Welcome to AUSTINBLOG, Shelter Reform’s first integrated Weblog focusing on Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) of Austin, Texas — the nation’s largest No Kill city.

Many good things have happened in Austin since its City Council committed to a No Kill Implementation Plan. We have no intention of undermining the continued string of positive changes by being overly critical, or letting “the perfect be the enemy of the good.” But the struggle for consistency with the Implementation Plan has not been a smooth one, and policies, actions, and personnel decisions that stand to undermine the Shelter’s No Kill mission continue to arise both internally and externally. While we have been actively promoting that critical consistency “within the system” (speaking at Animal Advisory Commission meetings, Public Health and Human Services meetings, consulting with the offices of city councilmembers and the city manager as well as the new director, Abigail Smith), it appears to be incumbent upon us to open a public window on the problem areas that inexplicably persist.

We look forward to seeing these problems solved in constructive ways — as many other problems at TLAC have been solved. There are many hopeful signs. We hope that they will transfer to the areas where hope still appears dim in the midst of this still-fragile transition.

We are strong advocates for Nathan Winograd’s approach to No Kill. Where there is a conflict between his stated position and the policies and ideologies circulating at TLAC, we think it absolutely necessary to draw attention to those conflicts, with an eye toward achieving the kind of consistency necessary to carry the No Kill program forward in a sustainable, long-term way.