Austin Animal Center To Add Positions Through Maddie’s Fund

Austin Animal Center is adding three positions designed to provide additional support for hundreds of dogs housed at the Center with a grant from Maddie’s Fund®, www.maddiesfund.org, a national family foundation investing resources to create a no-kill nation.

The City of Austin received a $1.17 million grant from Maddie’s Fund in January 2014 and this program is funded for two years in part with these funds. Using funds from the grant, Animal Services is hiring staff to give shelter dogs breaks from their kennels and additional enrichment to dogs that are most energetic and exhibit signs of kennel stress at the animal center.

“We are so proud that this award will support these positions for Austin Animal Center,” said Mary Ippoliti-Smith, Maddie’s Fund Executive Leadership Team. “Reducing the length of stay, enrichment and building their volunteer base are vital to the City’s continued success in saving animal lives.”

Although the Austin Animal Center has more than 500 volunteers, there are often several hundred dogs who need kennel breaks and the harder-to-walk large or energetic dogs get passed over. These staff members will focus on those dogs that are generally stronger and more energetic.

“Daily kennel breaks and in-kennel enrichment are key to keeping our higher energy dogs and puppies happy and healthy while they wait for their new homes, said Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond.“ These staff members will assure we’re meeting the emotional and physical needs of dogs who struggle in the shelter environment.

“Getting these dogs additional exercise will increase their adoptability by reducing the stress of confinement.” Hammond said.

The positions are each expected to serve approximately 40 dogs per day.

“The end goal,” Hammond said, “is to reduce the length of stay of these dogs and find them homes more quickly. We have so many wonderful, family pets who need additional support in order to show off their best sides to potential adopters. It’s our hope that as these dogs become less stressed, they’ll find homes more quickly. Thanks to Maddie, these positions are going to be truly lifesaving for our dogs.”

Additionally, the AAC is hiring a staff member to coordinate volunteer groups. The Center currently has a long wait list of community, school; corporate and church groups that want to donate a day of service. The coordinator will lead one-time groups that will assist with dog walking, cat and bunny enrichment, and service projects.

This person will also recruit volunteer groups and get them scheduled so the wait time is decreased.

“We want to have a volunteer group every day of the week,” Hammond said. “With our volunteer coordinators currently focused on our more than 500 regular volunteers, we haven’t been able to accommodate all the groups that want to assist. This position will add thousands of hours of volunteer support.”

If you are part of a group looking for a one-time volunteer opportunity or want to do a day of service, visit http://www.austintexas.gov/page/aac-volunteer-group to learn more or sign up.

About Maddies’ Fund

Maddie’s Fund is a family foundation founded in 1994 by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, they have awarded more than $172 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the United States. The Duffields named Maddie’s Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer, Maddie, that made them laugh and gave them comfort. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.

Maddie’s Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, investing its resources to create a no-kill nation where every dog and cat is guaranteed a healthy home or habitat. #ThanksToMaddie

About Austin Animal Center

Austin Animal Center is the largest no-kill municipal animal shelter in the United States, providing shelter to more than 18,000 animals each year and animal protection services to all of Austin and Travis County. The Austin Animal Center is an open-intake facility where lost and surrendered animals from all of Travis County in need of shelter are accepted regardless of age, health, species or breed.

The goal is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes through adoptions, foster care or rescue partner groups.

The Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information go to www.austinanimalcenter.org, call 3-1-1, or visit www.facebook.com/austinanimalcenter for daily animal updates.

The City also maintains the Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St., as an overflow animal adoption location. It also is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.