8/13/2019 FixAustin.org Press Release--- Expert Blasts Shelter Relocation

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www.fixaustin.org Working to End the Killing of Austins Sheltered Pets

CONTACTS: Ryan Clinton, FixAustin President (rdclinton@gmail.com; 512-294-5003)

Nathan Winograd, No Kill Solutions: 949-276-6942

July 24, 2007 BREAKING NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Expert Calls Pound-Relocation Plan a Death Sentence for Citys PetsReport written by nations preeminent animal-sheltering expert concludes that relocating

Austins pound will lead to more killing.AUSTIN, TX - On Monday, the Central Texas Animal Alliance released a report

condemning the City of Austins plan to close the downtown animal shelter and replace it

with one on the Citys eastern edge. The report, written by national animal-shelter expert

Nathan Winograd, concludes that relocating Austins animal shelter would be a deathsentence for dogs and cats who would otherwise find loving homes.

The Citys plan to move its animal shelter to an industrial site near Airport Road and East 7th

Street has been met with consistent and heavy criticism from local animal-welfare advocates.

Ryan Clinton, President of FixAustin, said that Winograds conclusion was no surprise to

anyone who is paying attention. Clinton added, Moving an animal shelter away from its

primary adopters will lead to fewer visits, fewer adoptions, and more killing. FixAustin has

strongly urged the City to rebuild the shelter at its current Town Lake location.

Reached Monday evening, long-time shelter volunteer and Animal Advisory CommissionerTom Oliveri agreed that moving the shelter is not in the best interest of the Citys homeless

pets. I believe that moving the shelter away from the heart of Austin will increase shelter

killing. Thats scary when you think of your own dog accidentally ending up there.

Winograds report states that a shelters location is a primary factor in maximizing adoptions.

It concludes that relocating Austins shelter is also likely to decrease the number of persons

who would otherwise volunteer at the shelter. Volunteers currently donate tens of thousands

of hours to the shelter, providing services that the pound could not otherwise afford.

The report admonishes City staff and shelter-relocation proponents. Following the advice

of persons who have failed to achieve no-kill success in Austin, according to Winograd,

would prevent lifesaving success, and would take Austin further from its goal of a No Kill

City. Winograd has personally led two no-kill pounds, one in San Francisco, CA, and

another in Ithaca, NY. Neither city kills adoptable pets at its municipal animal shelter.

In November 2006, Austin voters approved a $12 million bond to build a new animal shelter.

The bond ballots language did not specify whether the shelter would be rebuilt at its current

site on Town Lake or moved. Since 2000, Austins pound has killed more than 80,000 lost

and homeless pets. During the same period, its annual budget has nearly doubled.