Agenda Item 4a HASS Myths Facts — original pdf

Backup

The new model of animal sheltering MYTHS vs FACTS Myth Fact Sick and injured dogs and cats will be turned out on the streets. All incoming pets or calls about pets will be given a needs assessment to determine the pathway that they need: shelter, foster or remain in the home and receive care. People in underserved communities within Austin will be discriminated against and unfairly left behind with this model. Stray, healthy pets will be turned away from the shelter. The animal welfare industry (both publicly and privately funded) has systems that have been known to discriminate against marginalized people. The current system unfairly leaves people without the same means as the richest parts of cities out of the reclaim, foster and adoption process as it stands. One of the primary objectives of this new model, and one of the reasons for its creation, is to be inclusive and welcoming of every person who lives in Austin. We know pets are many times more likely to find their owners if they stay in the neighborhood. People who find a lost pet will be given support to find the owner if they’re willing. If they can’t find the owner or aren’t able to hold the pet, the shelter will take in the lost pet and triage them based on their needs. Finders are required to hold an animal they find and are responsible for finding the owner themselves. The local shelter will take the animal if the finder isn’t willing or able to find the owner on their own. The new model will add resources and services in neighborhoods to help people and their pets. Lost pets are more likely to get back home if kept in the area they were found. Lost pets won’t be at the shelter so the owner can’t find them. 21st Century technology allows us to work more efficiently and not solely rely on in-person interactions. The system has to be reimagined and rebuilt to make it virtually impossible for an owner not to find their pet, regardless of where it is temporarily housed. Austin Pets Alive! and a few other executives are working in a silo and changing the whole animal sheltering system by themselves. More shelter industry organizations are working together than ever before to build systemic change. Leadership from over 30 municipal shelters nationally and their communities, as well as industry leaders in Petfinder, Michelson Found Animals, Maddie’s Fund, Pedigree Foundation and many more, are working in groups to reimagine animal sheltering.