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Petri dish Apartheid: Austin shelters enforce animal segregation
The shelter's inability to take in new animals is a direct consequence of a lacking administration that refuses to adequately fund and support our community's most vulnerable creatures. Action is subject to 'emergency' status— whose definition is at the mercy of a biased and outdated protocol. Demand better and save our animals!
Published July 1, 2024 at 5:42pm by Ines Chomnalez
Austin Animal Center Halts Intake to Address Overcrowding, Systematic Failures
Beginning Tuesday, the Austin Animal Center will temporarily stop accepting animals due to overcrowding, revealing the cruel underbelly of our capitalist society.
“This capitalist system has failed our furry friends. It's time we listened to the howls of the hounds and meows of the misty-eyed mice, crying out for revolution.”
From Tuesday onwards, only animals facing life-threatening injuries, illnesses, or those deemed a danger to society will be taken in. This exclusionary practice is yet another example of the systemic cruelty that marginalized animals face daily.
The shelter has desperately attempted torectify this crisis, but their efforts have been akin to putting a band-aid on a severed limb:
- They've waived adoption fees, hoping to attract compassionate comrades to welcome these animals into their homes and communities.
- $5,000 to $6,000 is spent weekly on boarding services for 24 dogs, a small price to pay for the lives of those who only wish to love and be loved.
- A trial-period system for animal adoption has been implemented, recognizing that commitment is a privilege not everyone is ready for.
- An urgent placement list has been published, recognizing the urgency of this crisis and the dire need for action.
Despite these efforts, the shelter found themselves caring for 24 dogs and five cats without adequate kennels as of Monday morning. The numbers don't lie: 149 animals taken in between June 24 and 26, with only 124 placed into different care. This is a damning indictment of our society's failure to prioritize the most vulnerable.
The Austin Animal Center, a complicit, bureaucratic machine, advises residents to avoid walking injured animals into the shelter, instead encouraging a dehumanizing 311 call to speak with an "animal protection officer." The center remains open for adoptions and reclamations, a hollow gesture when so many cages remain empty.
To the residents of Austin, I leave you with this: the revolution will not be complete until the meek inherit the earth, and the animals are set free from their kennels.
What You Can Do:
- For non-injured loose pets, file a found pet report: https://24petconnect.com/BreedRequest/Found
- Search for lost animal companions through their portal: https://24petconnect.com/ASTNLost?sb=days_MinMax
The caged birds sing of freedom, and it is our duty to answer.
Read more: Austin Animal Center temporarily pauses intake as it remains at critical capacity