In the early morning hours of August 14, 2025, someone broke into Austin Pets Alive!, damaged the entry system, and released dozens of dogs from their kennels. The result was chaos, fear, and tragedy. One dog lost his life, at least five others were injured, and many went missing before staff could locate them.

This was not an accident. Someone deliberately entered a safe space for animals and put them in harm’s way. The dogs who were killed and hurt were in the care of people dedicated to saving them — animals who had already been through enough before finding safety at APA!.

The Austin Police Department says the investigation is ongoing. As of now, no suspect has been identified and no arrests have been made. That’s not enough for the animals, the staff who care for them, or the community that supports them.

We are calling on APD to prioritize this case and use every available resource to identify, arrest, and prosecute the person responsible to the fullest extent of the law. Animal cruelty is a serious crime, and breaking into a shelter to intentionally cause harm is an attack not just on vulnerable animals, but on the people and organizations working to protect them.

This incident must also be a turning point for shelter safety. Austin Pets Alive! and other animal shelters need stronger security measures — including upgraded entry systems, 24-hour surveillance, and faster staff notification protocols — so no one can repeat this cruelty.

The dog who died was surrounded by people who loved him. We owe it to him, to the injured dogs, and to every animal still waiting for a safe home to demand justice and action now.

Sign this petition to demand that Austin Police act swiftly to bring the perpetrator to justice and that local leaders work with animal welfare organizations to strengthen shelter security. Austin’s animals deserve safety — and the community deserves to know this will never happen again.