Thursday, May 31, 2007
By KEVIN PETERS
KVUE News
Design work is moving forward to build a new animal shelter in East Austin, despite efforts by some to halt the process.
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One group, called fixaustin.org, says moving the shelter would increase the number of animals killed.
When voters approved $12 million for a new animal shelter, the ballot didn’t specify where that facility would be built, even though the city intended to place it in East Austin. Fixaustin.org thinks that’s something Austinites should help decide.
“If we want fewer animals killed, we should keep the shelter where it is,” said Ryan Clinton, with fixaustin.org. “The bond ballot itself -- said nothing about moving the shelter.”
Clinton would like to see the shelter to remain at its Town Lake site, instead of moving it to U.S. 183 and Airport Boulevard in East Austin, where the city is just beginning the process of design work.
Clinton says the Town Lake site is more centrally located and more accessible for volunteers and adopters. That’s why he’s asking the city council to intervene and have a public debate about the location.
“National experts that we've talked to tell us location is critical to reducing a kill rate,” he said.
Still, not everyone shares that view. Austin Humane Society Director Frances Jonon says she doesn’t believe adoption rates will be affected and says the new location could bring unique services to an area.
“I'm not concerned about the location,” she said. “I do believe it will be able to improve the city's ability to do outreach.”
The shelter has battled drainage issues in the past, one of the reasons why the city wants to move it.
City documents show the site could be raised above the flood plain for about $440,000.
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