Pet adoption urged before holiday

AUSTIN (KXAN) - With the Fourth of July nearing, Austin animal advocacy groups are pushing for more adoptions surrounding the holiday.

Town Lake Animal Shelter Executive Director Dorinda Pulliam said the number of animals coming into the center usually rises during the holidays because many outdoor animals become stranded after being frightened by fireworks.

"There's a very strong relationship between that intake number and what happens with euthanasia," said Pulliam. "Once the pets are in the shelter, we certainly need the support of our adopters who come in and help us save those pets."

Austin City Council member Laura Morrison agrees.

"Every pet saved, adopted this week is a life saved this weekend," said Morrison.

Austin Pets Alive! spokeswoman Laura Stromberg said this weekend is not only an important reminder to Austin residents to adopt animals but also to spay and neuter their pets.

That issue has rallied Austin residents to fight for the free spay- and neuter program that is on the table for proposed budget cuts.

The City of Austin partners with Emancipet to provide 4,000 free sterilization surgeries a year, but the programs on the table for cuts cost a total of roughly $200,000.

"Housing and then killing animals will cost us much more down the line than we are spending on Emancipet's funding," said Stromberg. "It's a no-brainer."

At the first three City budget town hall meetings scheduled last month, statistics show eliminating the spay- and neutering program did not sit well with Austin residents. Only 30 percent of those attending the meetings approved of eliminating the funding.