AUSTIN, Texas — Luis Sanchez of the Austin Humane Society joined host Brian Fitzgerald on this week’s Inside Austin to discuss their upcoming event and the mission and work being done at the Austin Humane Society.
Founded in 1952, the Austin Humane Society is the city's longest-standing no-kill shelter. The organization impacts roughly 13,000 animals each year through adoptions, foster care, spay and neuter services, and emergency life-saving surgeries. It also relies heavily on community involvement, having logged 81,000 volunteer hours over the past year alone.
In addition to serving the immediate Austin area, the shelter regularly assists surrounding rural communities where local facilities lack the funding or capacity to care for animals. Sanchez highlighted a recent partnership with Bastrop Animal Services to assist with a case involving a single home with 30 to 40 dogs. The Austin Humane Society took in 15 to 20 of those dogs, providing vaccinations, medical evaluation, and placement in foster or adoptive homes.
"Saving lives is not cheap," Sanchez said, noting that rising veterinary expenses, food costs, and medical supplies have increased the financial demands on local shelters. "What we do during that night is show people that impact... it is something that is purely funded by donors."
The Austin Humane Society is preparing for its 21st annual Rags to Wags Gala on Oct. 24 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The event serves as the organization's largest fundraiser of the year, aiming to raise more than $800,000 to support local animal care, shelter operations, and rescue operations across the state.
This year's gala features a "Mission Pawsible" 007-inspired theme hosted by Trevor Scott of We Are Austin. The event will include a three-course dinner, a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, and the traditional puppy runway show.
The evening will also recognize Matt Nelson, founder of the 15/10 Foundation and the popular "WeRateDogs" social media account, who will receive the Lee B. Walker Guardian Award for exceptional contributions to shelter animal care.
As part of the fundraising effort, Roger Beasley Mazda has donated a brand-new 2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid to be raffled off. Raffle tickets are available for $65, with sales capped at 2,500 tickets and 100% of the proceeds directly benefiting the shelter.
Tickets and additional details about the event can be found on the shelter's website at austinhumanesociety.org.
Inside Austin can be heard every Sunday at 6 A.M.
