Austin Pets Alive! Saves 3,227 Local Animals in 2010

Jan 01, 2011

Austin Pets Alive! Saves 3,227 Local Animals in 2010
Non-Profit Organization Enables Town Lake Animal Center to Have Best Year Ever

AUSTIN, January 1, 2011 – In light of the new year, Austin Pets Alive!, a non-profit dedicated to making Austin a “no-kill” city, is proud to announce their 2010 accomplishments, including saving over 3000 cats and dogs from Town Lake Animal Center’s euthanasia list. The year’s results prove the organization’s ability to increase number of lives saved, bringing the city as close as it has ever been to its no-kill goal.

APA’s quick growth has brought Austin to the forefront of the national no-kill movement. The volunteer-driven organization, with no city compensation or subsidization, is responsible for saving more than 6000 lives since it activated its rescue program in June 2008 – 5588 of those animals were pulled from the euthanasia list at Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC).

On top of the amount of animals they have been able to rescue, about 90 percent of the animals taken in by APA! are injured, ill, or traumatized and require extra medical attention or extra time to adjust to life outside the shelter setting. From dogs hit by cars to little 7 day old kittens, APA! tries to save each one.

"Most cities consider these animals ‘unadoptable’ because they have obstacles to clear before they are adopted, but with very little work they become highly adoptable and end up living healthy, happy lives in permanent homes. These ‘unadoptable’ pets are dying because, before APA! intervened, no one else could save them," said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Executive Director Austin Pets Alive! “APA! was instrumental in pursuing a no-kill plan for Austin, and will continue to lead the charge. As we do our critical work to save the “less than perfect” animals in 2011, we also will continue to hold the City accountable for the No Kill directive given by Council in March 2010. It is going to be a tough year but we remain optimistic that the City will reach it.”

The announcement of APA’s 2010 numbers shows the direct impact the organization has made in live outcomes from the city shelter over the last three years. APA! has asserted that the number would be the same as it was in 2001 and that Austin would be nowhere near its goal of no-kill without their tireless efforts. Additionally, Austin Pets Alive! has saved the city $1 million in taxpayer money by rescuing these animals.

“We stand for the wishes of Austin citizens that these animals should not die,” Dr Jefferson shared. “We listened to what the community wanted.”

Town Lake Animal Center’s number of live outcomes was not increasing, in the years before 2008, when Austin Pets Alive! got involved after listening to the community and agreeing that Austin could and should do better at saving the animals at the city shelter.

The ASPCA’S (American SPCA) web site states, “The Live Release Rate is a meaningful parameter to indicate a community’s progress toward improving outcomes for its animals... Live Release Rate is a formula that calculates the percent of animals that leave shelter facilities alive through adoption, return-to-owner, or transfer to a non-profit agency that can guarantee a home for all of the animals it receives from the transferring facility.”

With the city's goal of a 90% Live Release Rate, APA! is starting off the new year on the right foot by hosting a special adoption event at their Adoption and Resource Center on New Year’s Day. The event features “Name Your Own Price” adoption fees for animals six months and older, with a $25 adoption donation minimum. APA! hopes that Austinites looking to adopt an animal for a New Year’s resolution will take home one of the wonderful pets available. TLAC currently has a Live Release Rate of 72% of the animals who enter the shelter, up from 50% a few years ago before APA got involved.