Organization saves 1,000 animals

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Pets Alive, a non-profit attempting to make Austin a no-kill city, announced that since June 2008, it has rescued 1,000 animals from Town Lake Animal Shelter.

"We're excited by the number of lives we've saved despite our lack of resources," said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Austin Pets Alive president and a local veternarian. "We would like to save every animal, and we are headed in that direction."

Austin Pets Alive's efforts were improved greatly after a private donor gave $20,000 in February. This donation allowed the organization to open two full-time adoption sites. In April, Austin Pets Alive opened another adoption site in the Southpark Meadows PetsMart.

However, the organization still does not have an office and is constantly looking for volunteers and foster families.

"If each person in our community did one small thing to make a difference, such as temporarily fostering a pet, spaying and neutering their own pets or donating time or money to a rescue group, Austin could become a no-kill city very quickly," said Dr. Jefferson.