Our Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets program was created because we believe that every pet that enters the shelter deserves to be known. Although we alone cannot pull all the pets who are at risk in our county shelters, we CAN network them. Our goal is to help at-risk pets and long-stay pets in our county shelters find live-outcome: either through adoption, foster or rescue.
WE ARE NOT THE SHELTER! Lifeline of Galveston County is a separate non-profit, no-kill rescue organization. We focus on saving the lives of the dogs and cats who have not been selected by adopters, fosters or other rescues and are facing death in our local shelters. This program was created to market the pets facing euthanasia at Galveston County municipal shelters, pets that have been at Galveston County municipal shelters for over a month, as well as pets that are at risk of entering the shelter because their current owner can no longer care for them. (We list them on this page in hopes that we can help them find placement without them having to go to the shelter).
Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets- Virtual Networking Board
This interactive board lets you see all the pets in Galveston County shelters who need your help (in real time). Click on a card to learn more about the pet. You can also use the filter and sorting fields, if you'd like.
Who is Lifeline of Galveston County and what is their role with urgent Galveston County pets?
We are Lifeline of Galveston County, a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill rescue group that helps find placement for the animals at risk of euthanasia at our municipal shelters, pets who have spent over a month at the shelter and community pets that are at risk of entering the shelter because their owner can no longer care for them.
We have on-site volunteers at municipal shelters who spend time with long-term and at-risk pets. They collect information on the pets and share it on this site and our Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets Facebook page in hopes that we can help find rescue, foster or adoption for them.
This program is part of our "No-Kill Galveston County Initiative."
We have on-site volunteers at municipal shelters who spend time with long-term and at-risk pets. They collect information on the pets and share it on this site and our Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets Facebook page in hopes that we can help find rescue, foster or adoption for them.
This program is part of our "No-Kill Galveston County Initiative."
Where does Lifeline market the pets at risk of euthanasia?
Lifeline markets all pets who the shelter has indicated are at-risk of euthanasia, as well as pets who have been at the shelter for over a month on our Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets Facebook page and on the Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets virtual networking board (above). Each pet's profile has photos/videos, general details, and the appropriate organization’s email to reach out to if you are interested in adopting, fostering or rescuing.
Where are the urgent pets located?
Most urgent pet's are located at a municipal Galveston County shelter. Their exact locations can be found in their Facebook post, or on their card in the Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets virtual networking board.
How to get more info on an urgent pet?
Please contact the shelter directly to get more information on a pet. Their contact information can be found in the pet's Facebook post or in the pet's card on the digital board. If you still need help, you can reach out to us at placement@lifelinetx.org.
How can I adopt a pet on the list?
To adopt please go to the shelter (location and hours listed in post and on card) for a meet and greet with the pet you are interested in. Please bring your dogs (if going to adopt another dog), and family members including children to make sure the new pet will fit in with your family! Bring a photo ID. Your pets must be up to date on vaccinations & a meet and greet with your dog may be required/recommended.
Can I adopt out of state?
You must physically come to the shelter to meet and adopt the pet. Out of state adopters can adopt through an approved rescue organization willing to pull the dog from the shelter and get them to the adopter. The rescue must contact the shelter directly and coordinate. Please note that the shelter will generally not hold pets for adopters. (Space is limited, and an empty kennel means a safe place for an animal).
How can Rescue Groups tag and pull pets on the list?
Rescue groups should reach out directly to the shelter where the pet is located to facilitate tagging and pick-up. We try to list all necessary information on the pet's FB post and on their card in or virtual networking board. Rescue groups must be 501(c)3 organizations and adhere to each shelter's rescue requirements. We try to list more exact information for rescue groups on the pet's card on our virtual networking board. The shelters we work with are very rescue-friendly. Please be courteous and plan to pick-up animal(s) you tag within 48 hours. Kennel space is precious in our municipal shelters.
How can I foster a pet on the list?
Please reach out directly to the shelter where the pet is located. We try to list all necessary information on the pet's FB post and on their card in or virtual networking board. The shelters we work with are very foster-friendly.
RULES FOR POSTING ON THE URGENT PAGE:
We are automatically deleting and blocking comments that are negative in nature, or things that we do not allow to be posted on our page. This is not personal. We just need to ensure that the threads remain positive and information that is not meant to be public is not posted on our page. We appreciate positive networking and sharing the urgent pets from our page.
Please read below for rules on posting on the Urgent page:
The Urgent Galveston County Shelter Pets Page is SOLEY meant to share, pledge, tag rescues and POSITIVELY network pets that are long-term or at risk of euthanasia.
Comments on Urgent threads that will be deleted and can result in the inability to post are as follows:
- Any negative comments that are not encouraging the placement of the urgent pets.
- Comments that have words kill, die, murder, slaughter, throw away, etc.
- Rants/attacks on owners & cursing; ex. "POS owners", "Dumped", "left to die". We know that this is sad to see. Usually, the description will say if the pet was owner surrendered and that is enough. Comments like this fuel more negativity, which doesn't help the pets.
- Repeatedly posting negative comments will result in the inability to comment on the threads. While these pets are at risk of euthanasia such comments often rally more negativity and do not help these pets get placed. Comments like this are discouraging to the shelter staff and volunteers who work hard to find these pets placement.
- Negative comments toward Lifeline or the shelters where these pets are located. Both organizations are trying to get pets placed and have to work endlessly against the high rates of overpopulation in this area.
- Spamming photos/gifs, as they clog up the threads.
- Photos of dead animals or images indicating dead animals.
- Threats of any kind.
- Repeatedly posting the status of animals. Lifeline will update the posts for animals who are no longer urgent or are safe. The public should not be posting status updates, as you do not have access to the same information that we do, and your posts may confuse the public or be incorrect.
- SHELTER MEDICAL NOTES, MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS, NEGATIVE TEMPERAMENT INFORMATION. We believe whole-heartedly in transparency. The reason we do not allow this information to be posted on our FB page is be because anyone interested in an animal should email us or the shelter directly where all medical and temperament information will be shared. A pet's medical history is private and should not be shared publicly. There are many reasons why we don’t allow this or other details about animals to be shared on the page. It often stirs up issues, miscommunication, and negativity. Having people email for more information allows us to have conversations directly with the inquirer to help them determine if the animal is right for them and answer questions directly if there are medical issues or less desirable behaviors. This prevents animals from being labeled and skipped over. This also prevents people from taking information out of context and creating negativity on our page or through emails.
- Lifeline of Galveston County is not a city or county municipal shelter! We are a no-kill rescue that helps find placement for the animals at risk of euthanasia in our county.