[Proclamations]
[00:00:05]
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'M THE DISTRICT SIX CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M PRESENTING A VERY IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I GREW UP WITH MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WATCHING THE PRICES, RIGHT? AND WE ALL REMEMBER BOB BARKER ENDING THE SHOW WITH HIS INFAMOUS SAYING, THIS IS BOB BARKER, REMINDING YOU TO HELP CONTROL THE PET POPULATION, HAVE YOUR PETS SPAYED OR NEUTERED, SPAYING, AND NEUTERING.
YOUR PET CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR MANY ANIMALS.
IT ALSO PREVENTS PET OVERPOPULATION AND IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR PETS.
ALL OF MY PETS HAVE BEEN SPAYED NEUTERED, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY TO STRONGLY CONSIDER DOING THE SAME.
I WANT TO THANK THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND MAKING IT A PRIORITY TO HELP REMIND PEOPLE TO STAY IN NEUTER THE PETS AT THE SHELTER AND TO HELP THE CITY OF AUSTIN REMAIN A NO-KILL CITY.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THEIR DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN I'LL RETURN TO THE PODIUM HERE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION AND OUTREACH, AND THE INTAKE A SPAY NEUTER IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER BECAUSE WE ARE A NO-KILL OPERATION.
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A 95% LIVE OUTCOME.
SO EVERY ANIMAL THAT WE CAN GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED IS LESS PUPPIES AND KITTENS TO COME IN.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES SINCE 2017 HAS HAD AS SPAYED NEUTERED OVER 61,000 ANIMALS OWNED BY BOTH ANIMAL CENTER AND RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND YEARLY.
WE SPEND ABOUT $1.7 MILLION ON SPAY-NEUTER OF COMMUNITY ANIMALS.
SO, UH, WE ARE A NATIONAL LEADER IN THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT HIGH RATE OF SPAY-NEUTER THROUGH VARIOUS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPS US STAY.
NOW WE'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY.
IT SAYS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CATS AND DOGS PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP TO AND SHARE THE HOMES OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THE PROBLEM OF PET OVERPOPULATION COSTS THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY THROUGH ANIMAL CONTROL AND SHELTERING PROGRAMS AIMED AT COPING WITH UNWANTED AND HOMELESS CATS AND DOGS.
AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HAS MADE CORRECTING PET OVERPOPULATION OF PRIORITY AND TAKING A POSITIVE APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS SPAYING AND NEUTERING CATS AND DOGS IS PART OF THE NO-KILL EQUATION.
AND WHEREAS SPAY AND NEUTER IS A CORE COMPONENT OF KEEPING AUSTIN AND NO KILL CITY.
AND NOW THEREFORE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL OF ITS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, WE DECLARE FEBRUARY OF 2022 AS SPAY AND NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND IF I CAN GET YOU IN FRONT OF THEM, I WAS GOING TO SAY I HAVE THAT RIGHT AT MY NOTES.