top of page

Lost & Found Animals

1. I found a dog or cat. What should I do?

If the animal has tags, call the owner or veterinarian listed on the tags. You also should have the animal checked for a microchip. Any veterinarian should have a scanner that they can use to scan the animal. The resulting information can be used to report the chip number to the chip provider, which will contact the registered owner.

If the animal does not have tags or a microchip, review our Lost and Found page for additional assistance. 

2. I found a pregnant cat. What should I do next?

Review this helpful document for next steps and options.

3. I found a newborn kitten. 

If it is a newborn kitten, make sure that the mother is not in the process of moving her litter to a safe location. Watch it from a safe distance. If you determine that the mother is not coming back:

  • Do not feed the kitten cow's milk, they cannot digest the lactose and will get diarrhea, dehydrate and die if not corrected quickly.

  • Do not lay the kitten on its back to feed it.

  • Keep the kitten warm and away from other animals.

 

More information on kitten care can be found at Kitten Rescue LA or kittenlady.org or view our Kitten Care Handbook for essential advice to help you care for the kittens, including an emergency kitten formula recipe.  

 

Additional helpful videos can be viewed here: Caring for Orphaned Kittens

 

​Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens
(Part 1 of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpEcxIgMhyQ
(Part 2 of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfraihjBNHM 
(Part 3 of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP8E-yFXCT4 

 

​4. How do I safely remove fleas from a rescued kitten?

The safest way to remove fleas from a small kitten is bathe it in warm water with some Dawn liquid dish soap. Fleas immediately want to go to the top of the head as soon as they sense the kitten is in water. To catch them on their trip towards the head, first put a ring of soap around the kitten’s neck. Then bathe in it in warm water and lather up with the soap. Be careful not to get soap in eyes, ears or nostrils. Place the kitten in a carrier with a warm towel for about 5 minutes to let the soap do its job (drowning the fleas). Then rinse in warm, clear water and dry off. Pick off any fleas that are still alive and dunk them into the soap. Do not let the kitten get cold.

 

Helpful videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXhsXZ9i3to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRYxjed3lJg

5. I lost a dog (or cat). What should I do? 

Time is of the essence. You need to get the word out as quickly as possible by putting up posters and submitting details to various lost and found websites. See the information above for found pets and use the same sites to report your lost pet.

6. I cannot keep the animal I found. Can you take it?

Please first make sure you have searched for its original owners.  We are a completely foster-based organization, and our foster homes are usually full. We offer a Foster Your Own Rescue (FYOR) program, in which you agree to certain things such as getting an animal fixed and vetted, and keeping it in your home; we then help you promote the animal. You may bring it to PetSmart on weekends. Review the helpful list of no-kill shelters on this page. If it’s a pure breed, search the internet for a breed-specific rescue.

Re-Homing a Pet

I cannot keep my pet. Can you take it?

Unfortunately, as a foster-based organization, we have nowhere to house these animal.  We recommend using the online rehome service through Adopt-a-pet.  If you're looking to rehome an elderly or hospice animal, use this free website which is specifically targeted to people who want to adopt these pets.

A list of no-kill shelters can be viewed here as well. If the cat/dog is fixed and up to date on its shots, we can usually courtesy post the animal. Send us a photo and details, such as medical history, personality, age, and whether or not it gets along with cats, dogs, and children. Find a breed-specific rescue if applicable. Email info@animalrescueconnections.org for a courtesy post.

icon found kitten.jpg

TNR & Feral Cats

1. I have been feeding outdoor cats for a while, and they are reproducing. What should I do? 

As soon as possible, trap the cats using humane box traps and have the cats spayed or neutered. Trapping feral cats sounds complicated but, in reality, it’s a simple and rewarding process, and it doesn’t hurt the cats. Once the cats are sterilized and vaccinated, return them to the place where they were trapped (kittens often can be tamed, sterilized and adopted). You and other volunteers then must provide ongoing food, shelter, and care to keep the cats healthy and safe. To learn how to do this safely, we suggest you attend an information session run by the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition (SAFCC). They have a schedule on their website under the TNR Resources tab (sanantonioferalcats.org/tnr-schedule/). For more information about Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) and feral cat colony management, see www.alleycat.org/resources.html

2. I can’t touch the cats, so how can I get them to the vet for spay/neutering?

Do not try to touch them! And never try to catch a cat by throwing a towel or blanket over the cat. Don’t use tranquilizers on outdoor cats—the risk of injury (to you and to the cat) is too great. Trap cats using humane (painless) box traps and have the cats spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Don’t wait, thinking the cats will get used to humans and become tame enough to catch. Even if that is possible, it takes too long and meanwhile several litters of kittens will be born. 

  • Act quickly

  • Get them sterilized safely using the trap 

  • They might become sociable, in time, but you don’t have to worry about more kittens

3. There are several cats to be trapped, but I have only one trap. Will that do? 

Generally, no. And do not plan to trap a cat, then transfer him to a carrier so you can use the trap again right away—the danger of injury (to the cat and to you) or escape is simply too great. After attending an information session run by the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition, you can borrow traps free of charge. You must have one trap per cat. If you do not have enough traps, try to trap all the cats in two or three sessions. How many cats you can trap during each session also depends on how many you can transport and how many the vet clinic will sterilize at one time.

4. Where can I find a veterinarian who will treat feral cats, preferably at a reduced rate? 

There are several low-cost clinics in this area. 

Hill Country Animal League (HCAL) in Boerne might be the closest one if you live around Bulverde/Spring Branch area. No appointments necessary Mon, Tue or Wed as long as the cat is in a humane box trap.  NOTE: HCAL is closed every second Monday of the month for inventory.

The Austin Humane Society offers spay/neuter surgeries to cats in traps at $20 per cat (free for cats of Travis County residents). Appointments are necessary   (http://www.austinhumanesociety.org/ferals/)

Emancipet is based in Austin but their mobile clinic comes out into surrounding areas. See the schedule on their website. Call or apply online to make appointments  (http://emancipet.org/mobile/)

The SAFCC website has a page under the TNR Resources tab about local low-cost resources in San Antonio and surrounding areas (sanantonioferalcats.org/spay-neuter/).

5. Is there anything special my veterinarian should know about working with feral cats? 

Yes! If your vet is new to working with feral cats, be certain to provide him or her with: 

  • Trap, Neuter, Return: A Humane Approach to Feral Cat Control, a training video that demonstrates techniques and equipment veterinarians use to treat feral cats. 

  • “Feral Cat Identification Protocol: Eartipping,” a factsheet with specific details about the identification technique that can save feral cats’ lives. 

Both are available at the Alley Cat Allies website (www.alleycat.org). Review this material and then discuss with your vet what needs to be done. Establish a protocol to get the services you need now and in the future. Alley Cat Allies is the national advocate for TNR and their website is a wonderful resource to learn more about the process.

 

6. I’m looking for outdoor cats. 

Your barn, stable or other out-building might be the perfect home for an outdoor barn cat. These cats provide you with rodent and snake control. In return, you provide them with fresh water, food and some sort of shelter. Some of our outdoor cats are friendly but cannot be inside for various reasons, but most are feral (not domesticated). All of these cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies and healthy. Click here for more information.  

pawprint.jpg

Breed-Specific Questions

1.  I have a specific breed like Siamese, dachshund, border collie, etc. and need to find a new home for him/her. Can you help?

Most breeds have rescue organizations devoted specifically to that breed. You can do a quick internet search to find a local or national group.

 

2.  I would like to adopt a specific breed like a Siamese, dachshund, border collie, etc. Do you have any available?

You can see our adoptable pets at AdoptaPet.com or Petfinder.com, using zip code 78163, or search for adoptable animals specifically by breed and location.​

wildlifeicon.jpg

Help With Wildlife

What do I do if I see/found an injured wild animal?

Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia gives good advice and has volunteers who will pick up if necessary. 
https://wildlife-rescue.org/

355 Old Blanco Road, Kendalia TX 78027

830-336-2725 (24-hour hotline)

 

They also have a location in San Antonio and pick-up points in various parts of the city for injured animals
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in San Antonio, TX
Roger & Phyllis Sherman Animal Care Complex
137 Earl Street, San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 210-257-8823

If you hit a deer or see a deer that has been hit, usually the sheriff's office needs to be called. In most cases, the deer cannot be rehabilitated and needs to be taken out of its misery.  The officers are very kind about it. Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation may also help with a recently deceased (less than 2 hours) or ailing deer.

  • Bexar County Sheriff (non-emergency) 210-335-6000

  • Comal County Sheriff 830-620-3400 or 830-885-4883

More information about coexisting with deer can be found here.

If an animal is actually in your house, Animal Control Services may help you; it depends on what kind of animal.

  • Comal County Animal Control: 830-608-2016 

  • Bexar county asks that for all wildlife issues, please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife at 210-688-6444

 

If you find a bird of prey in need, refer to this website

icon volunteer.jpg

Volunteering/Donating

I would like to volunteer. What opportunities are available?

If you are interested in volunteering, please review our Get Involved! page.​

  • Helping at events: We have various fundraising events throughout the year.

  • Loading/Unloading: We also could use some strong bodies to help load and transport pine bedding and food for our foster and community cats. This is on an as-needed basis but typically is needed every 2–3 months.

  • Fostering: We also need fosters for the various cats in our program. We try to help as many cats as possible but can help only as many as we have room for in our foster network. We provide food and litter and pay for vet costs. Click here for more information on fostering.

  • Graphic Design and Grant writing

  • Coordinating Go Fund Me Campaigns for animals with expensive medical issues

 

What kinds of items do you need donated?

Cash/credit card donations are tax deductible. We are listed in the Combined Federal Campaign, #71879, for those government employees who wish to make a contribution through work.

bottom of page