Executive Director Dr. Ellen Jefferson said they need 50% of their animals fostered immediately

AUSTIN, Texas — As local businesses and nonprofits take precautions amid coronavirus concerns, Austin Pets Alive! said they are in desperate need of immediate fosters and adoptions.

"We're concerned that if some of our staff gets sick or our volunteers get sick, we might have to shut down whole wings of our operation and then the animals won't have anybody to care for them," said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, APA!'s executive director. "So, we're working on removing 50% of those animals. But we might have to do a lot more than that,"

The shelter currently has 400 to 500 animals on-site, and they're hoping to have more than 250 cats and dogs taken to homes immediately.

Dr. Jefferson is asking for potential fosters and adopters to use APA!'s website to schedule an appointment to avoid overcrowding.

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While managing their own coronavirus plan, APA! also created a preparedness guide to help other shelters across the country approach the next couple of weeks.

"It has a checklist for shelters to use so they can have their animals go to foster right now too and try to be as prepared as possible with their staff and their communications with the community," Dr. Jefferson said.

APA! is open from 11:30 a.m to 7 p.m. every day. They are located on Cesar Chavez Street.