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.
Monday, November 9, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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