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Close to Purr-fect: 2011 a 'No-Kill' Year for Animal Center

'Desperate Housecat' Petra has her own webpage. http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=ASTN.A611621
'Desperate Housecat' Petra has her own webpage. http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=ASTN.A611621

For some time, the city has hovered above the 90 percent “live outcomes” benchmark animal centers must meet annually to be a “no-kill” shelter. And now it’s official: With a 91 percent live outcome for all of 2011, the Austin Animal Center is now officially no-kill.

The city’s animal rescue efforts have made big strides over the last few years, first with City Council adoption of a no-kill plan [PDF], and more recently with the opening of the new Animal Services Center in East Austin.

When the animal center moved from its original Town Lake location, local rescue organization Austin Pets Alive! inked an agreement with the city to use the site temporarily as a satellite adoption center.

In a press release, Council Member Mike Martinez credits APA!, The Austin Humane Society, EmanciPet, Animal Trustees of Austin, “and dozens more, in addition to our very caring community and hundreds of  volunteers and  staff at the Austin Animal Center,” for helping the city reach its no-kill goals. “Austin could not have achieved and maintained this goal without them, so thank you Austin.”

Of course, you can always show your own support by adopting an animal of your own. The Austin Animal Center website has photos (and in many cases, videos) of the animals up for adoption.

Wells has been a part of KUT News since 2012, when he was hired as the station's first online reporter. He's currently the social media host and producer for Texas Standard, KUT's flagship news program. In between those gigs, he served as online editor for KUT, covering news in Austin, Central Texas and beyond.
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