Hays County launches P.A.S.S. program

HAYS COUNTY  —  In January, the Hays County Pet Resource Center launched its Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (P.A.S.S.) program, which has helped more than 50 families.

The resource center came after a 2022 feasibility study was commissioned by Hays County with Team Shelter USA and Animal Arts Foundation. Lee Ann Shenefiel, executive advisor for Austin Pets Alive!, serves as project coordinator and focuses on applying the results of the study in a local context to make specific recommendations and plans for the county.

“The San Marcos Regional Shelter is a very, very busy shelter. There’s a lot of animals [and] a lot of pet owners who are in need of resources,” said Shenefiel. “There’s the recognition in the region that with the rapid population growth, expanding population density footprint and the number of businesses and people that are moving to Hays County, the demand for animal services is expanding very rapidly. There is the need for that responsibility to be spread out more [throughout] the jurisdiction.”

Because the center is still several years down the road, due to funding, location and construction time, Shenefiel stated that they recognize that there is still a current need to be addressed. The county is attempting to remedy this by providing a virtual resource center.

After filling out a help request online, a staff member will respond within 24 hours. There are three ways, she explained, that the virtual resource center can be used, depending on the need that the user has. The first is that it can be utilized as a central stop for pet owners. Those who are trying to solve a pet issue can get information about local resources and receive advice. For example, if an individual finds a litter of kittens, they can use the resource guide and get advice for steps to take.

The second is more complicated, said Shenefiel. She stated that those who have an emergency that requires funding, such as a broken leg on a dog, can talk to an advisor that can direct them on how to set up crowdsourcing, fundraising, etc.

Lastly, P.A.S.S. can also take place on the official Facebook group, which is monitored by staff members and volunteers.

“That is a dedicated space [which] is good for calls to action. So, if you are trying to rehome your pet, for example, you have great photos and the pet is vetted and up to date [on vaccinations] and you have a great bio, then that’s a great place to share that information and get it out to a lot of folks,” said Shenefiel.

The Facebook page should serve as a safe space, she said, which is something that the team strives hard to achieve: “People aren’t going to reach out for help if they feel judged or they’re made to feel irresponsible. Oftentimes, people just don’t know what to do … We all started somewhere, right? We didn’t just magically have a high degree of knowledge [of how to handle animal situations].”

If there is a time limit to the situation and the animal still has not been rehomed, there are steps that the advisors can help the owners take.

One example is the story of Peanut Butter. Shenefiel stated that the owner was changing their living situation and was no longer able to care for the elder Chihuahua. After posting him on Facebook, he found a home with acres to run on and the owner was able to work out an agreement with the new owners to visit him from time to time: “[It’s a] happy outcome. Happier outcome for the person [and a] good situation for the pet. And it’s one less pet at the shelter.”

“It very much is solving a current need,” she said. “We know that Hays County is a community of pet lovers and so, it helps elevate that and bring attention to the fact that there are a lot of people in Hays County who love their pets, but might need help and resources.”

The project manager also noted it emphasizes the need for the resource center and also provides data for the future for when they are creating the center and the programs, so they understand what the community needs.

For more information, the resource guide can be found at bit.ly/49nU2R9 and is also fully translated in Spanish at bit.ly/49n6bWs.