On Friday May 27th, my friend and APA advocate Courtney Griffin was killed in a hit and run accident. She was walking home from a friend's house who lived a few blocks away from her apartment in Tarrytown.
One of the most amazing things about her was her history in Austin. She was a multi-generational Austinite and since I was a military brat and lover of Austin, I was mesmerized by that. Her grandfather was born on the last Travis County dairy farm that delivered fresh milk. I believe it was in Tarrytown. She had 512 tattooed on her wrist just because she was so proud of her heritage in this city.
[/caption]
I have been asked a lot over the past few days about how people can contribute in her honor to APA. A few friends and family members have decided to create Courtney's Fund. Austin Pets Alive saves over 95% of the critically ill and injured animals that come into Town Lake Animal Center. She was part of the team that made that possible. Courtney's Fund will help save the ones that are most in need. We will also commemorate her spirit at our new Tarrytown Cat Adoption Center with a plaque. We hope to use the space in a way that will encourage kids to spend time with animals by hosting birthday parties and scout activities there. Courtney would have liked connecting the dots of kids to pets to Tarrytown. I am honored that her family would like to have her permanently identified with Austin Pets Alive and as much as I miss her actually being here, I look forward to a picture on the wall of her smiling down on us as we continue making Austin a No Kill City.
