In these sweltering dog days of summer, the Town Lake Animal Center has more than 20 dogs who are vulnerable and at risk from the extreme heat. As long as the temperature remains over 100 degrees, adoption fees for these older dogs will be waived. more ›

The Town Lake Animal Center announced the fourth annual Kitty Palooza will take place this weekend, June 25-26, in the Davenport Building of the Center. Starting at 10:00 a.m., kitty fans will be treated to "a wide variety of acts," according to Coordinator Sarah Hammond, including Simon & Purrbunkle, the Steve Litter Ban, Kings of Meow and Neon Kittens. For those in search of a more seasoned pet, the Desperate House Cats as well as the Desperate House Dogs will be making special appearances. Once these stars have graced the Austin stage, residents can take these cats (well, any of the cats at the TLAC) -- as well as any dogs over a year old -- home for an adoption fee of only $5. [TLAC] more ›

The Town Lake Animal Shelter has an unusually high number of kittens currently, and they're making a public appeal for foster families willing to care for kittens for 2-4 weeks. The animal center pays for medical costs for the animals and provides food. The foster homes are asked to provide bedding, space, and love and care for the animals. For more information, call (512) 972-6071 or visit the shelter at 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St. You should do it, if you're not a jerk, because there are far too many animals in need in Central Texas. Still not convinced? more ›

The best way to efficiently kill a chicken, as far as I know, is to lop off its head. Next best is to break its neck. Neither method appeals to me. I don’t eat chickens—I certainly don’t want to kill them. But when one is an urban chicken farmer, as I was off and on for years, one stands the risk of having to take out a bird now and then. Chicken execution proved to be necessary with my flock last fall when I got a call from Starsky, my then roommate, informing me that the dogs had gotten into the chicken pen. Of my four birds, one was dead, one was hunkered down trembling, one was missing, and a fourth was flopping around, no hope for survival. I was at Warren’s house at the time. We were early into our relationship and he’d already witnessed enough drama—for being incredibly popular often comes with a component of frequent high drama—that I feared enlisting his help might be some last straw for him. I got off the phone and faux-bravely announced I had to run home and slaughter a bird and I’d be right back. more ›

Photo of Caritas by Beard Papa on flickr
• APD successfully halted a home burglary in-progress this morning.
• Plane crash this afternoon in Fort Worth.
• Yesterday the United Way Capital Area announced that it is cutting funding to 21 area non-profits; Brewster McCracken says that the city may step in with an emergency appropriation to help.

Construction worker fell over 25 feet (and may have landed on some upended rebar) from condo construction at 17th and Lavaca this morning. New background check requirements lead some volunteer dogwalkers to quit their work at Town Lake Animal Shelter. Al Gore is in town tonight; we'll keep an eye out for the YCT protesters. Numerous people named in Dallas corruption investigation, including city officials and a State Rep. A&M is having difficulties attracting... more ›

Tonight at the Green Mesquite BBQ, the folks of Dirty Dog Self-Serve Dogwash are putting on Music & Mutts, the first in a series of Spring shindigs for local dog lovers. more ›