This summer is looking to be one of the hottest in Central Texas, and the Austin Humane Society wants to make sure all of our furry friends stay summer safe! Here are a couple of tips from the animal experts – that’s our veterinary team – to make sure that everyone can have a fun and safe summer.

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1. Avoid the heat! Shaded areas can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler for you and your pet making it a great place to cool o�. Even then, sometimes it is too hot outside for your pet. 

2. Stay hydrated! Before you set out, make sure you have plenty of water for you and your pet. Check with the City of Austin for any water shut o�s if you rely on any of the city’s water fountains.

3. Stay o� the pavement! Plan for shorter walks in the early morning or later evening hours to avoid hot surfaces and burnt paws. Ouch!

4. Hot cars and pets don’t mix! NEVER leave your pet in a parked car. Cars can get up to 200 degrees in just a few minutes and leaving a cracked window doesn’t help!

5. Apply Sunscreen! Especially for pets with lighter colored short hair. Sunscreen for babies works great on pets!

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Q: What do you do at AHS?A: I am the Events Coordinator and oversee all Third Party Events and AHS Events including Rags to Wags and Puppy Bowl. 

Q: What’s your favorite part of the job?A: I love seeing the months of hard work and vision come to life on event day. It's a rush of excitement when the night is a success and our supporters blow the fundraising goal out of the water! Building relationships with vendors and corporate partners along the way are also great as we can share in the successes together. 

Q: What is the most important skill for your job? A: It’s hard to pick just one as it takes various skillsets, but communication is key.

Q: Why did you become an Events Coordinator?A: I started in the corporate events and planned company events, weddings, concerts and more. The sense of pride and accomplishment of seeing these events become reality was remarkable, but I needed more of a purpose. The mission for AHS and my overwhelming love of animals is what brought me to the non-profit world of events.

Q: What’s your next big event?A: Rags to Wags is coming up November 17th at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Rags to Wags is AHS largest fundraising event and the most magical night of the year, where you’ll hear stories of hope, inspiration, and determination as we Unleash Love for animals. 

Q: What’s your favorite animal?A: Most people lean more towards one animal, but I love both cats and dogs equally. Outside of the domestic animal world, I’m a big fan of elephants!

super spotlights

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If you’re looking for more ways for the Humane Hero in your life to stay busy this summer, our FREE Summer Kids Series could be the purr-fect plan! As we kick o� July, we’ve got lots of fun and interactive ways for the child in your life to learn more about animals and what it means to be a responsible pet owner.

Over the next two months, the Austin Humane Society will welcome in hundreds of young animal-lovers and we hope you’ll join them. From meeting Tito the Tortious and learning the right way to introduce yourself to a dog, to saving the lives of Central Texas’ stu�ed animal population and catching a flick under the stars, there truly is something for everyone at AHS this summer!

Visit our website to learn all about the FREE sessions coming up in July and August and reserve your ticket to a summer of fun!

there’s still time to join the summer fun 

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Check out the Squad’s Coloring Sheet on Page 5

color the humane hero squad

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Call me Ishmael. No really, that’s my name! I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. I’m the new Development and Outreach Coordinator at the Austin Humane Society and I’m so excited to be here and join this wonderful team! 

Let me start by saying thank you! For the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to meet some of you. I’ve been fortunate to hear your stories and see your passion for animal welfare. I can’t say enough how great it is to see a community that does good, together. Although I’m new, my predecessor and team have worked hard to prepare a fun-filled summer for you. Make sure to take advantage of all of the great programs still to come this summer and sign up for one or more of our FREE Summer Kids Series sessions! 

August will mark the end of Summer Kids Series, but I hope to you continue to stop by AHS whenever you can; our doors are always open for animal lovers like you. In the meantime, I promise to continue working diligently at providing you and your family with opportunities to enhance our mission in creative and fun ways. I cannot wait to partner with you and see what we can accomplish together! 

Thank you again for your continued support. Together, we are saving lives!

Ishmael BehrhorstDevelopment and Outreach Coordinator512.685.0128

austinhumanesociety.org | 124 W. Anderson Ln., Austin, TX 78752 | 512.646.7387

a letter from ish

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