Local Issues Presented at December 15 Animal Issues Forum
Notes by Adette Quintana
First Speaker - Patricia Fraga City of Austin:
Spay street Program has been expanded. Now covers 10 zip codes. Spay Street partners with Emancipet.
Door hangers and handouts are passed out within these communities. These give citizens information about free services available to their pets (rabies vaccination, microchip, spay/neuter, new collar) as well as instructions on how to get these services. They also explain how spay/neuter benefits pets.
This outreach is done by city staff and Emancipet.
*Volunteers needed to hand out flyers and hang door hangers in these communities
Asha Thune (Emancipet) explained that Emancipet has $30K. This fund covers citizens who's pets are picked up and brought in via door to door visits. These are people who otherwise would NOT reach out and have their pet spayed/neutered, etc
The City fund is $25K. The fund covers citizens who DO reach out via information they have received from flyers, word of mouth,door hangers, etc.
Both the City and Emancipet are under the Spay Street Program and all surgeries are done at Emancipet.
Second Speaker: Kathleen Hamilton- Public Awareness Committee
Gave us an update on the Public Awareness Committee progress
*The first project was to reach 'low hanging fruit'. The committee now has a logo and education materials to hand out. They have been participating in local pet events (we are currently at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar) handing these out and spreading the word about the help we need from Austin's citizens in order to become a No Kill city.
*A generalized marketing plan has been developed. This will include broader education materials, more events, more Spanish materials, improving the TLAC website (links, Spanish, clearer language, and making the site easier to navigate). This plan will be developed via working with the City.
*The committee is also working on a 24month Pet Event Calendar
*A month of celebration is being planned to celebrate the March 11th anniversary leading up to March 11th, 2011.
Third Speaker - Tara Stermer www.TrainingbyTara.com
Tara has started a mobile community outreach program. This involves going into low income communities and offering free clinics training programs. The purpose of the mobile outreach is to educate and train. Informative and helpful pet information will be handed out at these clinics. Information on proper confinement, spay/neuter, basic agility are all part of this wonderful program. Collars and leashes are also handed out.
Luis Herrera helped out with translating.
The first outreach was a great success. One person was out with their dog when Tara and her crew arrived. Right away kiddos ran into their homes and brought out their dogs.
*Volunteers are needed to help out with this program.
The next mobile outreach is scheduled for January 9th. The location will be announced. Visit www.TrainingByTara.com for more info.
Monday, December 20, 2010
State Issues Presented at December 15 Animal Issues Forum
Austin Animal Issues Forum
Dec. 15, 2010 Meeting
State News Summary
Monica Hardy, Executive Director, Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN),
ed@thln.org:
The Large-Scale Commercial Breeder Bill has been submitted to Legislative Council in
preparation for officially filing it for the 2011 session which begins January 11.
THLN has been working closely with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
(TVMA) and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in advance of
the session, to come up with a bill that can hopefully pass this time. The TVMA killed a similar bill (HB 3180) in the 2009 session, and the TDLR will be the state agency through which the licensing program will be administered.
The 2011 bill will require any dog or cat breeding facility with 11 or more intact
females, where the intent is to sell the puppies/kittens, to undergo an initial inspection to become licensed, and then an annual inspection after that. Minimum standards of care will have to be demonstrated for licensing, such as adequate water, exercise, nutritious food, and veterinary care.
Facility inspection will be by the TDLR or by third party inspectors contracted through the TDLR. "Third party inspector” means any of the following with whom the
department has contracted to enforce or assist with the enforcement of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter, including inspections and investigations: (A)another state agency; (B) a local law enforcement agency or fire department; (C) a local animal control agency; or (D) an employee of any of the above-named agencies. All the details on exactly how the program will operate will be hammered out in the rulemaking process which will occur after the bill passes.
Another aspect of the bill is that it will require facilities with more than 50 intact females
to obtain a special approval waiver and demonstrate that they have sufficient staff to
adequately take care of the numbers of animals present.
The 2009 version of the bill included a lemon law provision, which would have provided
a way for consumers to recoup medical expenses in the case of a sick animal. The 2011
bill has dropped that provision.
THLN has worked hard to get bipartisan support for the bill. Both the Republican and
Democratic Party Platforms now have language specifically in support of animal welfare
and the prevention of animal cruelty. The House sponsor for the bill is Rep. Senfronia
Thompson, same as 2009. We are still working on a Senate sponsor.
Page 2 of 3
Two important things that everyone can do to support pro-animal protection bills: Attend
committee hearings on the bills when they occur during the session. THLN will send out
action alert emails letting everyone know when and where the hearings will be. The most
important thing when attending a hearing is to sign the card that you are in favor of the
pro-animal protection bill or you are against a bill that would weaken animal protection.
You do not need to stay for the entire hearing. Secondly, something everyone can do
RIGHT NOW is to meet with your state senator and state representative before the
session begins. They’ll have more time to listen to you and will be more likely to
remember you when animal welfare bills start coming up for a vote. If you can’t meet
with them, please at least start emailing or calling.
THLN is in the process of organizing a Lobby Day to be held in mid or late February.
Patt Nordyke, Executive Director, Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies (TFACS),
pnordyke@austin.rr.com:
TFACS is working on two bills: Pets in Protective Orders, and Spay/Neuter (S/N). This
will be the third attempt for the Pets in Protective Orders bill. In the last (2009) session,
there were 131 House votes and 27 Senate votes in favor of it so clearly it should have
passed, but unfortunately it fell victim to some last-minute session shenanigans and
didn’t quite make it.
The Pets in Protective Orders bill seeks to have pets included in domestic violence
protective orders. Sometimes the abused person in a household will not leave for fear
that the companion animal(s) left behind will then be abused. This bill seeks to remedy
this situation.
The S/N bill is not a “mandatory” s/n bill because anyone can keep their animals intact by
paying a $50/yr annual licensing fee per intact animal.
Exemptions to the proposed bill include service animals; animals younger than six
months; purebred animals displayed at competitive exhibitions to determine physical
conformation to established breed standards; animals used for lawful hunting by owners
holding valid Texas hunting licenses; and animals certified by veterinarians for health
reasons.
Texas is the only state to include non-surgical sterilization in state law. This is probably
where we will be headed eventually.
Senator Seliger was the sponsor of the anti-tethering bill that TFACS tried to get passed
in 2009 (the bill didn’t make it). Unfortunately, Seliger is now the chairman of the
Redistricting Committee and will have no time to sponsor the bill again. Redistricting
and the state budget will both be hugely important in the 2011 session and will just
overwhelm a lot of things.
Page 3 of 3
Tara Stermer, Canine Aggression & Behavior Specialist, Training by Tara,
thepacktrack@gmail.com:
There is breed ban legislation in the works. Breed bans absolutely do not work.
Education is the key. People mistakenly think breed bans are needed because of isolated
cases they hear about that involve chained, unsocialized dogs. There was a recent
incident in Tyler, Tx where a 2 year old child was killed when he wandered too near a
chained dog in his grandfather’s yard. There were 29 other chained dogs on the property.
Cynthia Kent, a former Smith County judge, is proposing the legislation. The Tyler
newspaper seems to be driving the whole thing.
Hopefully the fiscal note that would have to accompany any breed ban bill (fiscal notes
are required for all bills) will reflect that it will be prohibitively expensive to carry out. A
Best Friends enforcement estimate for such a bill is $31M for the entire state or $1M for
Travis County alone.
Denver is the only place where there is a widespread breed ban. Any dog whose
appearance remotely reminds an officer of the pit bull breed or a mix of that breed (either
correctly or incorrectly) can automatically be deemed a pit bull by the police and seized
and euthanized. Bully breed ID is visual only and is virtually impossible to do correctly.
“Pit bull” is actually a group of dogs. AKC recognizes American Staffordshire Terriers
and Bull Staffordshire Terriers, but does not recognize Pit Bull Terriers as a breed.
One version of the bill involves a 3rd degree felony for owning a “pit bull”. Another
version says that a pit bull owner would have to erect an 8 foot fence, with 2 feet buried
underground.
There is a petition against breed-specific/breed-discriminatory legislation at the bottom of
the Love-A-Bull home web page at http://love-a-bull.org/. The website also lists other
actions that people can take to fight BSL.
Employees at Dell Children’s Hospital say that the most common dog breed they see that
has bitten a child is a lab mix. Community programs are the answer, not breed bans.
Dec. 15, 2010 Meeting
State News Summary
Monica Hardy, Executive Director, Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN),
ed@thln.org:
The Large-Scale Commercial Breeder Bill has been submitted to Legislative Council in
preparation for officially filing it for the 2011 session which begins January 11.
THLN has been working closely with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
(TVMA) and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in advance of
the session, to come up with a bill that can hopefully pass this time. The TVMA killed a similar bill (HB 3180) in the 2009 session, and the TDLR will be the state agency through which the licensing program will be administered.
The 2011 bill will require any dog or cat breeding facility with 11 or more intact
females, where the intent is to sell the puppies/kittens, to undergo an initial inspection to become licensed, and then an annual inspection after that. Minimum standards of care will have to be demonstrated for licensing, such as adequate water, exercise, nutritious food, and veterinary care.
Facility inspection will be by the TDLR or by third party inspectors contracted through the TDLR. "Third party inspector” means any of the following with whom the
department has contracted to enforce or assist with the enforcement of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter, including inspections and investigations: (A)another state agency; (B) a local law enforcement agency or fire department; (C) a local animal control agency; or (D) an employee of any of the above-named agencies. All the details on exactly how the program will operate will be hammered out in the rulemaking process which will occur after the bill passes.
Another aspect of the bill is that it will require facilities with more than 50 intact females
to obtain a special approval waiver and demonstrate that they have sufficient staff to
adequately take care of the numbers of animals present.
The 2009 version of the bill included a lemon law provision, which would have provided
a way for consumers to recoup medical expenses in the case of a sick animal. The 2011
bill has dropped that provision.
THLN has worked hard to get bipartisan support for the bill. Both the Republican and
Democratic Party Platforms now have language specifically in support of animal welfare
and the prevention of animal cruelty. The House sponsor for the bill is Rep. Senfronia
Thompson, same as 2009. We are still working on a Senate sponsor.
Page 2 of 3
Two important things that everyone can do to support pro-animal protection bills: Attend
committee hearings on the bills when they occur during the session. THLN will send out
action alert emails letting everyone know when and where the hearings will be. The most
important thing when attending a hearing is to sign the card that you are in favor of the
pro-animal protection bill or you are against a bill that would weaken animal protection.
You do not need to stay for the entire hearing. Secondly, something everyone can do
RIGHT NOW is to meet with your state senator and state representative before the
session begins. They’ll have more time to listen to you and will be more likely to
remember you when animal welfare bills start coming up for a vote. If you can’t meet
with them, please at least start emailing or calling.
THLN is in the process of organizing a Lobby Day to be held in mid or late February.
Patt Nordyke, Executive Director, Texas Federation of Animal Care Societies (TFACS),
pnordyke@austin.rr.com:
TFACS is working on two bills: Pets in Protective Orders, and Spay/Neuter (S/N). This
will be the third attempt for the Pets in Protective Orders bill. In the last (2009) session,
there were 131 House votes and 27 Senate votes in favor of it so clearly it should have
passed, but unfortunately it fell victim to some last-minute session shenanigans and
didn’t quite make it.
The Pets in Protective Orders bill seeks to have pets included in domestic violence
protective orders. Sometimes the abused person in a household will not leave for fear
that the companion animal(s) left behind will then be abused. This bill seeks to remedy
this situation.
The S/N bill is not a “mandatory” s/n bill because anyone can keep their animals intact by
paying a $50/yr annual licensing fee per intact animal.
Exemptions to the proposed bill include service animals; animals younger than six
months; purebred animals displayed at competitive exhibitions to determine physical
conformation to established breed standards; animals used for lawful hunting by owners
holding valid Texas hunting licenses; and animals certified by veterinarians for health
reasons.
Texas is the only state to include non-surgical sterilization in state law. This is probably
where we will be headed eventually.
Senator Seliger was the sponsor of the anti-tethering bill that TFACS tried to get passed
in 2009 (the bill didn’t make it). Unfortunately, Seliger is now the chairman of the
Redistricting Committee and will have no time to sponsor the bill again. Redistricting
and the state budget will both be hugely important in the 2011 session and will just
overwhelm a lot of things.
Page 3 of 3
Tara Stermer, Canine Aggression & Behavior Specialist, Training by Tara,
thepacktrack@gmail.com:
There is breed ban legislation in the works. Breed bans absolutely do not work.
Education is the key. People mistakenly think breed bans are needed because of isolated
cases they hear about that involve chained, unsocialized dogs. There was a recent
incident in Tyler, Tx where a 2 year old child was killed when he wandered too near a
chained dog in his grandfather’s yard. There were 29 other chained dogs on the property.
Cynthia Kent, a former Smith County judge, is proposing the legislation. The Tyler
newspaper seems to be driving the whole thing.
Hopefully the fiscal note that would have to accompany any breed ban bill (fiscal notes
are required for all bills) will reflect that it will be prohibitively expensive to carry out. A
Best Friends enforcement estimate for such a bill is $31M for the entire state or $1M for
Travis County alone.
Denver is the only place where there is a widespread breed ban. Any dog whose
appearance remotely reminds an officer of the pit bull breed or a mix of that breed (either
correctly or incorrectly) can automatically be deemed a pit bull by the police and seized
and euthanized. Bully breed ID is visual only and is virtually impossible to do correctly.
“Pit bull” is actually a group of dogs. AKC recognizes American Staffordshire Terriers
and Bull Staffordshire Terriers, but does not recognize Pit Bull Terriers as a breed.
One version of the bill involves a 3rd degree felony for owning a “pit bull”. Another
version says that a pit bull owner would have to erect an 8 foot fence, with 2 feet buried
underground.
There is a petition against breed-specific/breed-discriminatory legislation at the bottom of
the Love-A-Bull home web page at http://love-a-bull.org/. The website also lists other
actions that people can take to fight BSL.
Employees at Dell Children’s Hospital say that the most common dog breed they see that
has bitten a child is a lab mix. Community programs are the answer, not breed bans.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Austin Chronicle coverage of Abigail Smith "Meet and Greet"
Fit To No-Kill?
BY JOSH ROSENBLATT
Austin Chronicle
On Tuesday, the fifth and final candidate for the city's chief animal services officer position, Abigail Smith, faced the firing squad that is the Austin animal-rights community and lived to tell the tale. It probably helped that Smith has nearly four years' experience running a "no-kill" animal shelter. Remember, in March, animal rights activists convinced City Council to approve an ordinance making Austin a no-kill city and directing staff to figure out how to make that happen by September 2011. Asked on Tuesday how she would manage the task if she were shelter director, Smith said she'd do exactly what she's done at the Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, N.Y., since 2007 – improve programming for volunteers, foster-homes, off-site adoptions, and spay/neuter surgeries – but on a larger scale. Make that a much larger scale, actually: At last count, Tompkins County had a population of 102,000. Austin? Nearly 800,000. In 2009, the Town Lake Animal Center took in about 23,000 animals. Tompkins? Just shy of 3,000. In other words, if Smith does get the job, she's going to have to shake off some of her small-town sensibilities in order to survive. In her closing statement Tuesday, Smith displayed the slightest hint of provincial naivete, saying that she was hoping to convince the various animal groups in Austin to "work together" in a "coordinated, collaborated effort" to reach the city's no-kill goals. Anyone who has paid attention to animal issues these last few years knows that fulfilling such a wish will probably take a Christmas miracle. Assistant City Manager Bert Lumbreras is expected to make a recommendation to City Manager Marc Ott after reviewing the candidates' applications; no timeline is set for a final decision.
BY JOSH ROSENBLATT
Austin Chronicle
On Tuesday, the fifth and final candidate for the city's chief animal services officer position, Abigail Smith, faced the firing squad that is the Austin animal-rights community and lived to tell the tale. It probably helped that Smith has nearly four years' experience running a "no-kill" animal shelter. Remember, in March, animal rights activists convinced City Council to approve an ordinance making Austin a no-kill city and directing staff to figure out how to make that happen by September 2011. Asked on Tuesday how she would manage the task if she were shelter director, Smith said she'd do exactly what she's done at the Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, N.Y., since 2007 – improve programming for volunteers, foster-homes, off-site adoptions, and spay/neuter surgeries – but on a larger scale. Make that a much larger scale, actually: At last count, Tompkins County had a population of 102,000. Austin? Nearly 800,000. In 2009, the Town Lake Animal Center took in about 23,000 animals. Tompkins? Just shy of 3,000. In other words, if Smith does get the job, she's going to have to shake off some of her small-town sensibilities in order to survive. In her closing statement Tuesday, Smith displayed the slightest hint of provincial naivete, saying that she was hoping to convince the various animal groups in Austin to "work together" in a "coordinated, collaborated effort" to reach the city's no-kill goals. Anyone who has paid attention to animal issues these last few years knows that fulfilling such a wish will probably take a Christmas miracle. Assistant City Manager Bert Lumbreras is expected to make a recommendation to City Manager Marc Ott after reviewing the candidates' applications; no timeline is set for a final decision.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
November 3rd Public Awareness Committee Meeting Notes
Public Awareness Committee Meeting Notes
Wednesday, November 3rd
I Marketing
A. Discuss our progress in our marketing/branding campaign
Mosak Advertising and Insights www.mosak.com is working on marketing material for us. They are doing all the work pro bono. Mosak will also include an estimate on printing expenses.
Included in their work is a website, ad buy, tri fold brochures, and poster
B. Logo, Marketing Company, T-Shirts, Stickers, Postcards, Flyers, Website, Website address
We have a logo donated by an anonymous artist.
Piret has printed T-shirts with the logo.
Gina ordered post cards to hand out to the public at events as well as stores around Austin
Trish mentioned the great impact bumper stickers have. Committee will work on this
Website address is www.AustinNoKill.org . Committee discussed a link on TLAC’s website to this web address for more Public Awareness info as well as volunteer opportunities.
ACTION ITEM # 2 – Meghan Turner suggested that the No Kill logo would be on TLAC’s home page and would link to a portal page that would then link to other pages. Ms. Fraga said she has to check about the logo. Piret Sari-Tate agreed to send the logo electronically to Ms. Fraga who will check on whether it can be approved to be on home page.
II Funds
A. Our funds are $0
B. Donations fund request plan
C. Friends of TLAC/Umbrella non-profit group
Committee members have been using their own funds for printing and booth expenses.
ACTION ITEM #1: We agreed to submit our work (marketing and public relations materials) to Patricia Fraga, City of Austin staff member liaison to committee for approval and use by the City. Ms. Fraga will compare to the city plan for use of $53,000 out of the General Fund and let us know if the two plans can be merged. If the $53,000 cannot be used, we can then discuss possible action regarding request for Donations Funds.
III Year of the Companion Animal
A. Proposal sent to AAC
Committee needs to work on the plan for Year of the Companion Animal.
Need a way to get earned media. We are looking at the declaration as a media splash to get attention and coverage for all Austin animal current events over the next year.
ACTION ITEM # 3: Brad Beam will research the council’s schedule for next year and bring a proposal to the AAC. We will plan the press conference for a “non-Council” Thursday. Ms. Fraga volunteered to research and plan the press conference.
IV Public Relations Society
A. Media Strategy, Press List, Press Releases, etc
B. Volunteers from PRSA?
Gina has contacted the Public Relations Society in an effort to obtain pro bono public relations work.
Main task will be to create a 24month calendar of events to create a campaign which coincides with national animal campaigns such as Spay/Neuter month, adopt a dog month, National Pit Bull Awareness Month
We will also invite members of Public Relations Society to join our Public Awareness Committee
V Public Events (pet related and other)
A. Volunteers to research events, booth costs, etc
Adette has agreed to research public events (pet related and non-pet related) to host public awareness booths. Examples include Farmers Markets and Pet Festivals around Austin. She will need volunteers to help with organizing and participating in these events.
Ms. Fraga asked if anyone might be interested in participating in Pet of the Week. Pat Valls-Trelles suggested Adette Quintana (who was at the meeting and agreed) as well as Tara Stermer who was not at the meeting. Ms. Fraga was interested in both.
VI Flyers at local establishments
A. Amy's Ice Cream has agreed to do this
B. others?
Members will contact local businesses for permission to display our flyers/postcards.
Wednesday, November 3rd
I Marketing
A. Discuss our progress in our marketing/branding campaign
Mosak Advertising and Insights www.mosak.com is working on marketing material for us. They are doing all the work pro bono. Mosak will also include an estimate on printing expenses.
Included in their work is a website, ad buy, tri fold brochures, and poster
B. Logo, Marketing Company, T-Shirts, Stickers, Postcards, Flyers, Website, Website address
We have a logo donated by an anonymous artist.
Piret has printed T-shirts with the logo.
Gina ordered post cards to hand out to the public at events as well as stores around Austin
Trish mentioned the great impact bumper stickers have. Committee will work on this
Website address is www.AustinNoKill.org . Committee discussed a link on TLAC’s website to this web address for more Public Awareness info as well as volunteer opportunities.
ACTION ITEM # 2 – Meghan Turner suggested that the No Kill logo would be on TLAC’s home page and would link to a portal page that would then link to other pages. Ms. Fraga said she has to check about the logo. Piret Sari-Tate agreed to send the logo electronically to Ms. Fraga who will check on whether it can be approved to be on home page.
II Funds
A. Our funds are $0
B. Donations fund request plan
C. Friends of TLAC/Umbrella non-profit group
Committee members have been using their own funds for printing and booth expenses.
ACTION ITEM #1: We agreed to submit our work (marketing and public relations materials) to Patricia Fraga, City of Austin staff member liaison to committee for approval and use by the City. Ms. Fraga will compare to the city plan for use of $53,000 out of the General Fund and let us know if the two plans can be merged. If the $53,000 cannot be used, we can then discuss possible action regarding request for Donations Funds.
III Year of the Companion Animal
A. Proposal sent to AAC
Committee needs to work on the plan for Year of the Companion Animal.
Need a way to get earned media. We are looking at the declaration as a media splash to get attention and coverage for all Austin animal current events over the next year.
ACTION ITEM # 3: Brad Beam will research the council’s schedule for next year and bring a proposal to the AAC. We will plan the press conference for a “non-Council” Thursday. Ms. Fraga volunteered to research and plan the press conference.
IV Public Relations Society
A. Media Strategy, Press List, Press Releases, etc
B. Volunteers from PRSA?
Gina has contacted the Public Relations Society in an effort to obtain pro bono public relations work.
Main task will be to create a 24month calendar of events to create a campaign which coincides with national animal campaigns such as Spay/Neuter month, adopt a dog month, National Pit Bull Awareness Month
We will also invite members of Public Relations Society to join our Public Awareness Committee
V Public Events (pet related and other)
A. Volunteers to research events, booth costs, etc
Adette has agreed to research public events (pet related and non-pet related) to host public awareness booths. Examples include Farmers Markets and Pet Festivals around Austin. She will need volunteers to help with organizing and participating in these events.
Ms. Fraga asked if anyone might be interested in participating in Pet of the Week. Pat Valls-Trelles suggested Adette Quintana (who was at the meeting and agreed) as well as Tara Stermer who was not at the meeting. Ms. Fraga was interested in both.
VI Flyers at local establishments
A. Amy's Ice Cream has agreed to do this
B. others?
Members will contact local businesses for permission to display our flyers/postcards.
Public Awareness Committee Report to AAC Nov. 10
Public Awareness Committee Report
November 10, 2010
The Committee had t-shirts made. We sold them at our booth on Pit Bull Awareness Day. At that event, we talked to many people about Austin’s more toward becoming a No-Kill city.
We have post cards that we will be handing out at events and leaving at local businesses. Amy’s Ice Cream has agreed to allow post cards/brochures in their stores. We are contacting other retail businesses, asking to leave materials in their establishments.
The committee secured the web address (URL) www.AustinNoKill.org. The Web site will consist only of a single page with the logo and four links: one to the adoption page of the TLAC web site, one to the foster page of the TLAC web site, one to the volunteer page of the TLAC web site and one to the donate page of the TLAC web site.
We presented the proposal to have the Mayor and City Council declare that 2011 is The Year of The Companion Animal. We plan to have a press conference shortly after Jan. 1 to publicize this declaration.
The committee secured the pro bono service of MOSAK Marketing. The company will develop a marketing plan, design brochures and print advertisements. They have offered to design a web site. They will also investigate the potential for donated space for print advertising.
We will have a booth at the “Day of Action” event at the Austin Pets Alive shelter on Nov. 20. We will sell t-shirts, distribute marketing materials and talk to people about the move toward No-Kill.
The committee is researching having booths at other events, expanding beyond events that are dog-centered.
Amy’s Ice Cream has agreed to allow brochures in their stores. We are contacting other retail businesses, asking to leave brochures in their establishments.
Efforts to recruit Committees members with professional backgrounds in marketing, advertising and public relations continue. The Austin chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has agreed to ask their membership
November 10, 2010
The Committee had t-shirts made. We sold them at our booth on Pit Bull Awareness Day. At that event, we talked to many people about Austin’s more toward becoming a No-Kill city.
We have post cards that we will be handing out at events and leaving at local businesses. Amy’s Ice Cream has agreed to allow post cards/brochures in their stores. We are contacting other retail businesses, asking to leave materials in their establishments.
The committee secured the web address (URL) www.AustinNoKill.org. The Web site will consist only of a single page with the logo and four links: one to the adoption page of the TLAC web site, one to the foster page of the TLAC web site, one to the volunteer page of the TLAC web site and one to the donate page of the TLAC web site.
We presented the proposal to have the Mayor and City Council declare that 2011 is The Year of The Companion Animal. We plan to have a press conference shortly after Jan. 1 to publicize this declaration.
The committee secured the pro bono service of MOSAK Marketing. The company will develop a marketing plan, design brochures and print advertisements. They have offered to design a web site. They will also investigate the potential for donated space for print advertising.
We will have a booth at the “Day of Action” event at the Austin Pets Alive shelter on Nov. 20. We will sell t-shirts, distribute marketing materials and talk to people about the move toward No-Kill.
The committee is researching having booths at other events, expanding beyond events that are dog-centered.
Amy’s Ice Cream has agreed to allow brochures in their stores. We are contacting other retail businesses, asking to leave brochures in their establishments.
Efforts to recruit Committees members with professional backgrounds in marketing, advertising and public relations continue. The Austin chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has agreed to ask their membership
Agenda for Public Awareness Committee - Dec. 1 Meeting
DECEMBER PUBLIC AWARENESS MEETING AGENDA
I. Our Mission and Purpose
II. Portal Page and Website
A. Pet Finder
B. Update from Trisha
C. Committee Website
III. Year of the Companion Animal Update
IV. Marketing Material Update
V. Public Events Promotions
A. Healthy Pets Healthy People and Pit Bull Awareness Day
B. Radio Show Spot
C. Upcoming Pet Events/Non-Pet Events
VI. Public Awareness in Schools
VII. Flyers at local businesses
A. Need Volunteers to contact local businesses- template email and list
B. Need Volunteers to distribute flyers
Wed, Dec 1 in the Bull Pen @ City Hall. Free parking in parking structure. Be sure to bring your ticket inside for validation
I. Our Mission and Purpose
II. Portal Page and Website
A. Pet Finder
B. Update from Trisha
C. Committee Website
III. Year of the Companion Animal Update
IV. Marketing Material Update
V. Public Events Promotions
A. Healthy Pets Healthy People and Pit Bull Awareness Day
B. Radio Show Spot
C. Upcoming Pet Events/Non-Pet Events
VI. Public Awareness in Schools
VII. Flyers at local businesses
A. Need Volunteers to contact local businesses- template email and list
B. Need Volunteers to distribute flyers
Wed, Dec 1 in the Bull Pen @ City Hall. Free parking in parking structure. Be sure to bring your ticket inside for validation
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