Austin, TX. Getting to No Kill. from the perspective of Austin Pets Alive! Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director Austin Pets Alive!

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Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Austin, TX Getting t N Kill frm the perspective f Austin Pets Alive!

1 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Austin, TX Getting t N Kill frm the perspective f Austin Pets Alive! Ellen Jeffersn, DVM Executive Directr Austin Pets Alive! What did Austin Animal Welfare Lk Like in 2008 (utside the city shelter)? Had tried N Kill in Decreased euthanasia frm 85% t 50% 50% euthanasia rate was static since 2001 Massive Spay Neuter Effrts EmanciPET spay/neuter clinic: 16,000/yr Animal Trustees f Austin: 6,000/yr Austin Humane Sciety Feral Cat s/n: 1,000-5,000/yr Wellness Clinics Emancipet and ATA Free Micrchips One N Kill Shelter (AHS): 2,000 adptins per year 80+ rescue grups- unknwn # f adptins Chrnicle news What Happened t the N-Kill Millennium? Austin's plan t end whlesale euthanasia at Twn Lake shelter remains a distant dream BY RACHEL PROCTOR MAY, FRI., NOV. 18, 2005 Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

Ave intake 25,000 ~11,000 live utcmes Euthanasia fluctuated between 11,000 and 15,000 depending n

Intake Euthanized 30,000 25,000 23,960 24,807 25,489 24,357 27,163 24,663 20,000 15,000 12,466

2 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn What did Twn Lake Animal Center lk like frm ? Ave intake 25,000 ~11,000 live utcmes Euthanasia fluctuated between 11,000 and 15,000 depending n intake numbers 50 t 55% f intake 14,000+ in 2007 Austin Animal Center Year t Year Activity Live Intake Euthanized 30,000 25,000 23,960 24,807 25,489 24,357 27,163 24,663 20,000 15,000 12,466 14,304 14,055 10,000 12,887 12,343 10,916 5,000 0 FY 02/03 FY 03/04 FY 04/05 FY 05/06 FY 06/07 FY 07/08 Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

3 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Austin Animal Center Pet Ppulatin Snapsht % f cats killed 45% f dgs killed 14,055 ttal killed Why did we think saving them was pssible? AVMA Study New hmes- estimated 75,000 hmes get a pet under 1 year f age per year 25-30% f new pets cme frm shelter/rescue lts f rm fr imprvement Peple lve animals Pet industry was bming 2008 saw $40,000,000,000 spent n U.S. pets up frm $17,000,000, years befre The City had grwn tremendusly but live utcmes had nt changed in 7 years. Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

shelter peratins than I did in 1999 Inspired by cmmn sense that Austin culd d better (cntinued) It made sense t fcus wrk n Measurable

4 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Inspired by cmmn sense that Austin culd d better Nathan Wingrad 2-day cnference San Francisc in 1990 s Knew mre abut shelter peratins than I did in 1999 Inspired by cmmn sense that Austin culd d better (cntinued) It made sense t fcus wrk n Measurable Impacts Nt simply by measuring Inputs Spay/neuter desn t save the animals already at r entering the shelter. Martin Luther King Right thing t d Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

divert funds frm s/n Dn t dwell n the negativity N ne wants these animals because they are unadptable There must be cnsensus in animal welfare cmmunity that this is the

5 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn What was preventing it frm happening? Csts t much Can never raise the mney Irrespnsible If yu dn t already have the mney, shuldn t d it T many animals & nt enugh hmes Spay/Neuter is the nly answer Shuld nt divert funds frm s/n Dn t dwell n the negativity N ne wants these animals because they are unadptable There must be cnsensus in animal welfare cmmunity that this is the best verall mve Wh Were the Naysayers? Animal-welfare rganizatins City shelter management Nt the Cmmunity* Nt the City Gvernment *Guess which ne we spent ur time and energy n? Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

T make Austin a N Kill City Chse the Plan: Gain cnsensus fr lng term ambiguus plan Plitical cup d etat Save the lives urselves

This is an urgent crisis and we need t start acting like we did when Hurricane Katrina came ACT NOW t save lives Wh will jin us?

Divide and Cnquer the Missin with Cmmittees/Teams Recruited key members as leads Held Twn Hall Meeting t recruit wrkers # f

6 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Key Decisins that needed t be made What will ur missin be? T make Austin a N Kill City Chse the Plan: Gain cnsensus fr lng term ambiguus plan Plitical cup d etat Save the lives urselves Recgnized need fr a new entity t save lives- US! Wh will US be? Austin Pets Alive What is ur main message? This is an urgent crisis and we need t start acting like we did when Hurricane Katrina came ACT NOW t save lives Wh will jin us? Met with Key Austin Stakehlders Asked fr supprt Didn t ask twice fr help Hw will we accmplish ur Missin? Divide and Cnquer the Missin with Cmmittees/Teams Recruited key members as leads Held Twn Hall Meeting t recruit wrkers # f vlunteers is directly related t amunt f success Created Actin Items fr each team *Changed ver time Be Smart! Knw what yu need t have set up BEFORE yu start saving huge numbers f lives. Stay 100% fcused n the gal It tk us abut 30 days t start saving lives. Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

Vlunteer Fster Adptin Plitics Medical Austin Pets Alive!

7 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Teams have t all run at same speed Rescue Fundraising Adptin Marketing Vlunteer Fster Adptin Plitics Medical Austin Pets Alive! in 2008 Started rescue and adptin in 2008 N funding N facility All vlunteer Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

age, species, breed, reasn Where t start saving lives?

8 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Why was this mass euthanasia happening? Have t understand the why befre yu plan the hw Lked at Euthanasia stats past and present in ther wrds wh was dying and why? age, species, breed, reasn Where t start saving lives? We started by saving the lives that we knew peple wanted t adpt Then wrked twards the next lwest hanging fruit If this dg/cat gets mre marketing/training/ medicine she/he has a greater chance f meeting the right persn Lastly, wrking n hardest cases that have an apparent lack f hmes Recgnized need t emphasize adptins as much as rescue Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

lcal lw cst clinic fr spay/neuter/rabies Used veterinary crdinatrs t supply medicine all arund twn based n symptms and vet rx Used lcal vet clinic fr extreme

saving a life Marketing All marketing is arund saving livesurgent Build website, lg, signs Average 2500 website hits per mnth 2008 Average 15 blg stries per

9 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Critical First Prgrams Fster Only rescued animals that we had fster fr Fster turnver is key 23 fster hmes used per mnth by Sept 08 Medical Used lcal lw cst clinic fr spay/neuter/rabies Used veterinary crdinatrs t supply medicine all arund twn based n symptms and vet rx Used lcal vet clinic fr extreme cases (t supprt adptin) Vlunteer Critical First Prgrams (cntinued) Orientatins twice a mnth 20,000 vlunteer hurs June-Sept 2008 Yu are directly respnsible fr saving a life Marketing All marketing is arund saving livesurgent Build website, lg, signs Average 2500 website hits per mnth 2008 Average 15 blg stries per mnth Fundraising $2,000/m mail in dnatins $1,900/m nline dnatins Adptin sites cver their wn csts Each prgram needs equal emphasis and grwth shuld be encuraged and mnitred as heavily as rescue prgram Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

bnes T yung APA made a gal t save all puppies in Nv 2008 Getting Puppies Adpted Disease treatment plans WHILE they are available fr adptin Essential t get

10 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Puppies- lwest hanging fruit Defined here as less than 4 mnths ld Dying because f illness, injury, and age Parv Mange Ringwrm Diarrhea Brken bnes T yung APA made a gal t save all puppies in Nv 2008 Getting Puppies Adpted Disease treatment plans WHILE they are available fr adptin Essential t get them int hmes as fast as pssible Fster hmes Market at 6 weeks f age Emphasize imprtance f expsure while adrable Less than 1,000 per year needed ur help All have been saved since Nv 2008 Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

shelter envirnment Typically ne persn dgs and can be Lap Sharks Can be terrible patients Small Breed Strategies Hld and Release Evaluatin

11 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Small Breed Dgs (all ages) Defined as less than 25 lbs at adult nrmal weight Dying because f behavir and sme medical Terrified in shelter envirnment Typically ne persn dgs and can be Lap Sharks Can be terrible patients Small Breed Strategies Hld and Release Evaluatin Technique Harness all scaredies!!! Fractures heal very easily with little interventin r lss f functin Sleepver adptin meetings Fster-until-adptin prgrams (nline advertising) Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

per year needed ur help 3 categries f lwest hanging fruit: 1. bttle babies less than 4 weeks f age 1.

Dying because it takes t lng t get them t spay age 3. kittens 8-12 weeks f age 1.

12 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Small Breed Stats Made pact t save them all in 12/09 95% save rate verall Less than 350 per year needed ur help 3 categries f lwest hanging fruit: 1. bttle babies less than 4 weeks f age 1. Dying because they are t difficult t find fster and t care fr 2. gruel babies- 4-8 weeks f age 1. Dying because it takes t lng t get them t spay age 3. kittens 8-12 weeks f age 1. Dying because s many cme in all at nce If have ringwrm, they g t next level f difficulty t save Kittens! Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

feedings Fster hmes Multiple adptin avenues Catteries Treat Ringwrm while

kittens in 09 nw up t 2,000 in 2014 Saved 1,500 kittens frm AAC alne All

13 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Kitten Strategies Innvated bttle baby prgram t handle mass feedings Fster hmes Multiple adptin avenues Catteries Treat Ringwrm while available fr adptin Special Pricing Kitten Stats Since 11/09 Saved 200 kittens in 09 nw up t 2,000 in 2014 Saved 1,500 kittens frm AAC alne All kittens are safe in Austin since 2011 Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

cats per year Feral/Unscial cats Barn Placement Prgram Craigslist- screen One persn places 30 per mnth Save abut 160 per year frm AAC alne Large Breed Dgs ver 8 Mnths Hardest grup f shelter animals t

14 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Adult Cat Strategies Adult cats Multiple venues Habitats 200 cage capacity Fsters STATS 97% save rate since 2011 Save 1,000 cats per year 450 adult cats frm AAC alne Save 100 senir cats per year Feral/Unscial cats Barn Placement Prgram Craigslist- screen One persn places 30 per mnth Save abut 160 per year frm AAC alne Large Breed Dgs ver 8 Mnths Hardest grup f shelter animals t save ~85% saved but there are still sme that culd be saved, trained, and adpted Need behavir prgram t get t true n kill Pit Bull Type Dgs ~1,800 per year intake t AAC Hardest t evaluate in the shelter and t save APA takes abut 300 per year All ther breeds Same evaluatin prcess Obstacles Lack f fster hmes equipped and willing t handle them Need fr behaviral mdificatin Very difficult t prmte them in shelter setting Take 3-5 times lnger t get adpted Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

15 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn Large Breed Strategies Play Grup APA Behavir Team Mass Treatment Enrichment Assessment Canine Gd Citizen I ve gt Skillz Big Brther/Big Sister RuffTail Runners Dg Diaries Adptins!= Turnver Matchmakers Creative Marketing PERSONALLY cnnecting t adtpers Better bis/phts/pictures What else wrked? Multiple ff-site adptin lcatins in high-traffic lcatins thrughut city PASS Prgram Fast respnses t n-line inquiries Cnsistent hurs, lcatins, service Excellent Custmer Service Empwer Vlunteers All psitive, fun, friendly marketing Efficient, cnvenient adptins prcess Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

16 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn APA! Impact n AAC 2500 Ttal Intakes AAC Intake APA intake frm AAC AAC transfers t ther AAC transfers t APA 0 N. f animals rescued by APA frm Austin Animal Center Actual AAC Live Year Release Rate % 53% % 60% % 60% % 73% % 70% % 74% % 75% AAC Live Release Rate withut APA! Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

17 Getting t N-Kill: Different Cmmunities, Different Mdels Austin, Texas Dr. Ellen Jeffersn What else happened? City Cuncil Mandated N Kill 2010 City Dubled Adptins Because f mandate 2011 Decreased Shelter Intake Spay/neuter? Mre respnsible public? Gradual Best Friends Natinal Cnference Octber 23 26,

Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director Austin Pets Alive

Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director Austin Pets Alive Ellen Jeffersn Ellen Jeffersn, DVM Executive Directr Austin Pets Alive Had tried N Kill in 2000. Decreased euthanasia frm 85% t 50% 50% euthanasia rate was static since 2001 Massive Spay Neuter Effrts