Homeless friend needs temporary boarding for pets in Austin area

April 18, 2018 8:04 AM

Hello, a friend of mine is living out of his car in the north Austin area (Round Rock, Georgetown). He has two cats and is unwilling to give them up - they are very important to him. He is looking into low cost Airbnbs and motels for potential short term housing, but he needs to find alternative housing for the pets ASAP. The days are getting hotter, and they are already showing signs of distress. I've offered to help pay for pet boarding if we can find something under $150 / month. Suggestions needed urgently--thanks!
posted by houseofleaves to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Have you reached out to local solidarity resources? I think activists would be more likely to temporarily shelter cats for just the price of food for the month. Possibly your local DSA or IWW?
posted by corb at 8:39 AM on April 18, 2018

Response by poster: Thank you corb, I'm unfamiliar with this concept. Do you mean political activists?
posted by houseofleaves at 8:44 AM on April 18, 2018

Maybe check care.com for cat sitters, and see if anybody will take on a longer-term job in your price range?
posted by COD at 8:58 AM on April 18, 2018

I would check with these folks: https://www.austinpetsalive.org
posted by pantarei70 at 9:24 AM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I know someone who found someone to do this at no cost through a Buy Nothing facebook group. It can't hurt to post on any neighborhood resources like that or Nextdoor. Calling it a foster home rather than boarding may communicate the intent more clearly.
posted by mosst at 9:30 AM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I belong to the Austin Animal Center volunteer facebook group, and they've helped with similar problems, worth messaging an admin to ask if it's appropriate to ask there. Similarly, the Austin Lost and Found Pets FB page's organizer has a list of short term fosters and is of the disposition to help if asked.
posted by theweasel at 9:44 AM on April 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

>>>Do you mean political activists?

houseofleaves, you're on the right track. corb is referring to the Democratic Socialists of America (a socialist political and activist group) and the Industrial Workers of the World (an international labor union).

Mefites I respect have good things to say about the practicality and effectiveness of the DSA as an organization, and it has a chapter in Austin: Austin Democratic Socialists of America.

(Google isn't turning up any local IWW presence, though there are branches elsewhere in the state.)

And I agree that the phrase "foster home" is the right way to frame it. Good luck.
posted by virago at 9:46 AM on April 18, 2018 [3 favorites]

Try contacting any local cat rescues in Austin, too. They might be able to advertise to their network for a temporary foster home.
posted by serelliya at 10:26 AM on April 18, 2018 [1 favorite]