The Town Lake Animal Shelter was supposed to become a "no kill" facility by 2002 -- that didn't happen.
Now, a new resolution being heard by the Austin City Council on Thursday would have City Manager Marc Ott work with the Austin Animal Advisory Commission.
The goal is to find new policies and procedures to drastically reduce the number of healthy dogs and cats killed at the shelter.
According to the commission, many strays picked up by the city are put down after three days -- animals given up by their owners may be euthanized immediately.
Scores of puppies and kittens with minor health concerns are also put to sleep.
Close to 10,000 animals were put to sleep at the shelter in 2008.
One recommendation would be to establish a comprehensive adoption program -- for example, having locations throughout the city and county staffed seven days a week.
The commission also recommends ending the option of killing healthy and non-aggressive animals while cages and kennels go unused.
Commission members also want the city to create a large scale volunteer foster program -- the goal being as more dogs are put in foster care, shelter capacity would increase.
The council resolution directs the City Manager's Office to present a plan to save more animals at the shelter by March 2010.
lanac said on November 3, 2009 at 9:53 PM
You can not have a "no kill shelter" in the absence of a kill shelter. If Town Lake moves to a "no kill" - that sounds great - but where will the new "kill" shelter be? You can increase foster care exponentially, and increase capacity 10 fold within the shelter, but people will STILL breed unwanted puppies, and will give up an 8 year old chow/shepherd mix who is testy around strangers, and STILL, hundreds of darling little baby kittens will be born that no one wants. The shelter and the shelter policies aren't the problem. It's the population that continues to treat animals like furniture that's the problem.
borninmemphis said on November 4, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Boy, what a one-sided story. Why didn't you talk to the shelter director and get the real facts. Where's all the money going to come from for adoption offices all over town? The City has a freeze on hiring and there's no money to pay for all the recommendations being made by these uninformed people.
honest said on November 4, 2009 at 8:20 PM
If "no kill" were possible why hasn't it been achieved by now? This says a large volunteer program, why haven't these people/rescues stepped forward anyway? Because they want to "take over" and don't have a clue what it takes to run animal control. This isn't fun and games like these non profits think it is. I say they need to come forward now if they honestly think that this "no kill" works the way it has been presented to Austin. It can change overnight if they do. Where are they, sitting in the wings?? Why are they yelling so bad instead of just going ahead and doing the job? They have the power to change things, but all they do is complain, no action. And it will be the same if they get their way, the No Kill'ers cannot be satisfied and neither will they own the consequences of "no kill" in the end. Look to Philly, look at Indy, look at Rancho Cucamonga, and then ask if this the route you want to take.