A lot of people ask: if there are too many animals and not enough homes, what alternative do we have but to kill the least-wanted among them? The answer is that we have lots of alternatives.

Nathan Winograd, a Stanford Law grad who abandoned his corporate-law-firm life to save animals, revolutionized animal-shelter practices in San Francisco and Ithaca and created a roadmap for dramatically reducing the number of animals killed at municipal pounds. In fact, after his tenure at each shelter, the municipal pounds in each city no longer kill healthy, adoptable pets. That's right. None.

There are a great number of mechanisms for reducing the killing of animals. Many are easy to enact; others more difficult. Must-have programs include low-cost spay and neuter programs; aggressive spay-neuter-and-release programs for feral cats; and foster programs for dogs and cats. A city can also adopt more pets by staying open later on weeknights and establishing weekend hours. And since a lot of people don't like to visit city pounds--- because they often smell bad, are noisy, and are places where cats and dogs are killed--- shelters can set up off-site adoption programs to take the pets to the people at church fairs, school festivals, and other community events.

These are only a few of the many no-kill solutions adopted by Nathan and his staffs in San Francisco and Ithaca. The point is, there are effective and cost-sensitive ways to reduce the killing of lost and homeless pets. The idea that there are "too many animals" and "not enough homes" is a myth that only serves to make us feel less responsible for the continued killing of lost and homeless pets. But it is just that--- a myth.

Nathan Winograd has provided us with a roadmap to follow. We can choose to follow it or continue the killing. Please be a voice of hope for Austin's lost and homeless cats and dogs, and demand change today!