Waco Strays and Adoptable Pets
By Elizabeth Riley
Spring is the season of rebirth for all creatures alike, leaving our summers filled with numerous displaced animals throughout the streets of Waco. On any walk or drive around town, these animals are bound to cross our paths, seeking help and a little bit of love. Texas summers are sweltering hot, with the sun heating up pavement on roads and sidewalks to unimaginable temperatures. If you’re uncomfortable being in this heat, these vulnerable, defenseless creatures feel just as bad.
Stray animals suffer from sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydration just like us. While an animal’s paw pads are thick and durable for all-terrain, they burn within minutes on hot pavement. If you see an animal walking quickly with high steps, quite like a horse at a show, take a moment to show it some compassion, bring them into a cool space, and give them some rest. The least we can do is inform our animal-loving selves on how to handle another one of our vulnerable populations and take action to help the animals in our city.

Animal Rescue 101:
- Check Microchip for Owner Information: When rescuing any animal, the first goal should be to reunite them with their owner. To do so, check for any identifying tags or scan them for a microchip at a local fire station or humane society. Most animals are implanted with microchips before adoption, but many owners fail to register their information with their pet–you can double-check at your next vet appointment!
- Waco fire stations scan stray animals for microchips and send finders off with information sheets and surrender waivers. Dropping an animal anywhere for purposes of abandonment is illegal.
- Reunite the Animal with the Owner or Surrender to the Humane Society: Reuniting a missing pet with their worried owner is one of the best feelings in the world. However, if a microchip or additional information is missing, dropping the animal off at the nearest shelter is the next best option. Waco animal shelters are currently over capacity.
- At Pet Circle, all payment fees have been waived to promote rehoming. While encouraging adoption from all of our local animal shelters, pet owners should do vast research before taking on such responsibilities.Pets are family. These vulnerable creatures depend on us like children, needing intense care, effort, and patience.
- At Fuzzy Friends, where founder and director Betsy Robinson has just stepped down, workers are converting bathroom stalls into kennels to house dogs.
- Foster or Volunteer with Local Shelters: While many fear the foster process due to the stereotypical “foster fail” tale, the process of bringing comfort to an animal long enough for them to express their personality and matching them with a proper family is highly rewarding.

If you’re unable to open your homes to these animals, you can still dedicate your time to their care by volunteering. While loving on these creatures, they easily open up and display their unique characteristics worthy of adoration. Your time, care, and compassion can help in rehoming these animals. Our local shelters need our help.

Elizabeth Riley hails from Tennessee and is a graduate of English Literature and Professional Writing & Rhetoric from Baylor University. With passions in archival preservation, communal connection, and women in sports, she writes because it matters, with hopes of bridging villages and fostering revelry amongst them.