Austin, TX
Austin Pets Alive Urgently Sought Support for Foster Placements. Then Community Members Emptied the Shelter
Austin Pets Alive urgently sought willing participants to temporarily foster animals ahead of the winter freeze. Then, the community came together in an unprecedented move that resulted in Austin’s Pets Alive being relatively empty by Friday.
Nick Johnson (@nickjdogg), a TikTok content creator and advocate who works with the organization, posted multiple videos on Jan. 22, which urged Austinites to consider taking on a dog during the new Texas freeze. Johnson said, “If Ted Cruz can escape to Laguna Beach, then you can help a dog…escape the shelter for a weekend.”
Johnson’s videos hit a large audience. Within a manner of hours, thousands saw a post, which as of Jan. 23, has over 15,300 views. Then, various community members offered their homes as temporary or long term placements for dogs found across the city. In later statements, Austin Pets Alive’s social media team stated, “We’ve never had this few animals on site. Our hearts are exploding. You showed up. You waited in lines. You opened your hearts and your homes to keep pets safe and warm.”
How Can Austinites Still Help Austin Pets Alive?
Based on Johnson’s post, it’s still likely that Austin Pet’s Alive is still seeking “unicorns.” That is, potential foster families with no kids, dogs, or cats. And a backyard.
But, representatives from the group have confirmed via social media that there’s a line “out the door” for fosters. That means that most of their foster needs are technically filled.
That may leave people wondering, ‘if they don’t need any additional foster placements, what’s another way to contribute?’ Well, Austin Pet’s Alive’s biggest need right now is for more people to donate supplies and funds. The rescue group is seeking monetary donations, as well as Purina One dog food (lamb and rice flavor), dog bones, and towels. Monetary donations go toward “vaccinations, flea/tick & heartworm preventatives, and routine medical exams,” as well as transfer fees. They also would appreciate donations of warm weather items like blankets, dog and cat food, bottles of water, and dog chews.
What Other Shelters Can Austinites Support?
Johnson recommended that those who cannot foster with Austin Pets Alive work with Austin Animal Shelter, another group preparing for the inclement weather. Johnson confirmed in his TikTok comments that AAS is looking for short-term and long-term placements.
Then, there are viewer suggestions to support Williamson Regional Animal Shelter, which is also urgently seeking foster placements.
What About Cat People?
For those who are not canine-inclined, there are still opportunities to contribute to Austin Pets Alive’s mission. The rescue organization is also looking for willing barn cat adoptees.
According to the organization’s post, barn cats are “independent working cats who thrive with shelter, food, and a safe place to call home.” Considering the cold weather, these cats need placement as soon as possible.
For those interested, email barncat@austinpetsalive.org.
Austin Pets Alive will be closing at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, due to the oncoming weather. On Sunday, Jan. 25, all Austin Pets Alive locations will be closed.
We’ve reached Austin Pet’s Alive via email and Johnson via TikTok direct message for more information on how to help. We’ve also reached out to Austin Animal shelter and Williamson Regional Animal Shelter via email to learn more about the organization’s current needs.
Austin, TX
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Austin, TX
Camp Mystic warned of safety plan problems as it seeks to reopen this summer after deadly 2025 flood
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas state regulators found nearly two dozen deficiencies in the emergency operations plan submitted in Camp Mystic’s bid to reopen less than a year after 27 children and counselors were killed in a devastating flood.
Camp Mystic’s owners have applied for a license to reopen the all-girls Christian camp in late May in part of the campus that did not flood. That has angered families of the girls killed, some of whom have filed lawsuits against the camp, and prompted several prominent state officials to call for the license to be denied or delayed pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
The 11-page letter from the Department of State Health Services notes deficiencies that include problems with flood warning evacuation plans, use of an emergency warning and public address system, monitoring safety alerts and training campers on safety.
It was sent to the camp about a week after a three-day court hearing in the family lawsuits when several camp operators and staff acknowledged they missed official flood warnings, lacked a detailed evacuation plan and waited too long to try to get the children out. One of the camp’s owners, Richard Eastland, also died.
The letter notes that Camp Mystic is allowed to revise the emergency plan. Camp Mystic officials said they would work with the agency to address the problems cited.
“Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our campers, and we hope to continue the nearly century-long mission and ministry of Camp Mystic to provide a Christian camping experience for girls that allows them to grow physically, mentally and spiritually,” the camp said.
The camp’s emergency plan was submitted as part of strict new guidelines imposed by state lawmakers after the deadly flood.
DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton said many camps have received deficiency notices ahead of summer opening.
“This is part of the licensing application review process, and most youth camps have received a notice of deficiency letter for their emergency plan due to the statutory changes and increased emergency plan requirements,” Anton said.
Texas lawmakers have scheduled two days of hearings next week on what happened during the flood that ripped through the Guadalupe River and killed more than 130 people in all. Several lawmakers and the Texas Rangers, the state police elite investigations unit, visited the camp site this week.
Austin, TX
Austin ISD is under state investigation for celebrating Pride Week
The Texas Education Agency launched an investigation into the Austin Independent School District for celebrating its annual Pride Week.
A TEA spokesperson confirmed with KUT News the state has opened an investigation, but declined to comment since “the matter remains ongoing.”
The investigation comes after conservative State Board of Education member Brandon Hall, from the Fort Worth area, raised concerns in March about AISD breaking the law and working to “indoctrinate” students by celebrating Pride Week.
“It’s time to defund AISD and criminally investigate Superintendent Matias Segura,” Hall said in a social media post.
During an interview with the conservative nonprofit Texas Values, Hall said taxpayers in his district were concerned about state funding going into a district where “instead of focusing on education they are focusing on gender identity and celebrating pride and things like that.”
“[If] we don’t stop it in Austin ISD, we are going to see more of this across the state,” Hall said. “We need to make a statement and set an example. We will not put up with you breaking the law.”
Hall stated that AISD was not complying with Senate Bill 12. The law passed in 2025 and prohibits “diversity, equity and inclusion duties,” including activities that reference gender or sexual orientation, at K-12 public schools. The law also bans the creation of clubs based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
AISD held Pride Week from March 23 to 27 with the theme “beYOUtiful.” Students’ participation was voluntary, and activities took place outside instructional time, including before or after school or during lunch.
Activities included displaying photos of students’ families, wearing wacky socks and sitting with different people during lunch. On the last day each grade level wore a different color to school.
In their guidelines, district officials said AISD celebrated Pride Week during March to “show support” for the diverse students, staff and families. Officials also acknowledged that in past years the district had provided a suggested curriculum and had distributed swag to schools, but that this year it would look different due to “an ever changing environment.”
It is unclear what penalties the district could face. SB 12 states that any employee who engages in or assigns to another person diversity, equity and inclusion duties must be terminated.
This is not the first time AISD has come under scrutiny in recent months. In March, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton notified the district about a complaint regarding a violation of Senate Bill 8, also known as the “bathroom bill.”
In February, Paxton launched an investigation into AISD after students participated in a national walkout. The results of that investigation remain unknown.
KUT News has reached out to AISD for comment but has not heard back.
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