TIME WARNER CABLE AND AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY PARTNER TO BOOST PET ADOPTION

New “Paws On Demand” Program Highlights Pets Looking for Their Forever Families

Time Warner Cable is ushering in the “dog days of summer” by teaming up with AHS to feature vignettes of adoptable dogs and cats from the shelter in an effort to help these homeless pets find permanent homes with loving owners. The one-minute clips of playful pooches and frisky felines can be found under the “Community” category on Time Warner Cable’s local on-demand channel, Central Texas on Demand (channel 1400 in the Austin/San Marcos viewing area and channel 200 in the Waco/Temple/Killeen viewing area.) Along with videos of each pet interacting with shelter volunteers, the clips feature helpful information on the pet’s disposition, likes and dislikes, and compatibility with other pets.

To kick off the new program, Time Warner Cable is donating $1 dollar to the Austin Humane Society for every view of Paws on Demand pets throughout the month of July, up to a total of $3,000. Viewers who can’t adopt a pet right now can still help a shelter dog or cat just by tuning in and viewing!

The pet videos can be viewed for free and as many times as digital customers want. The technology for Central Texas On Demand allows customers to watch local, original programming when it is convenient to them. Digital customers can rewind, play, fast-forward, stop and pause all On Demand programs.

Become a TLAC foster parent

Spring has sprung at Town Lake Animal Center and box load after box load of under age animals are coming through our doors everyday. We need more foster homes to help these tiny babies grow into healthy adoptable pets and we need YOUR HELP!!!

For more information about fostering, please visit http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/animal_services_pet_foster.htm and submit your foster application TODAY!!!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions!

Sarah Hammond
sarah.hammond@ci.austin.tx.us
TLAC Foster Coordinator
1156 W. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-972-6071
Fax: 512-972-6036

Become a Foster Parent for Austin’s Animals

A special meeting of the Public Health and Human Services Committee was held on March 4, 2010, with direction for the following to be included in the plan to take us one step close to being a No Kill city:

1. ~ proceed to develop a mission statement that incorporates the revised mission statement for animal services in the AAC recommendation, and including the 90% live outcome goal, into a broader mission that reflects the full scope of responsibilities associated with municipal animal services;
2. ~ plans for the Davenport Building remain as previously prescribed by Council but recommend that the current TLAC site be maintained for a period of six months after the new Animal Services Center is opened on Levander Loop, at which time staff will come back to Council with recommendation for any future use of the site;
3. ~ proceed with the plan to outsource the comprehensive adoption program at TLAC; and
4. ~ adopt the AAC recommendation to Council and impose an immediate moratorium on killing any animal (except for humane reasons or aggression validated by a behaviorist) when there are cages or kennels available.

The result of that meeting was a presentation at the March 11th City Council meeting to approve a resolution adopting the Recommendations for the Implementation Plan to Reduce Animal Intake and Increase Live Animal Outcomes, and authorizing the City Manager to initiate implementation to the City Council which resulted in a unanimous vote (7-0) in favor of moving Austin closer to the No Kill goal.

Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department’s Animal Services took in over 20,000 animals through TLAC last year. The recent steps by the  Austin City Council to bring us closer to the long term goal of No Kill means many shelters and rescue groups will very soon be at capacity, overwhelmed by the influx of animals as TLAC is under mandate to adopt rather than kill excess animals.

Many animals in the shelter don’t show their true personality because of the stress of being confined to a cage. These animals need your help to learn how to be a part of a loving family until they can be adopted out into a loving, permanent home. You will have the chance to not only make a positive impact on your foster pet’s life, you will be able to help determine your foster’s true personality to insure a good placement into a permanent home.

Each organization has their own requirements for becoming a foster parent/family to a needy pet. Generally, all animals in a foster home must have current rabies vaccinations. If the prospective foster parent rents,  permission from the landlord to have pets at the address is necessary.

You do not need any special training or skills to be a foster parent for homeless animals. Just a little room, a little extra time and a lot of love!

Here are a few pet foster programs in the Austin area to get you started:

• TLAC
• Austin Pets Alive
• Austin Humane Society
• Central Texas SPCA
• Humane Society of Williamson County
• Lifelong Friends (formerly Lago Vista PAWS)
• PAWS Shelter (Kyle, TX)
• SARA Sanctuary (Seguin, TX)
• Etosha Rescue (large breed dogs – Tina Rodriguez, Foster home coordinator)
• Austin Dog Alliance
• Austin Dog Rescue
• Blue Dog Rescue
• Pound Pups
• Forgotten Friends Mixed Breed Rescue
• From the Heart
• Lucky Mutts
• Pet Helpers
• Safe Haven Animal Rescue
• Small Chance Rescue
• Small Paws Rescue
• Wee Rescue (.doc download)
• Austin Boxer Rescue
• Central Texas Dachshund Rescue
• PAWS of Austin (Great Dane rescue)
• Lil’ Paws Maltese Rescue

Find out for yourself how rewarding fostering a pet can be by contacting one of these groups and get involved today!

Austin Animal Advisory Commission Update

At today’s meeting of the Public Health and Human Services Subcommittee (a subcommittee of the Austin City Council), City Staff presented a plan that would continue their recent progress at TLAC and increase the live release rate to 90% in the next two years. The plan included many excellent ideas that were supported by the Animal Advisory Commission, including expansion of prevention efforts, adding off-site adoptions, and changing the owner surrender policy to make it harder for people to abandon their pets at TLAC.

In addition to this, the Subcommittee also made some progress on the new shelter. Towards the end of the meeting, Subcommittee Chair Randi Shade took action to ensure the approval of the construction bids for the new shelter are added back to the Council’s agenda at the next available meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez agreed, and we anticipate that it will be added to the agenda for the March 11th Council Meeting.

We were very encouraged to hear Council Member Shade take this action. As we all know, the current shelter does not meet current standards for the humane housing of animals. The new shelter will be a major step forward for Austin’s animal welfare efforts.

Thanks to emanciPE+ for the update.

Tell your Petland sick puppy story on TV

Have you or someone you know recently purchased a puppy from Petland which turned out to have serious health problems? A major cable network is producing a television special about Petland and they are looking to interview people with Petland dogs that are currently having serious health problems.

If you or someone you know has a Petland puppy currently in poor health, please respond as soon as possible to the following e-mail:
puppytv@gmail.com

City of Austin Animal Advisory Commission Request for Input

The Animal Advisory Commission (AAC) and the City of Austin Health and Human Services Department Management are seeking input from community stakeholders regarding the AAC Recommendations to Council to reduce the killing of homeless animals, including but not limited to, policies and programs related to reducing the intake, and increasing the live outcomes of shelter animals.  The AAC invites all interested parties to present in person or submit a written response to this Request for Input.

This Request for Input is being sought strictly for the purpose of gaining knowledge to fulfill AAC Recommendations. Any input that does not directly apply to the AAC Recommendations will not be considered or presented. The request for input may be submitted in the form of either a suggestion/comment or a proposal using the attached guidelines. The AAC invites all interested parties to participate in this process. The following opportunities to participate are available…

1. The first 10 persons to sign up to provide suggestions or comments will have 3 minutes.
2. The first 10 individuals/organizations to sign up to present a proposal will have 6 minutes.
3. Written responses may also be submitted.

Should you choose to present a proposal, it should address the following…

1. Brief description of your proposal or solution.
2. What resources and/or expertise can you contribute to the solution that you are proposing?
3. What is your expected measurable impact and timeline?

So that City Staff and AAC Commissioners have time for review, we request that proposals be submitted 48 hours prior to the corresponding AAC meeting.  Proposals should be sent to the following email address: austinaac@gmail.com.

Please see the attached schedule designating the topics to be discussed. In compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, all agendas will be posted through the City Clerk’s office.

We appreciate your response to this request.

Larry Tucker
Chair, Animal Advisory Commission

AAC Recommendations Implementation Planning Topic List

Nov 23^rd:  Discussion and approval of Planning Process

Nov 30th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving

A: Revise Mission of Animal Services

Dec 7th: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes

A1:Offsite Adoptions

Dec 14th: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes
A2-6: Increased Capacity for Adoption

• make-ready, behavioral, empty kennel usage, Davenport building use after shelter move, and increased public awareness.

Dec 21st: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes
B: Large Scale Foster Program

Dec 28th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake
A: Reduce Euthanasia of Owned Animals

• Increased Return to Owners, Increased owner awareness of possible euthanasia, increased owner safety net services

Jan 4th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake
B: Reduce Feral Cat Euthanasia

• Increased feral cat spay/neuter, increased community care, and increased re-release rates

Jan 11^th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake

C: High Volume, Free and Low Cost Spay/Neuter

• Increased services available to the community

Jan 18^th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving
C: Public Involvement and Candor

• Increased Public Relations on all aspects of sheltering

Jan 25th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving
D: Explore Outsourcing Possibilities

• Increased community involvement to reduce costs and  increase lifesaving

Feb 1^st: Finalize draft of implementation plan.

Calling All Cats!

During the months of November, December, and January, all pet cats who live in the city of Austin East of I-35 will receive free spay/neuter surgery, free Rabies vaccination, and a free microchip when you book now at Emancipet’s clinic at 7201 Levander Loop. Appointments go fast so don’t miss out! Call 512-587-7729 or schedule online at www.emancipet.org.

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ALERT: 34 Cats Arrive at AHS Today … and They Need Your Help!

A sudden and unexpected influx of cats and kittens has left Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) without space to care for them. Currently 34 cats are being transferred to the Austin Humane Society (AHS) from TLAC to immediately enter their adoption program.

AHS has become the “go to” resource for animal emergencies in Austin. By taking in today’s group of cats, both TLAC and AHS are giving them a second chance and help prevent euthanasia at TLAC. These are perfectly healthy, perfectly loving cats who want nothing more than a home.

AHS is also the organization most frequently used by the Spay Austin TNR team for feral spay/neuter surgeries, and we appreciate the work they do everyday, not just in times of extraordinary circumstances like this. Please consider making a donation to the Austin Humane Society today so they can continue the important work they do for animals.

In light of today’s new arrivals, both the Austin Humane Society and Town Lake Animal Center are lowering their cat adoption fee to only $35 until November 22.

How Could You?

By Jim Willis 2001

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I “was bad,” you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” — but then you’d relent, and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a “dog person” — still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisoner of love.”

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch — because your touch was now so infrequent — and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness.

You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with “papers.”

You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!” And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked “How could you?”

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind — that this was all a bad dream … or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room.
A blissfully quiet room.

She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her.

The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself — a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

The End….

A note from the author…

If “How Could You?” brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly owned pets who die each year in American and Canadian animal shelters. Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a noncommercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice. Please use it to help educate, on websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious.

Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.

emanciPe+ clinic grand re-opening

emancipe+ has a brand new clinic space!

Join emancipe+ on Friday, October 2nd, from 5:30-7:30 for a grand opening happy hour in their new office and be one of the first to check out the amazing new spay/neuter clinic.  They are located on the same campus as the old clinic, just a few feet down the driveway at 7201 Levander Loop.  We hope to see you there!

Please RSVP to asha.thune@emancipet.org

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