AUSTIN, Texas -- Austin Wildlife Rescue opened its rehab facility about eight months ago in Elgin on 6.7 acres. The center has a surgery suite, quarantine area, and individual rooms for different species.
- Austin Wildlife Rescue opened new rehab facility 8 months ago
- Rescue projected to house 7,500 animals by end of 2019
- Brunch fundraiser set for Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
This year the rescue has already taken in a thousand more animals than rehabilitated in 2018. So far, the rescue has housed 7,300 animals and expects that number to rise to 7,500 by the year's end. In 2018, the rescue rehabilitated 6,300 animals.
The new facility has changed the way the organization rehabilitates animals. They are treated onsite, rather than sending them off with independent rescuers.
"We are not relying on rehabers to pick these animals up to transport them, maybe even to take them to the vet. We've got a surgery suite right on site," said Haley Hudnall, executive director.
The rescue now has a pen for rescued deer, allowing for easy pickup and release once they are old enough to be on their own. Staff released about half of the rescue's 50 deer last Saturday and will conduct two more releases in the coming weeks.
The facility could eventually house 10,000 animals a year in the future.
"We are really one of the few places that's taking in these animals, that has the space and staff to take as many that come into us and so, every year we see the number increase, and we expect it to. We built this facility knowing that we need to grow into it, not just that we were building it for 6,000 animals," said Hudnall.
The rescue will have its Annual "Caring for Critters" brunch fundraiser this Saturday at the Hilton at the Austin airport from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
To buy tickets, click here.
