Jan 26, 2024
Final yr was extraordinarily difficult for animal shelters within the US, and Austin was no exception. The Austin of yesteryear discovered super pleasure in main the nation in No Kill throughout a time when shelters struggled probably the most to avoid wasting the lives of even half of the pets who entered their care. On this new period of humane struggles, the place pets are assured to not be killed whereas different pets are left on the streets, some residing in crates for too lengthy, and folks wrestle to maintain their pets with out assist, our metropolis should take the lead in progressive, lifesaving options. Austin Pets Alive! has been comparatively quiet about these points on public platforms as we watch for the much-needed shelter audit to bear fruit, and I remorse that alternative. APA! has been given a microphone for pets in our group during the last 15 years, and we have to assist be the voice of animals in want each publicly and behind the scenes.
No Kill is a lot greater than a metric. No Kill signifies that pets are handled as people and that the group is welcome into each a part of the shelter, together with, and particularly, with the ability to assist with each single choice that may finish a pet’s life. No Kill means a profound departure from operations that deal with pets as in the event that they haven’t any ethical worth or each pet is similar. It signifies that we, as a group, consider that our pets are members of the family and, even when separated from the household, or penniless, needs to be handled as such.
We all know and intimately perceive the challenges that our metropolis is dealing with. Nonetheless, if we wish to reside in a metropolis that not solely values progress and being one of the best, however demonstrates it, we now have to collectively voice that. I need you to know that, though we now have been quiet, we’re paying consideration. We’re advocating, via conferences with metropolis employees and council places of work, that our metropolis commit and act on reaching No Kill, public security, humane care contained in the shelter and group assist suddenly. We all know it’s potential.
Austin turned the mannequin metropolis for No Kill as a result of we had tough conversations and opened the curtains broad to the problems town shelter confronted. They weren’t insurmountable, clearly as a result of we’re a No Kill metropolis now, however they felt that method on the time. We have to convey individuals collectively to repair the issues our metropolis faces in order that one of the best options can floor. True No Kill is constructed on transparency with the general public and accountability to do what is true.
As we rapidly transfer into 2024, a major focus of all of us needs to be on championing Austin to be the most secure place within the US for pets.
Please think about taking this brief survey to assist us type the following steps.
I’ll resurrect a slogan from 15 years in the past. Austin, we are able to do higher.
Dr. Ellen Jefferson
President and CEO, Austin Pets Alive!
