No-Kill in Austin

In 2011, Austin became the country’s largest no-kill city. But how did that happen, and what does it mean?

A movement in the late ’90s, hadn’t seen much traction, and in the mid-2000s, the city was killing about half of the animals that entered the shelter, roughly 14,000 per year. Meanwhile, a stray cat had showed up on Ryan Clinton’s porch, spurring the young attorney to do some research about what to do with him—where to get him vaccinated, neutered, and anything else he might need.

In the process, Clinton came across the shelter stats, and he knew he had to do something. He started attending Animal Advisory Commission meetings, where he learned that he was just one of many eager to reform the system. The group started researching what other communities were doing—New York was the leader at that time—and formed a political organization called Fix Austin, with the goal of being the voice for animals in Austin.

While many animal stakeholders were resistant, the public was wildly supportive of turning Austin into a no-kill city. Fix Austin kept advocating, and eventually Emancipet’s founder, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, joined the cause, becoming the new executive director of Austin Pets Alive! and unrolling foster programs, off-site adoptions, and more. Finally, the conversation shifted. The political advocates, the public, and now a key animal welfare stakeholder, too, were not only preaching but demonstrating the potential to save more of Austin’s animals.

In March 2010, City Council approved a no-kill resolution that set a minimum save rate of 90 percent for Austin’s homeless pets. By 2011, the city had surpassed that goal, and the save rate reached 97.5 percent in 2018. In March 2019, City Council voted unanimously to raise that threshold from 90 to 95 percent, reaffirming Austin’s commitment to saving our homeless pets.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, as our shelters are consistently at capacity. But the way our citizens have come together time and again in support of Austin’s animals is truly inspiring.

How can you help?

Everybody has a skillset that can be put to work advocating for Austin’s shelter pets. From adopting and fostering to donating time and money to spearheading marketing initiatives that educate the public on adoptable pets, and responsible pet ownership, each of us can lend a paw in one way or another to support animal welfare in Austin.