LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Lufkin’s Kurth Memorial Animal Shelter has declared a code red, meaning the shelter is at max capacity and will need to get some animals out to prevent euthanasia.
The shelter experienced the same issue in March. Rescue coordinator Elizabeth Pounds said even if people can’t foster a dog, sharing available animals to friends on Facebook helps.
Volunteers of the Kurth Memorial Shelter are continuously posting available dogs on Facebook to encourage adoptions and fostering. The volunteers posted that they received 25 dogs yesterday and more today.
Wendy Czech visited the shelter hoping to adopt Fidget on Tuesday, only to find out Fidget is being adopted. Czech ended up taking home Tiffany. She said Tiffany has been very shy since coming home.
“She would bolt for the door,” Czech said. “She realized that I wasn’t going to hurt her and that she was in a safe space. So the next time that door opened, she just stayed by my side.”
Czech is currently fostering another young dog that recently had 10 puppies.
“If you’re a responsible parent and you don’t have children, but you have an animal, that still makes you a parent,” she said.
Czech expressed the need to spay and neuter animals to prevent dumping, which has been on the rise in East Texas.
“They’re not trash. They’re not something you can throw away or dump. We’ve had reports of some being tossed from moving cars. And it’s a sad state of lack of humanity,” Czech said.
At the Kurth Memorial Animal Shelter, adoption fees have been dropped to $30 to encourage adoptions. Fostering at the shelter is free, and applicants can fill out a foster form for the shelter to consider.
“I think it helps everybody in the long run because it gives the animals a chance to live in a home,” Czech said. “[They can be] taught life skills that they are not necessarily getting [by] being in a kennel or roaming out on the streets.”
“I can’t imagine living in a small confined area, scared out of my wits, not understanding the situation. And if we can alleviate that for some – it’s not possible for all – but you do what you can to make your community better. And that’s what I’m trying to do,” Czech said.
Those interested in adopting or fostering a shelter animal can head to the shelter at 1901 Hill Street, Lufkin, TX 75904 to fill out an application.
The shelter is open for adoptions Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
https://www.kltv.com/2026/04/29/lufkin-animal-shelter-max-capacity-drops-adoption-fees-30/