Local shelter faces worst crisis in years due to overcapacity, screwworm threat
Two of Hill Country Humane Society’s adoptable kittens, Margarita (left) and Muffin, relax together with siblings Waterloo and Lonestar lounging behind them. Staff photos by Caden Senn
With seasonally-high stray animal intakes, the looming threat of the re-emerging New World screwworm, and significant overcrowding, a local animal shelter is facing one of its worst crises in years.
The Hill Country Humane Society, located at 9150 RR 1431 West in Buchanan Dam, currently has over 100 stray animals at its facility, several dozen of which have been taken in over the last week alone.
According to HCHS Executive Director Paighton Corley, the shelter usually sees high intakes during the summer, around the Fourth of July. This year, however, intakes have been exceptionally high due to the potential threat of the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that can rapidly injure or kill warm-blooded animals.
“We have over 100 animals in our care, and over the past week it’s been over 60 animals coming in,” HCHS Executive Director Paighton Corley told DailyTrib on Thursday, July 9. “We’re probably facing the worst capacity issues, mixed with everything else, that we’ve had in years.”
The screwworm, part of the “everything else” that Corley mentioned, made its way to Texas on June 3. Since then, shelters across the country have barred animal transfers from the state due to potential infestations.
“Normally, we send anywhere from 10 to 30 pets to out-of-state partners a month,” Corley said. “But, out of an abundance of caution, these organizations are canceling all transports out of Texas. That creates a major major backlog for not only us, but all of the shelters around.”
In response to the shelter’s unprecedented overcrowding, HCHS is teaming up with the BISSELL Pet Foundation during the month of July to offer reduced, $40 adoptions for cats, kittens, and puppies, as well as free adoptions for all other dogs.
Corley said that the shelter is also calling for local volunteers to step up in this time of need to do anything and everything they can, no matter how small. Hours spent helping at the shelter, out with a dog or cat, or donating supplies can mean another chance for a pet in need.
“We have a super flexible foster program,” she said. “When I say flexible, I mean so flexible. You can come up here, pick up a dog for an hour, take them to get a pup cup, take them on a hike. You can take them for just a night, a weekend, a week–any kennel that we can open up right now opens up space for another.”
HCHS also regularly offers reduced-cost spay or neuter services and vaccinations using its Mobile Adoption & Surgical Hospital (MASH) truck.
Visit the Hill Country Humane Society’s volunteer webpage to learn more about how to get involved, and check out a CAT-alogue of adoptable pets here.
