County Magazine

Last year, 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues in the United States. Many shelters are stretched thin, struggling to find enough space for the thousands of animals they work with each year.  

“The number of animals coming through our doors can quickly exceed the number of kennels we have available, particularly during puppy and kitten season,” Wendy Ballard, Bastrop County Animal Shelter animal services coordinator, said. Medical cases, large litters and animals requiring quarantine make that challenge even greater. 

Fortunately, the holiday season offers an opportunity for Texas county animal shelters to promote awareness, education and adoption through cheerful events. 

County shelters work with all kinds of stray, surrendered, sick and injured animals in unincorporated areas not covered by city shelters. They move the animals into adoptive homes, foster homes and rescue organizations. Adoption programs typically include spaying, neutering, microchipping, vaccinations and other basic veterinary care.  

Fort Bend County Animal Services Director Rene Vasquez said, “It's always about being creative and continuing to be in the public eye.” 

Aided by its mobile pet adoption vehicle, Fort Bend County leans into costumes and decorations throughout the year at the shelter and offsite large-scale adoption events. Around Christmas, shelter staff members hang stockings on each animal’s cage and fill the stockings with donated items. The animals take their stockings with them when they are adopted.  

Kaufman County Pet Adoption Center also draws in the community around Christmastime with an open house featuring snacks, hot chocolate, photos with Santa, and a staff-decorated Christmas tree contest. Homemade ornaments on the trees feature adoptable animals and a QR code linked to the shelter’s wish list.  

Some shelters join existing seasonal community events to gain exposure. Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter participates in the annual Georgetown Christmas Stroll around the town’s square while Bastrop County Animal Shelter participates in its local Christmas parade.  

Throughout the year, some county shelters partner with local organizations and companies, including Emancipet, Rescue Magazine, PetSmart, Petco, Cuddly, Tractor Supply and Pet Supply Plus for adoption events and donation and fundraising drives.  

Bell County Animal Shelter additionally partners with the Bell County Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Unit to offer seasonal events such as a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event in October, which brings together fun, animals and police department patrol vehicles.  

Tiffani O’Brien, the animal shelter’s community outreach coordinator, said the police department provides help with the event while giving community members time with police officers so they will feel comfortable and safe calling them when they need help. 

The shelter’s partnership with the mental health unit benefits other organizations as well. Before Thanksgiving, the shelter offers pet adoptions in exchange for nonperishable food items that are donated to a food bank. In December, adoptions are available for a donation of a new or gently worn coat that goes to a homeless shelter. 

O’Brien believes holiday events increase animal adoptions.  

“We have more people coming into the shelter and more animals are getting viewed,” she said. “It's really about the awareness of letting people know that we're here and we have amazing animals that are looking for a home.”