Report written by nation's preeminent animal-sheltering expert concludes that relocating Austin's pound will lead to more killing.
 
AUSTIN, TX - On Monday, the Central Texas Animal Alliance released a report condemning the City of Austin's plan to close the downtown animal shelter and replace it with one on the City's eastern edge.  The report, written by national animal-shelter expert Nathan Winograd, concludes that "relocating Austin's animal shelter would be a death sentence for dogs and cats who would otherwise find loving homes."
 
The City's 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 Winograd's 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 Commissioner Tom Oliveri agreed that moving the shelter is not in the best interest of the City's homeless pets.  "I believe that moving the shelter away from the heart of Austin will increase shelter killing.  That's scary when you think of your own dog accidentally ending up there."
 
Winograd's report states that a shelter's location is a primary factor in maximizing adoptions.  It concludes that relocating Austin's 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 ballot's language did not specify whether the shelter would be rebuilt at its current site on Town Lake or moved.  Since 2000, Austin's pound has killed more than 80,000 lost and homeless pets.  During the same period, its annual budget has nearly doubled.

To read Nathan Winograd's report, click here.