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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ADOPTABLE PETS.

In our effort to get the most exposure for our Wonderful and Loving Dogs and Cats we post their pictures and information at www.petfinder.com.

Not all the available pets are posted since we get in many new ones per day.

If you are looking for a companion that is your perfect match and you don't see her/him listed contact us by phone (512) 793-5463 or email cyanimalshelter@281.com and we will work to unite you with that forever companion.

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Shelter Front Picture. The Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter/Adoption Center is owned and operated by the Hill Country Humane Society/SPCA. It operates as an "OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER" which means the facility will take in all homeless animals from Burnet and Llano Counties that are brought through its doors. Each year we take in over 2000 animals. We turn no animal away.
(For more information on the difference between "Open Admission Shelters" and "Limited Admission Shelters" see pop-up box below or click here.)  OPEN & LIMITED ADMISSION
     The Shelter Staff, Volunteers and Management strive to be a resource for educating the public on responsible and loving pet ownership and care. Individuals who work at the shelter and put their time and energies into benefiting the animals and making the Shelter a pleasant place to visit, are only too happy to spend time helping visitors find information on pet care or pet behaviors. They also endeavor to aid potential adopters in picking out a companion animal that is matched with that persons lifestyle, pet experience and goals.
(For more information on pet training and behavior click here.)  Pet Training & Animal Behavior
 Cat in cattery condo.
Dog's play yard. Our Mission is to be a model of excellence as an Animal Care Agency in the community. We achieve this through the comprehensive humane treatment of unwanted, surrendered or unclaimed companion animals. Further we strive to be compassionate to both human and animal families, and support education as prevention.
Learn how to participate in the --
Adopt-a-Classroom & KIND News Program
A little bit of History about us. The Hill Country Humane Society/SPCA was founded in 1984. For over sixteen years Dee Yoder, Linda Christ, Dee Olsen and many loyal volunteers raised money for the building of an animal shelter/adoption center. In 1999, before the center opened on January 3, 2000, the name of the center officially became The Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, owned and operated by The Hill Country Humane Society/SPCA. We will continue to need donations. Reception lobby area.
Ruth The Center is a Non-profit organization dedicated to serving companion animals and our communities. We will provide and promote the humane care of animals in order to create a more responsible and humane world. It is our goal to eliminate the suffering of animals within the communities we serve.
Recognizing the over-population of stray, abandoned and unwanted cats and dogs in our counties, the County Commissioner Courts of Burnet and Llano have budgeted funds toward part of our operational costs. We will continue to need donations and volunteers.
For more information about how you can help click here -- Ways to Help 		Merline
Poodle mix in kennel. After the opening of our shelter in 2000 it did not take long before it was realized that the quarantine and isolation areas did not meet up to the humane standards of the Hill Country Humane Society/SPCA Officers and Board Members. Even though our quarantine facilities have continually met and/or exceeded requirements set out by the Texas Department of Health, they were not designed for the best treatment of the animals or best working conditions for the staff.
Thus the Board of Directors embarked on the designing and construction of a new building separate from the main shelter.


The new Quarantine facility became operational in Fall of 2006. It provides eight large indoor and eight outdoor kennels and runs, each completely separated to avoid any cross contamination. A vertical sliding door provides access to the outside and additional exercise area if desired. The new kennels are much easier to clean and sanitize. We can house both quarantine and non-quarantined animals in the same facility without any chance of cross contamination.
In addition there are kennels for quarantining and isolating cats and a center main room for food and supplies.
Airedale mix


The Quarantine facility opened up a room in the main shelter that is now being used as a Feline Holding Area.
In addition the former Isolation Room is being transformed into a Puppy Holding Room. A separate room just for puppies so they can have a longer holding period has been badly needed. Puppies need an area away from adult dogs to build up immunities after they are vaccinated. An isolated room reduces chances of cross contamination and increases time for observation. This room needs to be re-outfitted with appropriate kennels. This year's April 5, 2008 SPRING SPRUCE UP ANIMAL FAIR and BUY A BRICK FUNDRAISER will be primarily allocated to purchasing these puppy kennels.

SPRING SPRUCE UP ANIMAL FAIR FLYER - PDF
RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC & MICROCHIP INFORMATION - PDF
BUY A BRICK BROCHURE - PDF

Red tabby kitten The kennels that will be removed from the former Isolation Room will not be wasted, but will go into our New Triage Area. The Triage program will enable assessment, medical exam, vaccinations and heartworm testing promptly upon animals arriving at the shelter.



The new facilities allows totally humane treatment for the animals. It has also opened up shelter areas and opportunities for new programs such as a Puppy Room and Triage.


We need the support of the community in order to continue to realize our goals.
Consider sending us a donation today.
You can also help us to help the animals by becoming a member
HCHS/SPCA Membership.



Important Information

Click on the X to close.

What is the difference between
Open Admission and Limited Admission

An "Open Admission" facility will turn no animal away and with that open door policy comes certain realities and responsibilities. That is the defining difference between an "Open Admission" shelter and "Limited Admission" shelters.

"Limited Admission" shelters or groups must restrict both the type and the number animals it will receive. When the shelter cages or foster homes are filled, they will turn away the next animal regardless of the circumstances. That leaves the individual with a stray or unwanted animal to find another source for relinquishing the animal, usually an "Open Admission" shelter.

Often "Limited Admission" organizations bill themselves as "no kill" shelters. However, though these shelters/groups are also working toward placing companion animals in responsible homes, very few of them take in sick/injured animals or provide for lost or stray animals. They rarely investigate and prosecute complaints of cruelty and neglect. They often turn away older animals or those with health or behavior problems and may be unable to accept the return of unsuccessful adoptions. Rapid turnover is essential.

So we can think of animal welfare like a patchwork quilt, made of different organizations; some "Open Admission", some "Limited Admission" and others such as specific breed "Rescue Groups", "Sanctuaries" and even "Animal Control" who all want to get homeless and unwanted animals off the street and into a better place.

Although the simplicity of the "Limited Admission" shelter philosophy is appealing, reality is not that simple. The Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter takes in over 2000 animals each year. Some days we take in as many as 30 a day. We shelter some for days, others for weeks, sometimes months, while we try to find new homes for them. But more keep coming every day, and only so many can be housed at a time. When there is no more room, or animals are evaluated as having behavior or physical problems or it can be seen that an animal's quality of life has depreciated, after a reasonable length of time, that animal may be euthanized. It is REALITY.

So you can see that using the terms "kill" and "no kill" in describing an animal facility is really not accurate or fair. No one wants to see animals euthanized. The Humane Society of the United States has coined the terms "Open Admission" and "Limited Admission" as correct determinations and encourages no group to "look down" on one type of facility or the other, but acknowledge the benefit both offer in animal welfare. For more information go to  www.hsus.org.

    There are ways to prevent overpopulation of cats and dogs:
  • HAVE YOUR PET SPAY/NEUTERED.
  • ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SPAY/NEUTER.
  • DO NOT BREED YOUR PET. There are already millions without homes.
  • KEEP YOUR PET CONFINED TO YOUR PROPERTY IN A HUMANE AND LOVING MANNER.
  • ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN YOUR PET WEARS IDENTIFICATION IN CASE HE RUNS OFF.
  • CONFINE PETS DURING HOLIDAYS SUCH AS NEW YEARS AND THE FOURTH OF JULY.