Bastrop TX Wildfire Prompts Emergency Overnight Shelter Evacuation

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By Karen Harrison Binette

A devastating wildfire swept into Bastrop TX yesterday, threatening the Animal Control shelter building and necessitating an emergency evacuation.  Nearby Austin Humane Society and Austin Pets Alive staff and volunteers came and worked all night into early Monday morning to take the cats and dogs to safety.

As of this writing, more than 17,000 acres have burned in Bastrop County as the fire that began Sunday afternoon continues to rage out of control. At least 400 homes have been destroyed in the 16 mile wide and four mile long fire, which authorities today said was likely to get worse before finally coming under control.

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This ominous photo and the following message went out last night as rescuers and volunteers went on alert in the crisis:

FIRE TAKING OVER BASTROP SHELTER NEAR AUSTIN TX…ANIMAL SHELTER BEING EVACUATED NOW…over 160 dogs and cats will need temporary fostering..PLEASE message Marcia Smith Prechel if you can help!! This is near Austin and HAPPENING NOW!!!

Austin Pets Alive and Austin Humane society need donations, fosters, even permanent homes asap…go to their website to donate now…thanks

As the evacuation effort got underway, Bastrop Animal control personnel loaded as many animals as possible onto trucks, thereby getting the building about 75% emptied as they waited for help to come and remove the animals from harm’s way.

With Bastrop only 30 miles from state capitol Austin, two notable organizations were able to come and save the Bastrop animals. The cats are now at the Austin Humane Society and the dogs are at Austin Pets Alive!.

Both organizations are asking for help in dealing with the sudden influx and are offering adoption specials today on pets already at their shelters. The Austin Humane Society is offering half-price adoptions and Austin Pets Alive! is offering free adoptions. Both organizations are looking for foster caregivers, as well as supplies and funds to help care for the displaced Bastrop animals.

Anyone wishing to help can either use the links above to the organizations’ websites, or visit their Facebook pages, Austin Humane Society on Facebook and Austin Pets Alive! on Facebook.

Thanks to quick thinking and fast preventive action, a potential disaster was averted and all the Bastrop shelter animals are safe today.

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6 thoughts on “Bastrop TX Wildfire Prompts Emergency Overnight Shelter Evacuation”

  1. what a sad thing too see in Texas now all my Prayers too the ones. Babys Young children even Animals Pets & Adapts even the Elderly how terra bul it rely is too see. I have close too send for them I’ll try too get baby close as well all my Love . M

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