Texas Rescuers Save 200+ Pets During Deadly Winter Storm

More than 200 dogs and cats are getting a second chance at life after Central Texas rescuers worked around the clock to save them from January's deadly winter storm.

When freezing rain and plummeting temperatures hit the region last month, animals on the streets faced a life-threatening crisis. Their wet fur couldn't protect them from the sudden cold snap that followed the rain.

Chas Jacquier, co-founder of Jack Jack's Pack Street Dog Rescue, spent days operating on just one hour of sleep. His team tracked, trapped, and rescued dozens of dogs during the storm itself, plus more than 50 in the days before the freeze arrived.

"Their bodies got wet and then the cold hit," Jacquier explained. "Their bodies can't regulate their temperature."

Shelters across the region swung into action. Austin Animal Shelter took in 70 animals over four days, while Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter welcomed 17 new pets just during the storm weekend. San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter received 66 dogs and cats in the week leading up to the freeze.

Some rescues came with darker stories. Austin Police discovered 19 animals in one cruelty case, including two dogs found caged behind a South Austin church. All remain in protective custody while investigations continue.

The Ripple Effect

The real story isn't just about rescue. It's about what happened next.

In that same four-day period, 85 Austin families opened their homes as foster families. Another 50 people adopted animals outright, even as the storm raged outside. Williamson County saw 104 pets placed in foster homes, while San Marcos had more than 60 animals fostered before the storm even hit.

The applications kept flooding in faster than shelters could process them. Some had to wait because storm conditions forced partial shelter closures.

Jack Jack's Pack bypasses shelters entirely, placing rescued dogs straight into foster homes. But even as temperatures return to normal, Jacquier says the mission continues.

"There are hundreds and hundreds of stray dogs out there that need help," he said. "We need fosters, we need somewhere else for them to go."

The rescued animals are now recovering in warm homes across Central Texas, waiting for their forever families to find them.