Dec 24, 2023
Zero is the type of younger, good-looking, playful canine who’s rapidly adopted in most shelters. He has a smile that’ll make YOU smile, too.
However all all through Texas, canines thought-about “extremely adoptable” elsewhere within the nation, find yourself on under-resourced shelters’ euthanasia lists — on a regular basis, and all of the extra so in a tremendously difficult 12 months like this one. And that’s what occurred to Zero.
Our group first met Zero throughout a web site go to at his shelter in late August — we had been there to vaccinate pets and discover different methods to help within the shelter’s lifesaving. This large canine was heartworm optimistic, however energetic and magnetically completely happy. After we returned to the shelter in November, Zero was nonetheless there — however wouldn’t be for lengthy. The shelter wanted kennel house, and Zero was on the euthanasia checklist. He’d been given only one hour left to dwell.
With no time to waste, our group sprung to motion, reaching out to our rescue companions to see if anybody had the capability to take him in — and a trusted associate in Chicago rapidly mentioned sure. However they couldn’t take Zero straight away. So Zero got here to Austin, and relaxed in an Austin Pets Alive! foster dwelling for 2 weeks earlier than we drove him north to security, in a van with 22 different pets.
We at all times want extra fosters to quickly absorb pets like Zero who’re awaiting their lifesaving freedom rides. Some transport pets want a foster for 2 weeks — others for as little as 24 hours. Get in contact at [email protected] to be taught extra!
Earlier than getting on the van, our Transport Group Supervisor Zoe Beriss informed Zero the place he was going, and what was happening. “I at all times give them reassuring phrases once they load up,” Zoe says. “I do know they won’t be capable of perceive me, however I attempt to allow them to know that they are protected they usually’re on their technique to their new houses.“
Zero is one in all over 2,500 pets whose lives had been saved due to our Transport Program in 2023 — up 100 pets over 2022. He’s one in all 6,000 pets we’ve saved since founding our program in 2021. We’ve been capable of save these valuable lives due to our APA! household’s help — we’ve been capable of save them, due to you.
Listed here are a few of our different 2023 accomplishments we’re so proud to share with you, our associate in lifesaving:
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This 12 months, we have a good time a milestone that could be very near my coronary heart — the fifteenth anniversary of Austin Pets Alive!’s Parvo Pet ICU, the primary initiative of its type within the nation. The story of the Parvo Pet ICU started with a easy, but radical thought: to show a bath right into a lifesaving station for puppies troubled with parvovirus. It developed right into a revolutionary program, saving over 1,000 puppies yearly. This initiative will not be solely reworking the destiny of numerous puppies in Central Texas however has additionally impressed shelters nationwide to undertake our lifesaving protocols. Reflecting on these 15 years, I am full of gratitude for the help and perception in our mission. Your continued help empowers us to redefine what’s doable in animal rescue and save extra lives every day.
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In 2023, Austin Pets Alive! proudly guided almost 12,000 animals by way of our shelter, contributing to a grand whole of 120,000 lives saved since our starting. Our influence extends past our shelter partitions, as we have offered essential help to under-resourced shelters, shared lifesaving information by way of our No Kill schooling initiative, and strengthened the bond between individuals and pets with our Human Animal Help Companies challenge. Every effort is a testomony to our dedication to saving probably the most at-risk animals and holding households collectively.
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We launched a brand new program to coach the following technology of animal welfare leaders. Austin Pets Alive! is among the very first animal shelters wherever to have social employees on employees. Our groundbreaking social work program is making the work of animal welfare extra sustainable — this 12 months, increasing the give attention to employees wellness with elevated trainings on compassion fatigue, disaster response, grief and loss, de-escalation, and different crucial subjects. In 2023, we additionally launched our model new Pet Friends program, a paid internship by way of which at-risk teenagers be taught the ins and outs of shelter administration, and achieve the required expertise and expertise to work in animal sheltering. We’re so proud that three lessons of Pet Friends interns have now participated on this essential program, in its very first 12 months!
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Right here’s a record-breaking accomplishment: This 12 months, we discovered loving houses for 36 unbelievable incontinent cats, shattering misconceptions about their care. Our group has labored tirelessly to dispel the parable that incontinent cats aren’t adoptable. We have proven that each cat is exclusive, and with the suitable routine and help, they will thrive in a loving dwelling. Our dedication to caring for probably the most at-risk populations, like incontinent cats, is unwavering. We’re excited to proceed this journey, saving much more cats and canines with the assistance of our wonderful supporters. This is to many extra profitable adoptions of fantastic and deserving animals! (gif of cat that walks on two legs with caption: Child Cheeks is a brilliant particular incontinent kitty! An damage paralyzed her hind limbs, and she or he developed wounds from dragging them round. Life’s been simpler for this lovebug after getting her again legs eliminated, and she or he carries herself to cuddles on her entrance limbs!
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We set the stage to deepen and develop our footprint in Austin! APA!’s mission is to save lots of pets all over the place — however our house is and at all times will likely be in Austin, and in 2023 we set down even deeper roots. Six years within the making, we now have a model new settlement with the Metropolis of Austin that permits us to maintain working out of our City Lake Animal Heart for at the very least the following 25 years. This settlement grants us two further 25-year extensions, so we now have the potential to function out of TLAC in some type for as much as 75 years. The settlement permits us to rebuild on the TLAC property, a large challenge we’ll undertake over the following 3-5 years. We’re additionally shifting ahead with plans to maneuver giant chunks of our operations, just like the medical heart and behavioral heart, off the property. These developments imply we are able to do much more lifesaving work collectively — and we’re past thrilled to be on our technique to APA! 2.0. Keep tuned for extra thrilling particulars in 2024!
Zero was adopted just some weeks after arriving in Chicago. In his adoption photograph, the one smile larger than Zero’s is his new dad’s.
These large smiles are due to you. On the holidays, and at all times, we’re so grateful to each single APA! supporter who makes tales like Zero’s doable.
Thanks from me and everybody at APA! for believing that each pet deserves the exact same probability at a fortunately ever after — and for standing by our aspect whereas we work to attain precisely that.
Ellen Jefferson, DVM
President and CEO, Austin Pets Alive!
P.S. Your reward is DOUBLED for those who donate right this moment, as much as $65,000. Don’t wait to make your year-end reward and have it matched for pets like Zero and Child Cheeks!
