Feb 26, 2024
A number of weeks in the past, we knowledgeable you in regards to the political happenings in Austin round animal welfare, specifically, across the metropolis looking for to cross a decision permitting the euthanization of canine with bites on their data. We need to hold you up to date on progress and present occasions on an ongoing foundation.
We’re comfortable that the decision was amended to supply a six month ready interval earlier than instantly taking motion; the canine with excessive bites on their data at present nonetheless have the chance to obtain rehabilitation. As we shared beforehand, a part of our opposition with this decision comes from inaccuracies in knowledge. We proceed to see knowledge points surrounding the knowledge popping out of Austin Animal Middle and so haven’t but constructed up belief that making choices to euthanize, with out letting companions see the knowledge first, won’t irresponsibly finish the lives of harmless canine. We are going to hold you knowledgeable on this as we get nearer to the 6 month timeline.
If the information isn’t precisely getting used inside 4 months, we may have your assist to ask for an extension or another type of intervention. To be extraordinarily clear: we don’t intend for canine who’re really harmful to be launched for adoption. We intend to make sure that if such a course of is employed, it’s used expertly ,precisely and responsibly.
There are three new main updates price sharing:
Audit Replace: The town of Austin’s Audit Suggestions for Animal Providers is being labored on by the town workers. I met with Assistant Metropolis Supervisor Hayden Howard who defined the method for compliance. The 2 areas that she is particularly engaged on are constructing relationships with companions and the strategic plan. She believes that each areas shall be in compliance by finish of the 12 months which supplies us hope. We don’t have particulars on how these points shall be resolved simply but.
Metropolis of Austin Companion Group Coalition: A coalition of organizations which are impacted essentially the most by Austin Animal Middle’s insurance policies and applications fashioned in 2023 to work on a shared imaginative and prescient for Austin’s animals and other people sooner or later. Our aim was to assist our metropolis leaders see the place Austin may very well be heading if we have been all pointed in the identical course. This was actually groundbreaking because it introduced collectively teams that usually work independently and even typically at odds for instance — APA!, Austin Humane Society and TRAPRS]. It additionally introduced collectively voices of neighborhood members who care about animals however aren’t a part of organizations by way of using surveys and public boards. Our 2024 plan for this group is to proceed the partnership to convey our neighborhood collectively even additional. Austin Pets Alive! will proceed to have its personal voice, as will all of the organizations represented, however there may be a lot that we will converse on collectively as properly to maintain enhancing our metropolis.
Animal Sheltering in Austin Survey: We requested the Austin neighborhood to provide us data on what they have been conscious of, what they wished to see occur in Austin and the way vital pets have been within the busy metropolis panorama. The survey closed February 16 and we are going to share tidbits from it over the following few weeks. This week, the piece that I feel is most attention-grabbing is the massive help our neighborhood has for animal points from all areas in Austin. We requested which council member district individuals lived in and have been shocked to see each district represented and nobody district being overrepresented.
And of the over 1,100 responses, it’s clear that the No Kill coverage is extraordinarily vital to the bulk. There are just a few who don’t consider it will be important however the overwhelming majority need it to remain.
As the town strikes into strategic planning for animal providers, it’s extra important than ever to advocate for what pets, and individuals who love them, want. Our metropolis has lengthy been a spot that has prided itself on going above and past for pets. We’re dedicated to serving to to maintain it that approach.
