Wednesday, November 25, 2009

AAC Meeting Schedule for Implementation Plan Topics

Nov 30th:
AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving
A: Revise Mission of Animal Services

Dec 7th:
AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes
A1:Offsite Adoptions

Dec 14th:
AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes
A2-6: Increased Capacity for Adoption
make-ready, behavioral, empty kennel usage, Davenport building use after shelter move, and increased public awareness.

Dec 21st:
AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes
B: Large Scale Foster Program

Dec 28th:
AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake
A: Reduce Euthanasia of Owned Animals
Increased Return to Owners, Increased owner awareness of possible euthanasia, increased owner safety net services

Jan 4th:
AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake
B: Reduce Feral Cat Euthanasia
Increased feral cat spay/neuter, increased community care, and increased re-release rates

Jan 11th:
AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake
C: High Volume, Free and Low Cost Spay/Neuter
Increased services available to the community

Jan 18th:
AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving
C: Public Involvement and Candor
Increased Public Relations on all aspects of sheltering

Jan 25th:
AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving
D: Explore Outsourcing Possibilities
Increased community involvement to reduce costs and increase lifesaving

Feb 1st:
Finalize draft of implementation plan.

More information can be found at the TLAC website "In the Community" page…

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Elkhart, Indiana needs Nathan Winograd

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34117457/ns/us_news-the_elkhart_project

ELKHART, Ind.— Each day at five, staff members of the Humane Society of Elkhart County close the animal shelter and hold a meeting. And each day, like clockwork, they begin hearing a “thump, thump, thump” from outside.
That is the sound of pets being abandoned by owners who either do not want them or cannot care for them anymore.
Among the recent arrivals left in “drop boxes” — kennels that are accessible through doors on the outside of the facility — are Sweet Pea, a Chihuahua being nursed back to health from near starvation, a cocker spaniel named Cookie and a “family” of three pets left together — a dog, a cat and rat.
These animals add to the usual traffic of strays, rabid raccoons and animals rescued from abuse. When the drop boxes are full, the Humane Society finds pets tied up at the door, or — as was the case with a domesticated ferret — running around in the parking lot. Recently a whole litter of kittens was left in the Humane Society dumpster.

With as many as 600 or 700 animals arriving each month — sometimes 30 animals in a single day — the facility, which has space for only 266, is in crisis mode.
'Unsavory position'

The numbers are “staggering” and resources are stretched, said Ann Reel, the Humane Society of Elkhart County’s executive director.
“Since the economy has been like this, even rescuers have been down,” she said, referring to nonprofits that provide temporary homes until animals can be adopted. “(Now) we’re in the unsavory position of having to euthanize because we just can’t turn animals around fast enough.”
In one month alone, the shelter had to euthanize 600 animals, she said. Carissa Ray/msnbc.comJack O'Lantern, an orange tabby cat, was thrown from a car in front of the Humane Society of Elkhart County's shelter over Halloween weekend.

The Humane Society staff believes the poor economy is behind the high rate of abandonment — forcing people to give up pets when they run out of money to feed them or lose their homes and move into apartments or in with relatives. It’s impossible to know for sure because many people drop off their pets anonymously in the drop boxes and don’t fill out the forms that would help the Humane Society staff understand the animal’s health background and breeding. Since October 2008, the shelter has handled 5,783 animals, 42 percent of which were abandoned anonymously.
“For the most part, people just cram the animal in the door, get in their car and speed away as fast as possible,” said Reel. “Occasionally we have someone walk through the front door and say ‘I’ve been laid off my job, we’re moving into an apartment, we can’t find anyone to take them,’ and do it responsibly.”
Looming cuts?

The number of cats dropped off is especially high, perhaps because people have been reluctant to spend money to spay or neuter their cats under current economic conditions.
The Humane Society is struggling to meet the increased demand. Its budget for free spaying and neutering of cats was shot by April. The pet assistance program, which provides free pet food to help owners who are struggling financially, had 444 requests this year, about two-thirds of them first-time requests. This program is important because it keeps pets with their owners, avoiding unnecessary abandonment.
About half of the Humane Society’s $700,000 annual budget is provided by the county and cities, under a contract for animal control. But the organization is anticipating cuts in the next round of government budgets and, like many nonprofits, is casting about for new fundraising ideas, and trying to expand its donor base.Carissa Ray/msnbc.comA dog sits quietly at the Humane Society of Elkhart County while awaiting adoption.

Meanwhile, Reel brought in a fatigue specialist to work with the staff of 16.
“We are overwhelmed in trying to decide who stays and who will have to be eliminated,” she said, referring to animals that have to be euthanized. “It takes a toll on our staff. It is not a pleasant job. “
The staff also grapple with a year caring for and cleaning up after all these creatures — many which are in terrible condition by the time they are dropped off, with severe such maladies as ringworm, fleas and mange. That requires careful handling, and a lot of bleach to prevent the spread of disease.
When people ask Reel, “How can I help?” she tells them to “adopt, donate or send bleach.”

Monday, November 23, 2009

Las Vegas enacts mandatory spay/neuter law

Las Vegas enacts mandatory spay/neuter law
Nov 23, 2009

DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Las Vegas -- Las Vegas residents will have to make sure they aren’t keeping intact pets without a special permit starting this spring or they will have to pay hefty fines.

Las Vegas City Council approved an ordinance to mandate spay and neutering of all cats and dogs by the age of four months after hours of deliberation Nov. 18. Some questions arose over whether four months was too young an age to require sterilization and whether mandatory sterilization programs are really effective in reducing unwanted pet populations. Still, the measure passed 5-2 and will take effect April 1.
Exceptions are included in the ordinance that exempt animals medically unfit to undergo the operation or specially trained service animals. Breeders who have specific permits also will be exempt from the law, but violators will face misdemeanor charges and a $225 first-time offense fine. Fines for the second and third offenses are $500 and $1,000, respectively. Owners who can show proof of sterilization within thirty days of an offense can get their fines reduced by 80 percent, according to the legislation.
A portion of the fines collected through enforcement of the new law will be used to set up a fund to provide public assistance for pet owners who can’t afford to pay for spay/neuter procedures.
North Las Vegas passed a similar law in January 2008 and Clark County, Nev., also is considering a mandatory spay/neuter law. A statewide mandatory spay/neuter law has failed more than once in California, and cities like New Orleans and Chicago have considered, but never passed, similar laws.
Letters will sent to new pet owners about the law’s requirements, and pet stores must turn over new pet owner information to authorities each quarter to help achieve full compliance.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Sheryl Crow takes up cause of wild horses in West

Sheryl Crow takes up cause of wild horses in West


RENO, Nev. — Sheryl Crow is joining others in calling on the federal government to halt wild horse roundups in the West, branding them as inhumane and unnecessary.

The Grammy Award-winning singer is asking President Barack Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to scrap a proposed roundup of 2,500 mustangs in northern Nevada.
Crow campaigned for Obama last year and performed at his inauguration. She opposes Salazar's plan to move thousands of wild horses to preserves in the Midwest and East to protect horse herds and the rangelands that support them.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials say they plan to remove 11,500 wild horses and burros from the range over each of the next three years because booming numbers of the animals are damaging the range.
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/shared-gen/ap/Recordings/US_People_Sheryl_Crow.html

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Agenda for Wed. 11/18 AAC Meeting

ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009
5:30 PM
AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR ASSEMBLY ROOM
721 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD

1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL
The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda.

2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.OLD BUSINESS
Report of FY11 Donation Fund Subcommittee Meeting
Disease Control & Cleaning Protocols
Available City & County Buildings

4. NEW BUSINESS
Discussion of Council Resolution to expand scope of the Animal Advisory Commission.
Discussion of potential Bylaws amendment related to change of time and location of regular monthly meeting.
Discussion of posting of Animal Advisory Commission agenda & receiving of backup material.
Discuss Implementation Plan Process

5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None

6. STAFF BRIEFINGS
None

7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

8.ADJOURNMENT
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Gricelda Diaz at Health & Human Services Department, Animal Services Division at 512: 972-5805, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Austin Chronicle on Item 40 debate

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid%3A912880

City Hall Hustle: Call Us Ambiguous

City legal once again yanks council's chain – will they finally yank back?
BY WELLS DUNBAR

Once, the Hustle asked City Attorney David Smith the color of the sky. Six weeks later, we received an opinion from the Texas Attorney General defining the answer as privileged information.
All right, that's a little bit of a stretch – emphasis on little – but currently relevant, as the city attorney's office, and its operations and reporting, are again in the limelight following its opinion on a relatively straightforward City Council resolution last week, which seemed to suggest that council has no business directing city programs.

The action in question, Item 40, directs the city manager to work with the Animal Advisory Commission in developing an implementation plan for the commission's recommendations regarding the Town Lake Animal Center – things like a larger adoption program and low-cost spay/neuter programs. But council discussion hinged on the worry – propagated by our old friends at city legal – that council was conceivably overstepping its powers in giving direction to City Manager Marc Ott, specifically by directing that city staff work with the commission. Bill Spelman drew out the issue, asking Ott if the direction gave him "any heartburn." Ott replied
him "any heartburn." Ott replied that after speaking with the city attorney's office, he had concerns that the resolution "may blur the lines" between "the policymaking responsibilities of council and the manager's responsibilities for the administrative services and management of the organization. ... It's a little ambiguous."
Ambiguity was in the air all week, as city legal had been corresponding with Item 40 sponsor Laura Mor­ri­son. Legal, natch, declined to share its advice with the Hustle without an AG opinion, but Morrison's office forwarded an e-mail from Assistant City Attorney Cary Grace. Sent the day of the meeting, it read: "The under­lying AAC report does not clearly differentiate between policy recommendations and programmatic and personnel issues. For this reason, language requiring an 'implementation plan' blurs the line between council-manager authority."
Back in chambers, discussion centered on the concept of "programmatic" powers to develop and implement programs. Grace told council that pinpointing "what is programmatic versus what is policy is sometimes easy, sometimes not." Deciding which is "less of a legal discussion and more of a policy and administrative discussion." But seconds earlier, Grace seemed to vest those powers solely with Ott, saying "in essence, it depends on how the manager manages as to whether or not he believes a particular directive to be programmatic."
"The word 'programmatic' was problematic," Morrison told me afterward, noting "the word 'program' is not in the city charter, with regard to the city manager." Taking a more bullish approach to council's powers, she points to charter language – that "all powers of the city shall be vested" in council – as supporting her claim it's "absolutely within the council's authority and responsibility" to develop programs. Moreover, she says, "It almost seemed to be suggested by our legal department that it was the city manager's responsibility and authority to make the decision as to ... what was under his authority or the council's authority. I think that that was possibly suggested by some of what was said, and that is a position I would certainly disagree with."
Item 40 passed; as all it does is develop an implementation plan, Mayor Lee Leffingwell voiced the consensus it's "basically a direction to go forward and develop a final product," one that will be further vetted by council. But some on the dais chafed at the discussion they'd just witnessed. "What is going on up here?" Randi Shade asked, saying the debate over the item's direction to Ott was "splitting hairs." And astutely, she wagered "the reason why there is this angst" is because staff and the differing animal constituencies "have not worked as well together as they could in the past." Reached later, Shade could "think of countless examples" where Ott worked with stakeholder groups on issues. And she feared the discussion obfuscated the larger issue of animal welfare.
Mike Martinez was characteristically blunt, saying: "If the city charter doesn't allow us to direct the city manager to sit down and work with people, then we have a serious problem with our charter. It just blows me away. ... It's very simple: the council reserves the right and the authority to direct the city manager to implement programs, to create programs, and even be specific. "I'll be supporting this motion," he concluded, "and if we need to do a charter amendment in a few years, I'll support that too."
By coincidence, the day after the meeting, the city auditor issued a response to a question previously posed by Morrison: How common is Austin's city attorney arrangement, under which the office reports to the city manager (as opposed to, say, the council)? Of the nation's 50 largest cities, only 19 have Austin's council-manager form of government, and of those 19, only three city attorneys – Austin's included – report to the city manager. After last week's constitutional crisis in miniature, those numbers should be on everyone's minds in City Hall.
Deliver your opinion on Twitter: @CityHallHustle.

Monday, November 9, 2009

AAC Recommendations to City Council to Reduce Killing of Homeless Animals

City of Austin Animal Advisory Commission
Report to Council Regarding Recommendations

Dear Mayor and Council Members,

On January 15, 2009, you passed a resolution observing that the “City of Austin has a long-standing goal of ending the euthanization of adoptable pets at its animal shelter, but we have much to do to meet this goal,” and directing us “to evaluate and make recommendations on policies and programs proven to be effective at reducing the killing of homeless animals, including, but not limited to, policies and programs related to reducing the intake, and increasing live outcomes of shelter animals.” We have dedicated five Commission meetings to implementing your directive, and we thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this very important subject.

Report Summary:

It is our conclusion, that with a renewed focus on and dedication to life-saving solutions, Austin’s Town Lake Animal Center could save as many as—or more than—ninety percent of animals that enter the shelter within eighteen months. Austin is a progressive community of animal lovers who overwhelmingly support our city’s lost and homeless pets. The City of Austin, along with non-profit organizations like Emancipet, the Austin Humane Society, Austin Pets Alive!, Animal Trustees of Austin, FixAustin.org, the ASPCA and countless others, have dedicated tremendous resources towards improving the outlook for homeless dogs and cats. If the City’s shelter rigorously implements the proven programs and policies we detail in this letter, Austin can and should quickly join the ranks of America’s “No Kill” communities.

I. RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE LIVE OUTCOMES

A. Comprehensive Adoption Program

Town Lake Animal Center should immediately design and implement a comprehensive program to increase adoptions of impounded animals. This program should include:

1. Off-site adoption locations throughout the City and County staffed seven days a week in high-traffic areas. This is a core life-saving program of highest importance to reducing Austin’s kill rate and can be expected to save several thousand additional lives each year;

2. Mechanisms (such as a partnership with EmanciPET) to increase the capacity of the shelter to make more impounded animals available and ready for adoption;

3. Employing training techniques to solve treatable behavioral issues in impounded cats and dogs;

4. Ending the option of killing any healthy and non-aggressive animal while cages or kennels are unused;

5. Developing a plan to maximize the utility and usage of the Davenport Building and existing shelter structures in compliance with the Council’s October 2007 directive; and,

6. Implementing a public-awareness campaign to educate the public about the adoptable and lovable nature of shelter animals (including establishing long and short-term media partnerships).

Each of these programs, if implemented, should be anticipated to increase the number of impounded dogs and cats adopted from Austin’s animal shelter. To maximize live outcomes and avoid budgetary increases, staff should train and trust volunteers to conduct core life-saving programs like off-site adoptions, behavioral training, and public relations. Staff should also work with non-profit groups like EmanciPET and Animal Trustees of Austin to find ways to become more efficient in making animals ready for adoption.

B. Large-Scale Volunteer Foster Program

Austin’s animal shelter should design and implement a large-scale volunteer foster program to immediately increase shelter capacity in order to save more lives. In a progressive community like Austin, it is an achievable goal that no healthy kitten or puppy should be euthanized as a result of being too young for adoption. The shelter management should train and trust volunteers to play a core life-saving role in fostering dogs and cats. A foster program on the scale of other communities should be our goal. Volunteers in Charlottesville, Virginia, fostered 1,700 animals in 2007 in a community of roughly 100,000 residents. Said another way, about one animal was fostered for every 60 residents in the community. If TLAC implemented a foster program to the same scale, over 11,500 animals would be fostered—more than the number of animals predicted to be euthanized at the shelter this year. Foster programs can be cost-effective and revenue-neutral because fosters pay for food and shelter and the City retains adoption fees (and avoids disposal costs) for every additional life saved.

II. RECOMMENDATIONS TO DECREASE SHELTER INTAKE

A. Reduce the Euthanasia of Owned Animals

One of the key ways to reduce shelter killing is to increase the number of already-owned animals being returned to their homes. The shelter should do this in three ways:

1. Replicate the policies of cities (like Reno, Nevada) that have significantly higher return-to-owner rates and implement policies designed to train Animal Control and Austin Police Department officers to identify additional opportunities to return animals to their homes. Efforts should include outfitting officers with microchip scanners, and engaging the community where a dog or cat is found. Microchip scanners can be placed in all fire stations so lost pets can be identified and returned to owners. All available efforts should be made to return already-owned animals (whether indicated by condition of animal or presence of collar) to their owners.

2. Prepare an owner-surrender disclaimer to ensure that an owner surrendering his animal to TLAC fully understand the chances of the animal being adopted or killed. The disclaimer should clearly indicate the number of animals killed in the prior year, and shelter staff should read the disclaimer to persons contemplating surrendering their pet.

3. Provide resources, such as a Pet Safety Net Hotline and owner counseling, to provide alternative solutions to owners contemplating pet surrender. The shelter should partner with the City’s 311 service, the Statesman Inside Line, the ASPCA, and/or the Denver Hotline to help owners solve routine problems before they lead to owner surrenders.

B. Reduce Feral-Cat Euthanasia

There is no reason to kill a healthy, feral cat in the City’s animal shelter. Other communities throughout the United States have demonstrated success in dramatically reducing feral-cat intake through aggressive trap-neuter-release programs. The shelter should partner with rescue groups, other non-profits, and volunteers to implement and fund the program. In addition, the City should help rescue groups maintain feral cat colonies by setting up food donation sites, educating the public, and coordinating the purchasing and distribution of food.

C. High-Volume, Free and Low-Cost Spay/Neuter

The City shelter should maintain its efforts to help EmanciPET and Animal Trustees of Austin provide free and low-cost spay/neuter services. It is estimated that eighty percent of Austin’s pet owners already spay and neuter their pets, and cost is the primary reason other owners do not do so. The City should continue its efforts to promote spay/neuter in order to continue reducing shelter intake. Shelter staff should also work with the veterinary community to design partner programs to reduce shelter intake.

III. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO ENHANCE LIFESAVING

We recognize that saving the lives of our community’s lost and homeless pets is about more than specific programs. It is also about the overall objectives and management of animal-services tasks. Accordingly, we also recommend that the City of Austin:

A. Revise the Mission of Animal Services

The City Council should revise the goals and objectives of Austin’s Animal Services to reflect Council’s clear directive to reduce the killing of lost and homeless pets by increasing live outcomes and reducing shelter intake. The Council should formally adopt a goal of saving 90% of impounded animals, a goal that has proven reachable in communities all across the United States. In addition, additional performance measurements should be included in TLAC’s monthly and annual reports. For example, reports should include the number of animals adopted at TLAC off-site adoptions, the number of animals fostered in TLAC’s foster program, and the number of animals transferred to each partner program that rescues ten or more animals annually.

B. Ensure a Compassionate Management and Staff

The City Manager should ensure that the Animal Services Department is fully onboard with the Council’s new directive to make Austin a “No Kill” City by saving 90% of impounded animals. Shelter management and staff should clearly identify and implement the Council’s goals of increasing live outcomes and reducing shelter intake. Any employees of the shelter who reject the Council’s directives either through disagreement or lack of effort should be removed or reassigned.

C. Public Involvement and Candor

In order for Austin to become a “No Kill” City, Austin’s shelter must engage the pubic, trust the public, and repeatedly ask for its assistance. This includes galvanizing adopters and volunteers and asking for donations and fosters. Rather than seeking to blame the public for the pet “problem,” the shelter should ask the public to be the “solution.” In addition, the shelter should aim to be candid with the public at all times, including being honest about the shelter’s kill rate. Finally, the shelter should completely revamp its website, providing (1) much more information about each animal in its care (including where a stray animal was picked up, personality traits if known, etc.), (2) candor about the number of animals killed at the shelter, and (3) opportunities to help reduce the unnecessary killing of sheltered animals.

D. Explore Outsourcing Possibilities

The City Manager should explore the possibility of outsourcing. Private partners, rescue groups, and non-profits should be permitted to bid on services (such as adoption, veterinary care, etc.) that they may be able to perform at substantially reduced costs.

IV. CONCLUSION

We sincerely thank you, the Austin City Council, for giving us the opportunity to provide our recommendations for the implementation of policies and programs that will increase live outcomes and reduce shelter intake at Town Lake Animal Center. We firmly believe that with the right policies and programs in place, Austin can and should quickly become a national leader in animal sheltering—saving the lives of 90% or more of our community’s impounded dogs and cats.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Come to City Hall on November 10, 6:30 pm

A LOT has been going on this month - 2 Council Resolutions (including the one today about implementing the AAC recommendations), an exciting Community Action meeting on October 27, groundbreaking Statesman editorials about No Kill, unfortunate break-ins at ATA's clinic, a lawsuit about sick and healthy animals housed in the same building at TLAC, use of voucher program instead of AHS Clinic in December for feral cats, discussions about use of the current shelter for an Adoption Center and, of course, the ambitious and exciting Austin Pets Alive proposal for partnership with the City to save more animals who are currently caught in the "bottleneck" at TLAC.

We need to talk about all of these issues and how to take advantage of the great energy going on right now to make the best thing possible happen for our city's homeless pets.

Thanks to sponsorship from Council Member Cole and help from her staff member, Tara, we have a great meeting room - the staff bullpen - which should allow us to discuss the above issues for two hours - 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

KXAN: Austin moves toward no-kill animal city

KXAN video:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/austin_moves_toward_no_kill_animal_city

Austin moves toward no-kill animal city
City could reach 90 percent save rate in 18 months
Updated: Thursday, 05 Nov 2009, 2:32 PM CST
Matt Flener

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin's City Council took a major step Thursday to make Austin a "no-kill" city for animals.
The council told City Manager Marc Ott to save more dogs and cats from death at the Town Lake Animal Shelter, and the action puts more pressure on city staff, after not reaching its "no-kill" goal in 2002.
The city's Animal Advisory Commission sent a report to the council earlier this year saying the council should adopt a policy of saving 90 percent of impounded animals at the shelter.
Shelter employees put to death nearly 10,000 animals in 2008.
The Animal Advisory Commission said the City of Austin should consider public and private partnerships with various pet organizations and rescue groups around the city.
The recommendations also include directives to staff adoption centers around the city seven days a week and providing more low-cost spay and neuter services.
Another recommendation includes giving police officers microchip scanners and placing those in fire stations as well.
Animal shelter staff would also be required to tell owners dropping off their pets about the high possibility of adoption or death.

Fox News: City Council votes 7-0 in favor of No Kill resolution

Fox News video:
http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/110509-city-looks-to-pass-no-kill-resolution

City Council Passes "No Kill" Resolution

Updated: Thursday, 05 Nov 2009, 5:42 PM CST
Published : Thursday, 05 Nov 2009, 10:15 AM CST

Austin, TX (myFOXaustin.com) - The City Council passed a resolution Thursday that will mandate Town Lake Animal Center to implement the policies and programs recommended by the Animal Advisory Commission to make Austin a "No Kill" city. The recommendations brought forth to the counci will give a clear plan to achieve a 90% save rate at Town Lake Animal Shelter within 18 months by changing some existing policies and implementing new programs.
The Animal Advisory Commission reported to the Mayor and City Council back in January their final recommendations in the hopes of reducing the killing of homeless animals and reducing the intake of animals at shelters.
Some of the recommedations include:
1.Off-site adoption throughout the City and County staffed 7 days a week in high traffic areas.
2.Partnerships with EmanciPet to help increase the capicity of the shelter to make more impounded animals ready for adoption.
3.Employing training techniques to help resolve treatable behaviorial issues in adoptable cats and dogs.
4.End the killing of any healthy or non-aggressive dog while kennels or cages are unused.
5.Developing a plan to maximize the utility and usage of the Davenport Building and existing shelter structures in compliance with the Council’s October 2007 directive
6.Implementing a public-awareness campaign to educate the public about the adoptable and lovable nature of shelter animals.

In addition to these recommendations, the Commission also used case examples from various cities throughout the U.S. to show how they worked within their policies and progrmas to become “No Kill” communities. Organizations such as EmanciPet, Austin Humane Society, Fixaustin.org, AustinPetsAlive and ASPCA all are pushing for Austin to quickly join the ranks of America's "No Kill" communities.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Austin's four-legged friends await moral progress

EDITORIAL: AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
Thursday, November 05, 2009
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/2009/11/05/1105pets_edit.html

A favorite expression of animal welfare groups in Austin is one attributed to spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi: "One can measure the greatness and the moral progress of a nation by looking at how it treats its animals."

Today, the Austin City Council will be tested on its moral progress regarding dogs and cats as it decides whether to pass a resolution adopting recommendations that would provide for better treatment of animals.

The Austin Animal Advisory Commission is recommending a comprehensive adoption and foster care program for animals that end up at the Town Lake Animal Center. Approving the recommendations would move Austin closer to its goal of becoming a no-kill city.
For more than a decade, different councils have talked about, but not followed through on, making the shelter a no-kill facility. The deadline for that goal — 2002 — has come and gone.
The choice before the council is to do nothing and therefore allow the shelter to continue to rely on euthanizing animals to control Travis County's animal population or adopt the reasonable and affordable recommendations of the animal commission, whose members are appointed by the City Council.
Ten thousand animals were euthanized last year at the Town Lake Animal Center. We're ready for some moral progress.

Council resolution could make Town Lake Animal Shelter a 'no kill' facility

View KVUE news story video at:
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Council-resolution-could-make-town-lake-animal-shelter-a-no-kill-facility-68969892.html

by QUITA CULPEPPER / KVUE News

Posted on November 3, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Updated yesterday at 5:22 PM
The Town Lake Animal Shelter was supposed to become a "no kill" facility by 2002 -- that didn't happen.
Now, a new resolution being heard by the Austin City Council on Thursday would have City Manager Marc Ott work with the Austin Animal Advisory Commission.
The goal is to find new policies and procedures to drastically reduce the number of healthy dogs and cats killed at the shelter.
According to the commission, many strays picked up by the city are put down after three days -- animals given up by their owners may be euthanized immediately.
Scores of puppies and kittens with minor health concerns are also put to sleep.
Close to 10,000 animals were put to sleep at the shelter in 2008.
One recommendation would be to establish a comprehensive adoption program -- for example, having locations throughout the city and county staffed seven days a week.
The commission also recommends ending the option of killing healthy and non-aggressive animals while cages and kennels go unused.
Commission members also want the city to create a large scale volunteer foster program -- the goal being as more dogs are put in foster care, shelter capacity would increase.
The council resolution directs the City Manager's Office to present a plan to save more animals at the shelter by March 2010.

Council resolution could make Town Lake Animal Shelter a 'no kill' facility

by QUITA CULPEPPER / KVUE News

Posted on November 3, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Updated yesterday at 5:22 PM
The Town Lake Animal Shelter was supposed to become a "no kill" facility by 2002 -- that didn't happen.
Now, a new resolution being heard by the Austin City Council on Thursday would have City Manager Marc Ott work with the Austin Animal Advisory Commission.
The goal is to find new policies and procedures to drastically reduce the number of healthy dogs and cats killed at the shelter.
According to the commission, many strays picked up by the city are put down after three days -- animals given up by their owners may be euthanized immediately.
Scores of puppies and kittens with minor health concerns are also put to sleep.
Close to 10,000 animals were put to sleep at the shelter in 2008.
One recommendation would be to establish a comprehensive adoption program -- for example, having locations throughout the city and county staffed seven days a week.
The commission also recommends ending the option of killing healthy and non-aggressive animals while cages and kennels go unused.
Commission members also want the city to create a large scale volunteer foster program -- the goal being as more dogs are put in foster care, shelter capacity would increase.
The council resolution directs the City Manager's Office to present a plan to save more animals at the shelter by March 2010.