Sep 05, 2023
Right now, Austin Pets Alive! has made the troublesome choice to supply a 30-day discover to finish our veterinary companies contract with Laredo Animal Care Companies (LACS).
After we started our partnership with LACS earlier this yr, on the request of the Laredo metropolis council and group, it was with the whole-hearted intention to assist meet town’s targets of offering medical care and practices that additional saved lives. Each vaccine given and illness prevented, medical therapy administered, surgical procedure carried out, and animal transported to a different rescue companion was completed to not solely fulfill our contractual obligations however as an ethical obligation to the pets being sheltered within the metropolis. We heard from group member after group member how a lot it meant to them that their metropolis shelter might turn into extra aligned with the phrase “shelter” — offering true security and care to pets which might be misplaced, displaced or deserted.
We’re very happy with the work we did alongside lots of the devoted LACS workers members. The final eight months have led to greater than 1,000 spay/neuter surgical procedures (an approx 400% improve from the earlier Veterinary vendor) and raised the feline dwell final result price to a historic excessive of over 70%. Canine and cats that have been as soon as euthanized for having one thing so simple as a chilly have been handled and lots of have already been adopted.
Sadly, we have been met with resistance from shelter management. Over the previous few months because the modifications required turned extra actual, and arduous, the targets of LACS shifted away from a lifesaving focus and again towards working at a decrease capability for care and lifesaving. This strategy signifies that 1000’s of animals who ought to dwell lengthy wholesome lives will proceed to die with the intention to meet a regressive aim. We can not in good conscience proceed working below such a drastic diversion from the unique targets town council laid out for us to observe.
It hurts our hearts to go away so many pets and folks behind however we imagine that we’ve no different alternative. Our true hope is that Laredoans noticed that life saving was doable and that they may demand the modifications essential to be a humane metropolis for beloved pets.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ellen Jefferson
President and CEO
Austin Pets Alive!
