dogs to play and run freely, three cattery rooms adjoined by covered screened porches, an indoor kennel room for small dogs/puppies, a bathing/grooming/ laundry area, a medical supply room, and a front desk where volunteers welcome visitors and assist with adoptions. HSAC can be reached at (361) 729-8186.
These are not the only shelters in the area, but a selection of some of the potential choices when adopting a pet. Some additional shelters include For the Love of Strays, Mission: Pawsible, the Cattery Cat Shelter, and Coastal Bend Small Breed Rescue. Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month offers an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these animals as well as the community.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and Part of Nueces County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.
