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Austin Pets Alive!

Supporting the Goal of a No-Kill Millennium

The Draft No-Kill Millennium Comprehensive Plan

Since the Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously passed resolutions in December 1997 making it the official goal of the City and the County to end the killing of adoptable animals at the Town Lake Animal Center (the City's animal control facility), their animal services staff and management have been working, in connection with Austin Pets Alive!, the Humane Society, Animal Trustees of Austin, and other animal welfare groups in Austin and Travis County, to develop a plan to achieve the City's and County's official goals.

This is the most current draft of that plan, as of March 25, 1998.

The plan was to have been presented to the City Council and the Commissioners Court before the end of March. It is now expected that it will be presented some time in April.

The City of Austin and Travis County strive to operate a public animal shelter where companion animals come to be saved, temporarily sheltered, and ultimately placed in loving, responsible homes, not to be destroyed.

In keeping with that goal, the first and foremost objective of the Austin/Travis County Animal Services Unit should be to save every adoptable companion animal that comes into their care and place it in or return it to a loving, responsible home. The Austin/Travis County Animal Services Unit should use every available resource, both internal and external, public and private, paid and volunteer, to accomplish this objective.

At the same time, it is acknowledged that, even under the best conditions, it is not possible or even desirable that every companion animal who enters the care of the Austin/Travis County Animal Services Unit be kept alive for as long as possible. Sometimes, using the best human judgment, the most merciful option seems to be to end an animal's life as quickly, painlessly, and peacefully as possible.

Nonetheless, in keeping with the primary objective of the Austin/Travis County Animal Services Unit to save as many animals as possible and to find them loving, responsible homes, the management of the Unit should develop and institute policies that inculcate and display the attitude that it is not the function of the Unit to destroy animals simply because they are unwanted and that when this is done at all, it is done out of unavoidable necessity and represents a failure of society and society's systems when it happens.

In fiscal year 97, nearly 19,000 animals were euthanized by the Animal Center. In roughly 50% of these cases, nothing would have prevented these animals from becoming family pets. They were in need of neither intensive veterinary medical care nor extensive behavioral rehabilitation. In December, 1997, the City and County Governments adopted resolutions that set a goal of ending the practice of killing such adoptable animals. These resolutions further instructed staff to prepare a specific plan to meet this goal by 2000 or 2002, Travis County and City of Austin, respectively.

Only modest increases in the total number of animals received by the Animal Services Unit have been experienced over the last several years and there is little to suggest that the ensuing years will change substantially. We project that, in the absence of any policy or procedural changes, the total number of animals handled by the Center would remain roughly at 30,000 (27,245 in FY 97) with around 20% being surrendered by owners. The majority of the remaining 80% are classified as strays.

For planning purposes, eliminating the euthanasia of "adoptable" animals would represent a decrease in the overall euthanasia rate from over 70% to about 35% (reducing the absolute number of euthanasias from 21,000 to 10,500 against a projected total intake of 30,000).

The initiatives delineated below can be broadly categorized into 3 general areas:

Activities that would decrease the number of surplus animals in Austin and Travis County and would therefore reduce the number entering the animal shelter. These activities are directed toward minimizing the circumstances under which pets are abandoned or surrendered to the Animal Center and reducing the total number of vulnerable animals by encouraging sterilizing and providing access to low-cost spay/neuter facilities.

Increasing the ability to deal with the large numbers of animals that inevitably enter the Animal Center until suitable homes may be found. This category includes increasing the speed and reliability with which animals who have become strays by misadventure may be returned to their owners.

Activities that increase the probability that animals will be placed in suitable homes by advertising the availability of animals for adoption, instituting off-site adoptions, and streamlining adoption procedures. An important aspect of this portion of the plan is the commitment of the Humane Society to accept increasing numbers of animals from the Animal Center over the five years during which the plan is to be implemented and guaranteeing their adoption.

Where possible, the plan emphasizes volunteer help, cooperation with already existing or pledged community resources, and private sector donations.

Introduction written by Dr. Pat Randall, Chair, Animal Advisory Commission

Reasonably healthy means an animal that needs only routine veterinary treatment, such as vaccinations, sterilization, testing, and parasite prevention.

Whether an animal is reasonably well adjusted is, as a matter of necessity, a subjective judgment. The following are guidelines which should be used in determining whether an animal is reasonably well adjusted:

- The determination should be made based on exhibited or prior-owner-reported behavior, not speculation.
- When evaluating exhibited behavior, consideration should be given to the fact that the animal is in unusual, frightening conditions during the period of examination.
- An animal is not reasonably well adjusted if it exhibits behavior that is dangerous to humans. However, normal undisciplined behavior that may expected from an animal of that species should not be considered to be dangerous to humans.
- An animal does not have to exhibit perfect behavior to be considered reasonably well adjusted. In particular, if an animal exhibits undesirable behavior that is commonly or routinely exhibited by animals, that animal may still be considered reasonably well adjusted.
- An animal that exhibits undesirable behavior for which there are standard accepted, and/or easily applied techniques for correction may still be considered to be dangerous to humans.

A determination that an animal is not reasonably well adjusted does not mean that the animal will automatically be destroyed. Animals which are not reasonably well adjusted will still be saved, when reasonably possible to do so, either through the efforts of Animal Center staff or volunteers or through intervention by outside agencies, such as rescue groups. A determination that an animal is not reasonably well adjusted only means that it is not adoptable in its current condition and, therefore, not a subject of this plan.

TREATABLE ANIMALS: Animals that are less than 8 weeks of age, but greater than 4 weeks; have a treatable illness, e.g., heartworm disease, upper respiratory infection, kennel cough, mange, or ringworm; are malnourished; or are special needs animals with traumatic injuries that cage rest will cure and/or funds and foster houses are available to treat; and animals with minor geriatric health problems.

NONREHABILITATABLE ANIMALS: These are animals for whom euthanasia is the only option, such as dogs and cats suffering from painful, incurable illness or injuries, aggressive behaviors that pose a threat to public safety, or animals who may not be released due to legal restrictions.

OBJECTIVES (Desired Community Impacts)

Reduce the number of animals surrendered to the Center by their owners
Current: 5,028 Year 1: By 233 Year 5: By 1,164

Reduce the number of strays brought to the Center
Current: 20,313 Year 1: By 1,111 Year 5: By 5,556

STRATEGIES

I. Make it easier to keep pets

• Provide free education on animal behavior problems, with appropriate concentration on cats

Broadcast programs

Public channels
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Monthly specials on one or the other of the channels
Year 5: A weekly program on both city and county channels
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Travis County media department, and Humane Society

Private channels
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: 2 programs a year on radio station
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society

Classes

Live
Current: Occasional class for staff
Year 1: Monthly behavior classes for public
Year 5: Weekly behavior classes for public
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society, and Animal Center (Humane Educator, Volunteer Coordinator & other staff)

Videotaped
Current: None
Year 1: 2 completed videotapes on different topics, copies available for cost of cassette, 556 copies distributed
Year 5: 10 completed videotapes on different topics, 5,560 free copies distributed
Resources: Austin Pets Alive and the City and County media departments

• Advertise and operate a telephone hotline for owners of pets with behavior problems

• Educate landlords on how to make their property "pets okay" and on the advantage of sterilized pets in rental property.

Written materials
Current: State rabies handbooks/flyers
Year 1: 278 distributed handbooks
Year 5: 2,780 distributed handbooks
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Animal Advisory Commission

• Advertise "pet friendly" housing

• Create more leash-free parks

• Create fully fenced neighborhood "dog parks" in proximity to high density apartment or town home property

• Allow pets to be taken on public transportation

• Provide temporary free or low cost pet food/supplies to owners who qualify for public assistance if their pet is sterilized or they will sterilize the pet

• Include deliveries of pet food with "Meals on Wheels" deliveries

2. Educate on the problem of pet overpopulation, the tragedy of the fate of abandoned pets, and the need for sterilization and to make it socially unacceptable to "back-yard" breed or to abandon a pet

• Have a humane educator at the Center to concentrate entirely on public education

• Use existing public service announcements and broadcast them on county and city television channels and internal University of Texas and Austin Community College channels

• Use county and city media resources to make new public service announcements.

• Broadcast public service announcements on private television and radio stations

• Use the county and city web sites
  

Have specific pages of the sites devoted to the problem of pet overpopulation and the need to sterilize pets
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Complete and update semi-annually
Resources: City and County webmasters, Austin Pets Alive, Austin/Travis County Animal Center

Include links on the sites to other sites devoted to pet overpopulation and the need to sterilize pets
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Complete and update monthly
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County webmasters

• Publish advertisements in print media

• Use flyers
  

Include flyers in the bulk mailings of other governments
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Include a flyer in the bulk mailings of every other city government in Travis County starting in July
Year 5: Include flyer in the bulk mailings of every other government in Travis County
Resources: Austin Pets Alive and other governmental bodies

Include flyers in the bulk mailings of private businesses
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Include a flyer in the bulk mailings of at least one major business in Austin
Year 5: Include a flyer in the bulk mailings of at least 5 major businesses in Austin
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Feral Connection (in Year 5)

Distribute flyers at special events
Current: Only distributed at animal events
Year 1: 2,000 flyers distributed
Year 5: 10,000 flyers distributed
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Feral Connection (in Year 5)

Distribute flyers to selected business establishments
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: 5,000 flyers distributed
Year 5: 25,000 flyers distributed
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Feral Connection (in Year 5)

• Use billboards

• Use pre-movie slide advertising

At any gathering likely to have pet owners, such as pet parades, dog and cat shows
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Offer classes at at least one such gathering
Year 5: Offer classes at all such gatherings
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society

At animal related retail enterprises, such as pet food stores
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Offer monthly classes at at least one such location
Year 5: Offer monthly classes at at least five such locations
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society, Feral Connection

Civic groups
Current: Animal Center provides classes as requested
Year 1: No Goal
Year 5: Offer classes to all requesting groups
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society, Animal Center Humane Educator, Volunteer Coordinator and other staff, Feral Connection

4. Encourage sterilization of pets

• Sterilize animals at adoption or rescue, either at on-site or off-site facilities.

• Offer free or reduced-rate sterilizations for owned animals
  

• Offer free transportation to locations of free or reduced-rate sterilizations

• Pay owners to sterilize their pets

• Give Feral Colony manager free cat food whenever a feral cat is sterilized

• Free or reduced-rate pet food for owners of sterilized animals

• Free or reduced-rate products of other kinds for owners of sterilized animals

• Advertise on the necessity/benefits of the pet registration program.

• Require veterinarians to register any pet they vaccinate for rabies

• Strengthen enforcement of the City of Austin Leash Law

• Mandatory sterilization of animals processed through the Center on third impoundment: (Proposed by Animal Advisory Commission: $55.00 impoundment fee plus mandatory sterilization; unless medical waiver is provided or $250.00 impoundment fee)

• Enact/implement impoundment fee differential for fertile animals: (Proposed by the Animal Advisory Commission: Differential impoundment fee for unsterilized animals)

OBJECTIVES (Desired Community Impacts)

Increase returns to owners
Current: 3,506 Year 1: by 240 Year 5: by 1,200

STRATEGIES

1. Increase the staff available to assist citizens and research ownership and make contacts to look for owners.
Current: Volunteer
Year 1: 40 hours a week of volunteer time plus reclaim staff
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Animal Center Volunteer Coordinator and other staff

2. Decrease the average time required to locate owners and improve identification options
Current: Data not available
Year 1: 2 days
Year 5: 1 day
Resources: City and County budgets, Animal Center, Volunteer Coordinator

• Offer free or reduced-rate microchip with pet registration

• Microchip all animals leaving the Animal Center

3. Advertise strays

Radio
Current: Rarely
Year 1: No goal
Year 5: One PSA each week during drive time
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, city and county media services departments

Public TV
Current: Not currently done
Year 1: Include an announcement in the announcements scroll list advising those who have lost a pet to look for the pet at the Animal Center, giving directions to the Center, and explaining the holding periods for strays and the potential disposition of the strays after the holding period.
Resources: City and County media services departments, Austin/Travis County Animal Services Unit staff, U.T. and A.C.C. media services departments

Private TV
Current: Not currently done
Year 1: No goal
Year 5: One PSA each week explaining where to look for your lost pet
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County media services departments

Internet
Current: Not currently done
Year 1: Post a list of strays on City and County sites and update daily
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County media services departments, Austin/Travis County Animal Center staff

Notices in the neighborhood where the animal was found
Current: Leave door hangers on residence of possible pet owner
Year 1: Leave a notice in a public place at the location of each stray pick-up when possible
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Animal Control Officers

OBJECTIVES (Desired Community Impacts)

Increase transfers to the Humane Society
Current: 0 Year 1: by 500 Year 5: By 2,500

Increase adoptions from the Center
Current: 2,265 Year 1: By 500 Year 5: By 2,645

Increase transfers to other agencies
Current: 20 Year 1: By 350 Year 5: By 600

STRATEGIES
1. Increase the number of animals which can be held

• Establish a foster care program specifically for highly adoptable animals held by the Animal Center

• Obtain or create a location to house adoptable cats temporarily during the peak season (May through October)

• Obtain or create a location to house dogs temporarily during the peak season (May through October)
  

At the State Jail
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: No goal
Year 5: 50 capacity
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Wackenhut Corrections Corporation, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

2. Increase staff to facilitate cleaning and maintenance, to assist with returning animals to their owners, and to allow adopters to preview animals in stray area.
Current: 12, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Year 1: Add 8 paid staff (This will return this staffing level to 1994/1995 levels)
Resources: City and County budgets

3. Add Animal Services Unit Volunteer Coordinator to concentrate on leveraging available resources for pet placement.
Current: Volunteer
Year 2-5: Add 1 paid staff Volunteer Coordinator
Resources: City and County budgets

4. Offer animals for adoption sooner
Streamline the evaluation process

Paid city staff
Current: Currently five paid staff
Year 1: Add 1 paid staff
Year 2-5: Add 4 additional paid staff
Resources: City and County budgets

Volunteers
Current: 25 volunteers
Year 1: 50 volunteers
Year 2-5: Add Volunteer Coordinator, 75 volunteers
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, Animal Center Volunteer Coordinator

5. Get animals adopted faster

• Advertise the availability of pets in general, the need to find homes for pets at the Center, and the availability of specific pets.
  

Radio
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Donated pet of the week advertisement during drive time
Year 5: Donated pet of the day advertisement during morning and evening drive time every day
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County media services departments

Public TV
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Pet of the week PSA run each day on city and county, list of pets available for adoption included in scrolls on city and county
Resources: City and County media services departments, Animal Center
Unit staff, Austin Pets Alive volunteers

Private TV
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Pet of the week featured on the nightly news on one local television station
Year 5: Different animal featured in a pet of the week spot on the nightly news each week on each local television station
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County media services departments

Internet
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: Pet of the week page on County and City sites, list of animals available on each site, updated daily
Resources: Austin Pets Alive, City and County media services departments, Austin/Travis
County Animal Center Staff Volunteer Coordinator, Humane Educator and other staff

• Take animals to locations of potential adopters and accept the applications there
  

Malls and other high volume retail centers
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: 10 animals a month
Year 5: 10 animals a week
Resources: Austin Pets Alive

• "Town Lake Dog Walkers" program

• Allow potential adopters to view and select animals not yet identified as candidates for adoption (currently the animals held in the stray runs or the stray castle)

• Sterilize all animals as soon as they are identified as adoptable, when feasible

• Complete any required third-party verification of vaccination, pet registration, or veterinary care of pets already owned by applicant for adoption faster

• Increase the number of staff available to process adoptions

• Increase the number of hours the Center is open for adoptions

• Increase the motivation to apply (All the advertising and business outreach ideas in the Prevention section)
  

Offer a discount to City and County employees
Current: Not currently being done
Year 1: 10%
Year 5: 10%
Resources: City Council

• Increase the qualifications of applicants by providing Responsible Pet Owner Classes if adoption application is denied
  

7. Transfer animals to other Animal Control/Animal Welfare agencies for Adoption/Rescue

• Establish an adoption transfer program with the Humane Society/SPCA of Austin/Travis County

• Establish an adoption transfer program with other local/state Animal Control/Animal Welfare agencies

• Use a "rescue coordinator" to identify potentially rescueable animals

• Contact breed rescue groups immediately when an animal of their breed is received by the Unit

• Assist rescue groups in qualifying and remaining qualified to rescue animals from the Unit

• Facilitate the removal of rescue animals and transportation to the

The volunteers of Austin Pets Alive! have organized themselves into nine committees: Business Outreach, Communications, Education, Facilities Expansion, Financial Support, Political, Professional Outreach, Rescue Coordination, and TLAC Volunteers. To learn more about any of these committees, visit the Austin Pets Alive! Committees page at The Wolf's Eye on the World Wide Web at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9173/apacommittees.html.

If you would like to be part of this effort to stop the killing of adoptable companion animals as a method for dealing with pet overpopulation, please visit the How to Join Austin Pets Alive! page at The Wolf's Eye on the World Wide Web at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9173/apajoin.html or contact Judith Ann Ford, of Austin Pets Alive!, either by e-mail at anmllvrs@hotmail.com, by telephone at (512)837-5113, by fax at (512)458-6461 (Box #198), or by mail to Austin Pets Alive!, 8760-A Research Blvd. #198, Austin, Texas 78758-6240.

To learn more about this or other animal rescue issues, visit The Wolf's Eye on the World Wide Web at http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9173.

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