The Humane Society of the New Braunfels Area (HSNBA) is literally out of space.
In just 29 days, 487 pets have come through its doors, compared to 277 pets in October 2024.
“It’s an unprecedented level of intake, and we are completely out of space for the pets still arriving every single day,” said HSNBA Executive Director Sarah Hammond.
The open-intake shelter’s contracts with Comal County and New Braunfels require it to house all stray pets brought in by animal control and citizens.
HSNBA sends some of the animals it vets to Canyon Lake Animal Shelter Society (CLASS) for adoption.
“We are the safety net for stray animals in our community, and when they need us, we can’t turn them away,” she said. “That’s why we’re turning to you, our community, for help during this critical time.”
Kennels are full, so some of the dogs entering the shelter are temporarily housed in pop-up cages in hallways, which isn’t sustainable for the long term.
The cages have no solid walls, leading to constant barking and stress for nearby dogs. They also increase the risk of illness spreading, especially when stress levels are already so high.
“We need to start moving pets out of the shelter today,” Hammond said. “And we want to make it easy for you to help.”
The shelter’s foster program provides everything people need to care for an animal, including vaccines and vet care, dewormers, food, litter, and kennels.
Staff is available to help match residents with a dog or cat that fits their home and schedule.
For more information about cat fostering, click here.
To foster a dog, click here.
To check out a cat already in a foster home, click here.
To see dogs in foster care and available for adoption, click here.