Original Article: https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/historic-no-kill-resolution-passes-in-austin-city-council

Mar 29, 2019

AUSTIN, TX — Austin City Council voted unanimously in favor of a historic resolution to raise the minimum live release rate for the city to maintain No Kill status from 90 percent to 95 percent yesterday on March 28. You can read the signed resolution here.

This resolution ensures that as the City of Austin works to maintain its status as the largest No Kill city in the country, a minimum of 95 percent of homeless animals who enter shelters must leave alive. This is the first resolution of its kind and is the highest minimum live release rate to qualify for No Kill status in the United States, continuing Austin’s drive and innovation in being the No Kill leader of this country.

“We are extremely grateful to Council Member Pool for initiating this, and Council Members Kitchen and Alter and Mayor Pro-Tem Garza for cosponsoring,” Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Executive Director of Austin Pets Alive! said after the hearing.

The City Council voted on the original No Kill resolution in 2010, setting 90 percent as the minimum required save rate (also called a live release rate). The city of Austin surpassed the 90 percent goal in 2011, and its live release rate has risen steadily since then. Austin reached a 97.5 percent live release rate in 2018 thanks to the ongoing partnership between the city’s municipal shelter, Austin Animal Center, and Austin Pets Alive!. This latest resolution is critical to preventing backwards movement and ensuring that Austin continues to innovate and progress in its No Kill journey, working to save every life possible and improve outcomes for homeless pets.

“There was incredible vision in 2010 when our city, just two years after improving an only 45 percent save rate, passed a 90 percent No Kill resolution,” Dr. Jefferson continued. “That vision is being surpassed today by passing a 95 percent save rate and taking Austin to the top of the ladder of the national No Kill movement.”

This resolution was proposed by Council Member Leslie Pool and co-sponsored by Mayor Pro-Tem Delia Garza, Council Member Ann Kitchen, and Council Member Alison Alter. It passed unanimously on Thursday.

Source: Austin Pets Alive