Urgent Pet Adoption Appeal

(Houston, TX - December 3, 2025) - Time is running out for Akari, a gentle eight-year-old Akita mix whose life hangs in the balance at Houston's city shelter, BARC. With a euthanasia deadline set for Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. Central Time, a frantic, last-minute appeal has been launched by volunteers desperate to find her a loving home.

Akari's case is particularly heartbreaking. She landed at the shelter not as a stray, but as an owner surrender with a direct request for euthanasia. Despite this tragic start, shelter volunteers who have spent time with her paint a picture of a sweet, dignified dog who is anything but ready to give up.

A Gentle Soul in Need of a Home

According to an urgent plea circulating on social media, Akari is a model of good behavior and affection. The post, which includes detailed notes from shelter staff, is a testament to her gentle nature.

"Akari is a calm, dignified Akita mix with a gentle and affectionate personality," the volunteer notes read. "She approaches with a relaxed body, soft facial features, and a calm demeanor... She enjoys walking on a loose leash and responds well to gentle handling, demonstrating her adaptability and willingness to interact positively with humans."

Volunteers note she is vocal in the morning but settles quickly, and she clearly appreciates quiet moments and the attention of her caretakers. Medically, Akari has been given a clean bill of health for a senior dog. She is spayed, fully vaccinated, dewormed, and on preventative medication. Crucially, she has tested negative for heartworm disease, a common and costly ailment that can deter adopters. At 58 pounds, she is at a healthy weight and ready to walk out of the shelter and into a new life.

The Plight of Senior Pets in a Shelter Crisis

Akari's situation highlights a dual crisis facing animal welfare: the plight of senior pets and the severe overcrowding in municipal shelters. Older animals are often the last to be adopted, overlooked in favor of puppies and younger dogs.

This problem is especially acute in Texas. A recent report by Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization, identified Texas as the state with the highest number of shelter pet deaths in the country. Open-intake shelters like BARC, which accept every animal brought to them, are often forced to make heartbreaking decisions about euthanasia simply due to a lack of space.

"Euthanasia is always our last resort," a BARC spokesperson said in a recent statement on the overcrowding issue. "Our staff and volunteers do everything possible to find homes for every adoptable animal. When a pet like Akari is at risk, we rely on the community to step up—through adoption, fostering, or networking—to help save lives."

How You Can Save Akari

Volunteers have been sharing photos and videos of Akari's sweet interactions on social media, hoping to catch the eye of a savior. A video posted on BARC Houston’s Facebook page shows a similar senior dog enjoying a walk, a glimpse of the peaceful life Akari could have. For those moved by her story, there are several ways to take immediate action.

• Adopt or Foster: The most direct way to save Akari is to provide her a home, whether permanent or temporary. Fostering gives her a safe place to decompress from the shelter environment and buys her more time for a rescue or adopter to be found.
• Place a Hold (URGENT): If you are serious about adopting or fostering, you must place an official "hold." Per BARC policy, all holds must be in writing. Please do not call. Email all three of the following addresses with Akari's name and ID number (#A2043996):
  • barcfoster@houstontx.gov
  • barcadoptions@houstontx.gov
  • BARC.Aid@houstontx.gov
• Pledge: If you cannot adopt or foster, you can "pledge" a monetary donation. Pledges are financial commitments made to an approved rescue organization that pulls the animal. This helps offset the cost of vetting and care, making it more feasible for a rescue group to intervene. Pledges are often collected via social media threads about the animal.
• Share: Share Akari's story on your social media accounts. The more people who see her face and learn about her plight, the greater her chances of being saved.

BARC Animal Shelter is located at 3200 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026. Please check the official BARC website for the most up-to-date adoption hours before visiting.

With the clock ticking, Akari’s fate rests in the hands of compassionate strangers. Her story is a poignant reminder of the thousands of deserving senior pets waiting in shelters, hoping for one last chance at the warmth and love of a family.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What does it mean for a pet to be on the euthanasia list at BARC? A: When a pet is on a shelter's euthanasia list, it means they are scheduled to be humanely euthanized by a specific date and time. This can be due to severe overcrowding, untreatable medical conditions, severe behavioral issues, or, in some cases like Akari's, an owner's request upon surrender.

Q: Why are senior dogs like Akari good pets to adopt? A: Senior dogs are often wonderful companions. They are typically calmer, have outgrown destructive puppy behaviors, and are often already house-trained. They require less intensive supervision and their personalities are already established, so you know what kind of companion you are bringing home. They are just as full of love and gratitude.

Q: What is heartworm, and why is it significant that Akari is heartworm-negative? A: Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. A dog testing 'heartworm-negative' means they are free from this parasite. This is significant because treatment for heartworm is lengthy, expensive, and hard on the dog, which can be a barrier for potential adopters. Akari being heartworm-negative means she is healthier and does not face this immediate medical hurdle.

Q: Where can I find more information about adopting from BARC? A: The most reliable information can be found on BARC's official city website. There, you can find details about the adoption process, view other adoptable animals, and find any necessary forms or guidelines, which may be available as a downloadable packet (PDF).