Austin Animal Services

Banner collage of shelter staff, volunteers, and animals. Two volunteers snuggling tabby cats, a smiling adopter with a young white pup, a joyful shelter employee holding a small white puppy, and two animal protection officers: one with a rescued hawk.

Enduring Service Program

The Enduring Service program gives shelter dogs and incarcerated veterans a second chance. Veterans work with the shelter's Behavior Team and 12 dogs every day for 8-12 weeks, using positive reinforcement to teach skills like sitting, walking on a leash, and staying calm around people. Dogs graduate home-ready, with the goal of going straight from the program into adoptive homes while the veterans learn dog handling and training skills. 

This program is a partnership between Austin Animal Services and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Travis Unit.

Dog

Artie ID#26914

2 years old

Dog standing on all fours looking up to the camera with full attention.

Autumn ID#24702

1 year old

Brown dog with gold eyes standing on all fours looking up at camera.

Churro ID#331508

2 years old

Gold brown dog in sitting sideways so tail shows, head turned looking at camera.

Daisy ID#22229

2 years old

White dog with black freckles on snout and in pointed ears standing on all four legs happily looking into camera.

George ID#30599

3 years old

Brown and white dog with big head sitting and smiling into the camera.

Jerry ID#30793

2 years old

Black pup with brown legs standing on all four legs looking at camera.

Mallory ID#31203

8 months old

Brown dog standing at an angle on all four legs looking up at the camera.

Nana ID#27490

1 year old

Fuzzy tail dog with white socks feet standing on all four legs with tongue out.

Ozzy ID#26791

2 years old

White dog with brown eye patch and half brown ears sitting and looking up at the camera.

Pooh ID#18365

3 years old

Black dog with brown underbelly and paws plus bit ears that stay up.

Shakira ID#25615

2 years old

Cute tan and white large dog sitting and smiling at the camera.

Styx ID#30085

11 months old

Silhouette graphic of a man kneeling with a flag waving above him as he shakes a dog's paw.

Training, Certification & Next Steps

  • Training Sessions: Dogs train with their veteran handlers until they are ready to graduate, so each class works at the pace that best fits the dogs.
  • Veteran Opportunities: Participants can earn a dog grooming certification at the Travis Unit through Austin Community College, creating a clear pathway to employment after release.
  • Goal: At graduation, dogs have the skills and confidence to move straight from the program into adoptive or foster homes, where they can keep building on what they learned.
  • Clean, Secure Spaces

    Dogs are housed in clean, secure spaces with frequent daily interaction.

  • Consistent Routines

    Steady daily care and training schedules help dogs feel secure, reduce stress, and make faster progress.

  • Professional Support

    Veterinary and behavioral care from Animal Services is continuously available throughout the program.

Support the Enduring Service Program

Community support helps keep this program going. If adopting a program graduate isn't possible, then show your support by contributing
 

Enduring Service Amazon Wish List
 

Animal Services Donation Page