Meet Some Underdogs Seeking Homes Saturday

Austin Pets Alive! event highlights dogs with disabilities

Tri-pawed tripods are great (Photo by Getty Images)

Who doesn’t love an underdog? The unexpected, quirky-but-lovable character that swoops in to save the day at the last minute. Sure, they may be awkward, shy, or different, but that doesn’t stop them from stealing our hearts or plotlines in our favorite movies.

Austin Pets Alive! and Austin Subaru are partnering to highlight these unsung heroes during their Superpowers of the Underdogs adoption event from noon to 2pm on Saturday. The event aims to shed light on dogs with disabilities at the shelter.

“It’s a great opportunity for the community to meet some of our pups with a superpower,” said Nigel Fuentes, director of corporate partnerships at Austin Pets Alive. “It can give perspective and clarity that dogs with special needs are just as fit for any home as the next dog.”

Every October, shelters like APA help prepare shelter pets for adoption through local events. With grants administered by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the initiative has donated more than $60 million to national and local shelters since it started in 2016.

Superpowers of the Underdogs will be hosted at the APA shelter on West Cesar Chavez and will give those interested a chance to meet, greet, and play with the pups available for adoption.

“They are just as playful, loving, and deserving as any pet,” Fuentes said. “What better way to see for yourselves than to enjoy their presence and see each of their personalities shine at this event?”

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions or present any concerns they have about adopting disabled dogs. APA will also be waiving adoption fees for all pets onsite – an offering Hannah Horstman, director of content and storytelling, hopes will get more of these pups out of the shelter and into their forever homes.

“So often, people may think that a dog with special needs is a lot of work, but they often quickly learn that so much of (the) day-to-day is pretty much the same as with any other pet,” Horstman said. “They all just want to be loved and have so much love to offer.”

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