2011 Austin Pets Alive! Annual Report. Promote and provide the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals

Transcription

1 2011 Austin Pets Alive! Annual Report Promote and provide the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals

2 Page 1 WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT Focusing on animals no other group could save, APA developed innovative programs to determine why animals were dying in shelters, then created efficiencies to solve the dilemma and reduce costs. APA is the only animal nonprofit group that has demonstrated large-scale, measurable results in decreasing euthanasia rates at our city shelter.

3 Page 2 In February 2011, Austin became the largest no-kill city in the US. Thanks to our wonderful community and all of the partners in Austin helping to save the homeless pets, we have maintained at least a 90% live outcome rate at the Austin Animal Center (AAC), Austin s only openintake kill shelter. APA s role in the Austin community is to provide resources where there are gaps and be the final safety net for the animals who end up on the AAC euthanasia list. APA continually evaluates dogs and cats scheduled to be euthanized at AAC, adjusting our programs accordingly to save as many as possible. Once other rescue groups have pulled those they can accommodate and AAC has placed all they can, we take the remaining animals into our program. This year, we were able to expand to significantly help surrounding communities like San Antonio. Through our American Pets Alive! organization, we created San Antonio Pets Alive! to help the San Antonio Animal Care Services make San Antonio a no-kill city. There is still much work to do. While Austin is technically considered no-kill due to our 90% save rate, there are still large, non-aggressive dogs with mild to moderate behavior issues being euthanized at the Austin Animal Center. These dogs take considerable resources to prepare for adoption. Building a program to save them all is one of our top goals for 2012.

4 Page 3 ACTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Saved 5,541 dogs and cats, becoming the largest nonprofit adoption organization in central Texas Leader in making Austin a No-Kill City after almost a decade of over 50% euthanasia rates (which is over 10,000 pets annually) Steadily decreased the euthanasia rates since 2008 down to 9% in 2011 Enlisted over 2,000 volunteer hours and 3,000 foster hours per week Raised $1,075,324 in donations administrative/overhead costs from the public with only 18% Saved ever y puppy under 3.5 months from the euthanasia list Saved ever y small breed dog that would other wise have been killed Saved ever y unweaned bottle-baby kitten (a total of 1032) from the euthanasia list Expanded our rescue program to other central TX shelters to save cats and dogs that would have died Proved that No-Kill is not only possible, but safe, necessar y, and the right thing to do by giving all homeless animals in the region s shelters a chance to live. This is backed up by statistics showing Austin has plenty of homes actively searching for pets.

5 Page 4 AWARDS AND PEER RECOGNITION Executive Director and Dog Foster Program Manager were guest speakers at the Best Friends No More Homeless Pets Conference Executive Director was guest speaker at No-Kill Advocacy Center s NoKill Conference Austin Pets Alive! was voted Best Nonprofit in Austin in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll Ellen Jefferson won the Henr y Bergh leadership award from No-Kill Advocacy Center Ellen Jefferson listed as one of the Top Ten Austinites in Tribeza Magazine Austin Pets Alive voted best Volunteer Nonprofit by Money & Business ANIMALS SAVED BY APA! LIVES 2,312 LIVES 3,560 LIVES ,248 LIVES

6 Page 5 LIFE SAVING PROGRAMS Bottle Baby Program Kittens saved in 2011: 1,032 The Bottle Baby Program is dedicated to saving an entire class of especially fragile, homeless animals. The program targets orphaned, unweaned kittens fated for euthanasia at shelters unable to provide round-theclock care, which pour into area shelters in the spring and summer. At just 5 weeks old, little Jubilee came into our Bottle Baby Program in June. Our team fed and took care of her until she was ready for adoption where she could do her favorite thing in the world: cuddle in the laps of her favorite people. Our bottle baby team takes care of the underaged kittens in our nursery until they are weaned and able to go into a foster home for socialization for a few weeks before they can be adopted at 8 weeks old. Before APA s program, nearly all these kittens were euthanized. In 2011, we were able to save every young orphaned kitten that arrived at the City of Austin s Animal Center. January: Officially expanded our mission from a No-Kill Austin to a No-Kill Central Texas February: The save rate in Austin was 93% - our first official No-Kill month March: Started Barn Cat Placement Program, saving the feral cats who ended up at the shelter

7 Page 6 Parvo Program Puppies saved in 2011: 256 Signs of parvovirus infection once meant immediate euthanasia for any puppy or dog at the city shelter. The city now calls in Austin Pets Alive. APA treats the highly contagious pets in an isolated ward. The disease takes about a week to treat and once they are free of parvo, the highly adoptable pups go on to lead normal, healthy lives. Our success rate of treating puppies with parvo is 85%, which is higher than the rate of private veterinarians. Pepper was one sick puppy when he was rescued from an area shelter and brought to APA s parvo ward this year. After receiving treatment and tender loving care from the parvo team, he recovered and was adopted where today he gets to romp and play. April: Tarrytown location opened, further expanding our adoption venues May: Hosted 1st City Council Candidate Forum June: Aimee Sadler introduces dog play groups/behavioral therapy

8 Page 7 Medical Clinic The APA veterinary clinic treats all the animals in our program and those surrendered at the Austin Animal Center from people who cannot afford vet treatments. Routine Care Estimated pets treated in 2011: 5,000 All pets are immediately tested and treated for any medical issues and microchipped. Before adoption, every pet is given age-appropriate vaccinations and spayed/neutered. Illness/Injury & Emergency Care Estimated pets treated in 2011: 3,400 Around 85% of animals saved from the city s euthanasia list arrive with mild to severe illnesses or injuries. The city calls APA to save over 95% of the ill and injured pets they receive from the public. Community Clinic Est. pets treated in 2011: 350 Austin s city shelter takes in thousands of pets from families unable to afford vet bills. The hospital also treats community pet illnesses and injuries, charging sliding scale fees to help people keep their pets. Looking at Freddie Prinze Senior, you d never guess he had a handicap, but one of his front legs is deformed and our vet team suspects his hind legs have luxating patellas. Freddie went to a surgeon to get his surgery and is now a happy, healthy dog. July: Ellen Jefferson speaks at national No-Kill Conference August: First adoption event kicking off ASPCA Challenge, a joint event with Humane Society of Williamson County, another contender in the Challenge September: Hosted 2011 American Pets Alive Seminar; Took lead in helping animals during the Bastrop fires

9 Page 8 Dog Behavior Program Dogs rehabbed in 2011: 508 The Dog Behavior Program teaches confused dogs the skills they need to thrive as loved companion animals. The program offers behavioral rehabilitation and intervention for dogs who come from pasts of abuse and neglect who never learned how to behave around humans and other dogs. These dogs get a second chance with socialization opportunities and professional trainer intervention they deserve to overcome their past and find a home. Aspen was initially evaluated as not good with other dogs and very emotionally shut down. With the help of special attention from volunteers and a foster mom taking her to confidence-building classes at the Canine Center, she has truly blossomed. Underneath all the emotional issues was a dog who actually loves other dogs and cats, too. She was adopted by an architect who says, Aspen is the best dog in the world. October: 2nd annual Pedal for Puppies was hosted by Austin Subaru November: Won the $100,000 first place price in the ASPCA Challenge December: Moved into TLAC and became city s official safety net when AAC moved to smaller facility in East Austin

10 Page 9 Ringworm Ward Cats saved in 2011: 180 The APA Ringworm Ward saves cats with ringworm who are having some bad luck and in need of a second chance.many highly adoptable cats are killed because of ringworm--which carries an undeserved stigma because it is a painless and easily treatable skin fungus, similar to athlete s foot cats don t even realize they have it. We treat them with oral medications and special weekly baths for a few weeks until they can regrow their hair and become beautiful for adoption events. Tee and his sister were rescued only hours before euthanasia because they had ringworm: a harmless, treatable skin fungus. They went directly to be treated in the Ringworm Ward where they became healthy, fluffy, adoptable cats. A volunteer became so smitten with Tee she adopted him, and now Cannot imagine life without Tee. Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender (PASS) In 2011, 263 animals were kept out of the shelter system, with around 2400 families assisted Because APA is 100% focused on the pets who are about to be euthanized at city shelters, we do not yet have the capacity to accept pets from the public. PASS was created to fill in that gap by helping the public with resources to keep their pets--or strays they find--out of the shelter. The PASS team has a whole variety of ways to help owners help their pets, from ad placement resources, to low cost medical options, behavioral resources, help with food, and even advocating on their behalf, if needed. If the owners are surrendering their pet because of medical issues that they cannot afford, PASS or AAC (Austin Animal Center) referred them to our Community Clinic where we treated pets with sliding scale fees. Beaux s owners were living in the Caribbean for a year when the couple Beaux was staying with decided to get a divorce and re-home Beaux. APA contacted the Houston English Bulldog Rescue who took Beaux into their program and then found a forever home for this beautiful dog.

11 Page 10 Barn Cat Placement Program Pets saved/placed in 2011: 132 This program finds safe outdoor homes for abused, unsocialized, and feral cats who ve had negative contact with people or never been indoors. The APA Barn Cat program saves cats from euthanasia who can t go into regular domesticated homes. Before placement, all barn cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, given preventatives for fleas/parasites, and tested for FIV/FeLV. Brooklyn was on the euthanasia list at a local shelter with several strikes against her: feral, four weeks pregnant, and unable to be returned to her original colony. APA placed her in a foster home where she gave birth to four beautiful, healthy kittens. Each was adopted before Brooklyn went to a big farm in Rosanky, TX, where she ll have shelter, cat food, mice, fresh water and friends. Distemper Program Pets treated in 2011: 52 Canine Distemper Virus is a highly-contagious, often fatal disease. APA is the only rescue in Central Texas that will take dogs we suspect have distemper as the road to recovery can be long and difficult for both dog and caretaker. We have a 80+ percent success rate in helping other dogs beat this disease as Ozzy s legacy lives on in the hearts of those lucky enough to have known him. Ozzy s Team also supports people caring for distemper dogs with a Support Network community on Facebook with non-emergency, non-medical advice on how to encourage sick dogs to eat and drink and pain management techniques and a Resource Center which includes links to studies, treatments, recipes, supplements, medication reports and care schedules. Also called Ozzy s Team, named after Ozzy, a puppy who was sold at three weeks old by a backyard breeder who did not bother with distemper vaccinations. While Ozzy did not survive the disease, our experience with him led to the creation of this special team.

12 Page APA! BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tom Albright Board Chair Ellis Winstanley Treasurer Heather Bailey Director with Navigant Consulting Jeff Cohen Sheldon Ekland-Olson Former University of Texas Provost and Dean of Liberal Arts Gerri Kappler Judy Matula Michael Matula Investor and member of Central Texas Angel Network Palmer Neuhaus Financial Advisor at Raymond James Stephanie Arena Sebastian Rodrigano State Representative Eddie Rodriguez Advisory Board Chair

13 Page 12 ELLEN JEFFERSON, DVM, Executive Director Dr. Ellen Jefferson has been an active leader in the animal welfare community of Austin, Texas, for more than a decade. She took charge of Austin Pets Alive! in 2008 and quickly began applying best practices in operations to bring an end to the killing of thousands of healthy and treatable homeless pets each year by the city of Austin. Within the first year of her leadership, the killing of homeless cats and dogs in Austin s municipal Town Lake Animal Center dropped by more than 20 percent as a direct result of Austin Pets Alive! s efforts. Dr. Jefferson founded EmanciPET in 1999 and for nine years directed its innovative programs offering free or low-cost spay/neuter surgery and tripled its capacity to eventually spay/neuter over 15,000 animals per year. A leader in the animal welfare community nationally as well as in Austin, she has served on the National Spay/Neuter Task Force since As Mayor Will Wynn s appointee, she joined Austin s Animal Advisory Commission in Dr. Jefferson graduated from Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in She has published work in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine. GRETCHEN MEYER, Marketing/PR Director Gretchen co-founded the Running Buddies program at Austin s Animal Center in 2007 which advertised the shelter s highest energy dogs to the city s large population of athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and others likely to want to adopt an active dog. She expanded her reach in promoting adoption by joining Austin Pets Alive! in 2008 to oversee marketing programs designed to help homeless pets and in June 2009, expanded her role to include public relations. Gretchen designs and builds websites and software applications as a systems analyst with the Texas Municipal Retirement System and is the founder and president of Firecracker Dog, a company that helps owners of high energy dogs and donates all of their profits to dog rescue programs. SARA LIVERMORE, Volunteer Director Sara has been a dynamo in the business world for well over a decade, winning awards in coaching, training and managing employees; overseeing leadership teams for major companies, such as Quality Distributors and T-Mobile; and motivating workers in sales while maintaining an impressive sales record herself. As volunteer director at Austin Pets Alive!, she recruits, educates, inspires and celebrates the organization s more than 3,000 registered volunteers. While Sara s role at Austin Pets Alive! is to nurture its human resources, she is equally passionate about working with animals. She owns Smiling Dog Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers, a small local business that caters to pets with special needs. She has volunteered with various animal rescue groups since she moved to Austin in 2003.

14 Page 13 FAITH WRIGHT, Animal Care Programs Director Faith began volunteering with Austin Pets Alive! in 2009 and joined the team as Animal Care Programs Director in Throughout her time with APA! Faith has worked tirelessly to ensure every animal in our program receives the best possible care while waiting to be adopted. Before she became the Program Director she had been an integral part of the Dog Foster Team placing dogs in foster homes, coordinating dogs for adoption events, providing guidance to foster families and personally feeding (round the clock) many of the orphan puppies in the program. Faith has also helped other area shelters in need by doing large pulls of dogs and cats at risk of euthanasia due to lack of space. PATTY ALEXANDER, Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender Program Manager Throughout her 14-year career as a real-estate broker, Patty has volunteered with animal organizations. Before taking on the management of PASS, she volunteered with Austin Pets Alive! s rescue team, which visits Town Lake Animal Center nightly to assess pets scheduled for euthanasia. She did cruelty investigations for the Cherokee County Humane Society in Oklahoma; and volunteered with an Edmond, Oklahoma, no-kill animal sanctuary; and worked with the Central Oklahoma Humane Society. She combines this experience with equally well-honed skills in helping people. A psychology major at Oklahoma s Northeastern State University, Patty counseled women facing domestic violence for two years. Her skills in people management and mediation, developed in real estate work, also come into play as she helps PASS clients.

15 Page 14 AUSTIN PETS ALIVE! STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 Revenues Contributions-Unrestricted 901,316 Contributions-Temporarily Restricted 174,008 Adoption revenue 513,937 Other 76,535 Total revenues 1,665,796 Program Expenses Salaries and payroll taxes 982,475 Medical 233,273 Occupancy 191,158 Animal supplies and services 54,032 Automobile 38,035 Insurance 14,332 Depreciation 13,917 Total program services 1,527,222 Support services Management and general 49,279 Fundraising 47,227 Total support services 96,506 Total expenses 1,623,728 Total change in net assets 42,068 Net assets, beginning of year 185,095 Net assets, end of year 227,163 The above statement of activities has not been audited. Audited statement of activities may include adjustments to the balances above.

16 Page MEDIA Pet of the Week KXAN, 12/24/11 ASPCA $100K Challenge Saves More Than 52,000 Animals Parade Magazine, 12/1/11 Austin Pets Alive! Lands $100K in Nationwide Contest Austin Business Journal, 11/30/11 Big Prize Money to Austin Pets Alive! KXAN, 11/30/11 Austin Pets Alive! wins $100K Challenge KVUE, 11/30/11 Saving Pets with a Discount KVUE, 11/25/11 Austin Pets Alive! Shelter Opens Early Due to Overcrowding KTBC, 11/25/11 Austin Pets Alive! Sees Adoption Success KXAN, 11/27/11 $25 pet adoption fees through October 31 KXAN, 10/25/11 Best Nonprofit, 2011: Austin Pets Alive! Austin Chronicle, 10/13/11 Paralyzed puppy needs public s help for continued therapy KVUE, 10/7/11 No-kill Workshop in Austin this week KXAN, 9/24/11 Austin Pets Alive! takes dogs from Bastrop, offers free adoptions Austin YNN, Not so hot dogs now KXAN, 8/11/11 The Top Volunteer Organizations in Austin Money & Business, 8/5/11 Adopt a pet help shelters win cash KXAN, 8/8/11 Austin Pets Alive! set for no-fee mega adoption event FOX, 8/5/11 Austin Pets Alive! closes adoption locations due to high temps YNN, 8/1/11 Six months of 90% no-kill at TLAC KXAN, 7/6/11 Jog a Dog program launches to benefit animals and runners KVUE, 7/3/11 Downtown is going to the dogs Statesman, 7/3/11 Bottle feeding kittens KXAN, 6/19/11 The Austin model a no-kill success story Best Friends, 6/9/11 Austin Pets Alive! Then and Now How Did This Happen? Best Friends, 6/8/11 Tarrytown gets first adoption center KXAN, 5/19/11 Bon Chien farm to table dinner benefits APA FOX, 5/13/11 Town Lake shelter future uncertain KXAN, City s animal shelter on track to becoming no-kill city Community Impact, 5/4/11 New pet adoption center planned Austin Business Journal, 4/1/11 No-kill animal goal hits 92% - KXAN, 3/4/11 APA: Protecting the lives of pets all over Austin Austin Fit, 3/1/11 Veterinarian works to make Austin a no-kill city Community Impact, Austin Pets Alive! expands reach Austin Business Journal, 2/18/11 Dr. Ellen Jefferson A Champion for Austin s homeless pets American Dog Magazine, Spring 2011

17 Page 16 OUR TOP GOALS FOR 2012 Host our third annual national no-kill seminar through American Pets Alive Find a new, permanent building Save at least 5,000 dogs and cats in our Austin rescue program Assist Austin Animal Center (AAC) with maintaining Austin as a no-kill city Continue building our Dog Behavior Programs so we can save the last 10% and rehabilitate all non-dangerous dogs with behavior issues Continue expanding toward our goal of a No-Kill Central Texas Expand our outreach efforts to assisting and training other shelters in the US through our American Pets Alive arm Despite a 90% save rate since February 2011, there are still large, non-aggressive dogs with mild to moderate behavior issues being euthanized at the Austin Animal Center. Our estimates show we need to save 30 more dogs per month to be a true no-kill city. In order to do this, we must raise more resources to pay for high-quality behavior modification and training. As the community contributes more to our resources for this program, we will hire the trainers to save more dogs from euthanasia at the Austin Animal Center. In order to save 30 extra dogs per month, we need to raise an additional $300,000 per year for the behavior program. While we have a building lease with the city that is temporary, we are working to secure a permanent location so we can maintain status as no-kill in Austin as we continue to expand into surrounding communities to achieve a no-kill Central Texas. Through American Pets Alive!, we continue to share our knowledge with other communities and expand our programs to ultimately achieve a No-Kill country. Shelter Headquarters at the Town Lake Animal Center: Address: 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX PH: FAX: Hours: 11:30am - 7:00pm Daily Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6247 Austin, TX Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is a 501(c)3 (nonprofit) organization run almost exclusively by dedicated volunteers and depends on generous donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund our programs, supplies, and operational expenses.