STORIES FROM THE PUBlIC
Insights and experiences from residents, volunteers, fosters, and rescue partners who interact with Austin’s animal welfare system every day.
“I have fostered 10+ dogs, half of whom who were deemed “behavior” dogs at AAS. All of those dogs have been placed successfully in loving homes despite the negative connotations the shelter tried to tie to them. A shelter is an unnatural environment for a dog and provides little access to successful placement to dogs who do not “show well” in the shelter. We need leadership who understand dog behavior in a shelter is not reflective of their true personality. Who understands the importance and impacts positive environment, enrichment and stimulation have on shelter dogs.”
“AAS operates with a $25 million budget, yet when I locate a stray dog and bring it to the shelter, I’m instructed to return the dog to the place where it was found. Leaving the dog at the shelter is treated as abandonment, but leaving it on the street, where it faces multiple dangers, is not. That is nonsensical! AAS is currently receiving fewer animals than it did before the pandemic, at a time when it was both open-intake and no-kill. There is no reason it cannot meet that standard again. The underlying issue is management, and AAS needs a director capable of reopening intake while preserving the shelter’s no-kill status.”
"I lived in Austin District 1 for nearly a decade. I spent twenty years of my life in Austin. I moved away because after the shelter stopped open intake. I took in so many stray animals off the street. It was no longer sustainable to live on .1 acre near downtown Austin.
I moved to property outside of Lockhart. I am telling you this for 2 reasons. This is how deeply Austinites love animals, they will uproot their life to love and to support these animals. And second because having a functioning, healthy shelter is an essential part of a functioning society. We decided to be no kill and that is a sacred bond, we have the commitment to carry it out. We cannot be the example of why it does not work.
You have more support from your community than you can probably even comprehend until you have an amazing director in there again. Once you have a leader who can heal the fracture created by the previous one. You will once again have a shelter the nation looks to as an example of excellence."
“It has been saddening to see the erosion of of Austin’s animal services partnership with its community of partners and volunteers. When partnerships are strong and there is trust goals can be met and advances made. That has always been Austin’s super power in distinguishing itself and creating sustainable policy. But it requires true leadership and identifying the right person who understands how to harness the power of our community. I hope this council can do better.”
“Every dog I have ever loved and raised has been rescued. I’ve volunteered at the Austin Animal Center and donate to our local animal rescue community. I’ve rescued loose dogs in our community. I’ve lived here since 2010 and I’ve seen what used to be a strong and successful no kill , open intake shelter turn into a place that turns stray animals away or requires months to get an intake appointment. We can and do have to do better than this and it starts with our director. How we treat our animals is the definition, the picture of our own humanity as people and as a city. Austin people will help when they fully understand the issues our animal shelter is facing and that leadership is strong, committed to no kill, compassionate, fiscally responsible and advocating for our pet population. It takes a village and it needs a leader committed to the animals and no kill first and foremost. Community engagement, education, spay and neuter, healthcare services, advocating for animals for foster and adoption, fighting for funding and spending money on where it counts the most. If anywhere can successfully be no kill, Austin can be no kill. We have the community, the compassion, the wealth and the desire as a city, as a population and we need a leader that believes in it and our lost, stray and abandoned animals to accomplish it.”
“On many occasions I have had members of the Austin community reach out to my rescue asking if we could help take in a dog that they found wandering the streets of Austin. When we suggest they reach out to the Austin Animal Center because we are a tiny rescue with only a few fosters, they tell us they have and were told to re-release the animal where they found it because the shelter is full.”
20+ stories have been shared so far… more will be posted soon!
share your story.
Your story lived experiences with Austin animal welfare matters.