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A few weeks ago, we informed you about the political happenings in Austin around animal welfare, in particular, around the city seeking to pass a resolution allowing the euthanization of dogs with bites on their records. We want to keep you updated on progress and current events on an ongoing basis.
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Last year was extremely challenging for animal shelters in the US, and Austin was no exception. The Austin of yesteryear found tremendous pride in leading the country in No Kill during a time when shelters struggled the most to save the lives of even half of the pets who entered their care. In this new era of humane struggles, where pets are guaranteed not to be killed while other pets are left on the streets, some living in crates for too long, and people struggle to keep their pets without support, our city must take the lead in progressive, lifesaving solutions. Austin Pets Alive! has been relatively quiet about these issues on public platforms as we wait for the much-needed shelter audit to bear fruit, and I regret that choice. APA! has been given a microphone for pets in our community over the last 15 years, and we need to help be the voice of animals in need both publicly and behind the scenes.
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Valentine’s Day 2023 will always be special for Jeni Gossard, a volunteer with Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), as it marks the day her adoption of Sylvester, a Chihuahua with a lot of love to give, became official. The journey to this point wasn’t an easy one due to trust and anxiety issues the pup had, but patience, persistence, and APA!’s expert Dog Behavior Program made this “happy beginning” possible.
Sometimes perceived behaviors and issues can create barriers to adoption. APA!’s program uses a three-part approach to make adoptions successful by assessing and treating the whole dog – mind, body, and spirit – using play groups, obedience training and adoption follow up support to help .
Gossard remembers the first time she met Sylvester four years ago. She says she immediately observed how shelter life increased his anxiety, so she volunteered to take him home for “sleepovers” as part of the behavior program so that she could observe and assess his behavior.
“He was a great house guest. My first encounters with him were positive and there were no behavior issues,” she said. She immediately considered adopting him, but her career and personal life made it difficult to care for a pet full time.
Meanwhile, Sylvester was adopted into a loving home, but 10 months later, he was returned to due to anxiety and trust issues. This pattern of adoption and return would continue several more times, with Gossard working with him for weeks each time. Something magical happened, however, the last time Sylvester came back.
“When he was returned from the fourth home, I decided he was “home”, she said. “Long story short, Sylvester knew I was his “mom” way before I realized it.”
Gossard knew she and Sylvester would need guidance and support from the APA! Dog Behavior Program after his adoption to successfully handle his trust and anxiety issues. Through the program she was able to secure a solid team of “APA! aunties” who were integral in alleviating the pup’s trust issues through socialization, perseverance, and patience.
“Needless to say, I have a lot of support through APA!’s behavior team, staff and volunteers. I’m continually texting/talking with all of his APA! aunties,” Gossard said.
Without APA’s Dog Behavior Program, the outcome might have been very different. Gossard said she has taken him to work and he loves her co-workers because they respect his boundaries and he knows they are the “treat people”, and the longer he is in her home his anxiety has lessened and his trust has increased.
“I love him for who he is,” Gossard said, “and will continue to work with him so he remains a calm, loving, trusting and a happy little boy.”
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Valentine’s Day 2023 will always be special for Jeni Gossard, a volunteer with Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), as it marks the day her adoption of Sylvester, a Chihuahua with a lot of love to give, became official. The journey to this point wasn’t an easy one due to trust and anxiety issues the pup had, but patience, persistence, and APA!’s expert Dog Behavior Program made this “happy beginning” possible.
Sometimes perceived behaviors and issues can create barriers to adoption. APA!’s program uses a three-part approach to make adoptions successful by assessing and treating the whole dog – mind, body, and spirit – using play groups, obedience training and adoption follow up support to help .
Gossard remembers the first time she met Sylvester four years ago. She says she immediately observed how shelter life increased his anxiety, so she volunteered to take him home for “sleepovers” as part of the behavior program so that she could observe and assess his behavior.
“He was a great house guest. My first encounters with him were positive and there were no behavior issues,” she said. She immediately considered adopting him, but her career and personal life made it difficult to care for a pet full time.
Meanwhile, Sylvester was adopted into a loving home, but 10 months later, he was returned to due to anxiety and trust issues. This pattern of adoption and return would continue several more times, with Gossard working with him for weeks each time. Something magical happened, however, the last time Sylvester came back.
“When he was returned from the fourth home, I decided he was “home”, she said. “Long story short, Sylvester knew I was his “mom” way before I realized it.”
Gossard knew she and Sylvester would need guidance and support from the APA! Dog Behavior Program after his adoption to successfully handle his trust and anxiety issues. Through the program she was able to secure a solid team of “APA! aunties” who were integral in alleviating the pup’s trust issues through socialization, perseverance, and patience.
“Needless to say, I have a lot of support through APA!’s behavior team, staff and volunteers. I’m continually texting/talking with all of his APA! aunties,” Gossard said.
Without APA’s Dog Behavior Program, the outcome might have been very different. Gossard said she has taken him to work and he loves her co-workers because they respect his boundaries and he knows they are the “treat people”, and the longer he is in her home his anxiety has lessened and his trust has increased.
“I love him for who he is,” Gossard said, “and will continue to work with him so he remains a calm, loving, trusting and a happy little boy.”
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Kesha 21 is truly an Austin Pets Alive! kitten. This 3-month-old kitty
was born in our care, and raised in the APA! nursery program. She’s what
we call a “neonatal graduate”—and yes it’s all right to picture her
sweet self in a teeny cap and gown.
But when Kesha 21 got her spay surgery, our veterinarians discovered some heart issues that she’d likely been born with. Further examinations led our vets to believe that Kesha 21 has advanced pulmonic stenosis—a rare condition in cats.
Having this condition means that one of Kesha 21’s heart valves is too
narrow, making it hard for her body to get blood to her lungs. It’s not
just affecting her health. Kesha 21’s personality is affected, too.
She’s gotten a little more quiet as her heart issues have progressed.
The veterinarians say things will get worse for Kesha 21, if she doesn’t begin work with a cardiologist. The
blockage of blood flow is putting extra strain on her heart, which
could cause Kesha 21 to faint or even go into heart failure.
She will get short of breath, and exhausted, from the ordinary playing
and running that most kittens are able to enjoy. We don’t yet know if
the pulmonic stenosis will affect Kesha 21’s lifespan.

A cardiologist who we’ve partnered with before to correct animals’ heart
problems can consult with Kesha 21 and give her the specialty treatment
she needs. Kesha 21 may be a candidate for surgery, or her condition
could be
managed through medication. After initial treatment, this young
kitten will likely need more monitoring still, so we can keep an eye on
that tiny ticker and keep Kesha 21 as healthy and well as she can be,
for as long as we can.
Kesha 21’s care is going to be very expensive. Just the initial cardiac consultation will cost $5,000.
While some shelters would give up on a young kitten who needed such
expensive care at such a tender age, we know our community is with us in
believing with all our hearts that Kesha 21 deserves the opportunity to
live, and to live well.
With a woof, a purr, and a thanks,
The APA! Team
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