Party Animals Blog: January 2011

Dear Politicians: Be Like Mike (and Laura, and Eddie)

I’m talking about Mike Martinez, the Mayor Pro Tem of Austin, Texas, which is not only frequently named one of the most pet-friendly communities in the country, but it’s also on a City-Council-mandated path to join the ranks of America’s “No Kill” cities within a matter of months (not decades… are you listening San Antonio?). And those accomplishments are in no small part due to the Mayor Pro Tem’s advocacy, skills, and heart. He has been a true champion of No Kill in Austin, Texas, doing what’s right for companion animals publicly and behind the scenes.

A cynic might argue that Mike Martinez is simply astute at following the political winds— that he understands that the will of the people in this progressive City is to become a No Kill City by rejecting excuses for unnecessary shelter killing and embracing proven and cost-effective life-saving programs and policies. And no doubt he is politically astute (even his staunchest critics admit that). Call me naive all you want, but I don’t think that’s why he has trumpeted No Kill in Austin. I think it’s because he cares, and I think it’s because he “gets it.”

Why am I so sure? Let me ask you these questions:

How many leaders of major metropolitan cities do you know who have rescued, fixed, vaccinated, and adopted an outside “stray” from their neighborhoods? And how many do you know who would then take that personal decision and use it as an opportunity to encourage others to spay and neuter their pets, to encourage others to rescue lost and homeless pets, and to bring attention to animal-welfare non-profits working hard to save lives? And how many city council members do you know whose staff finds a loose dog along the side of a road and doesn’t call the pound, but instead uses every resource they have to successfully and safely return the lost dog to its loving home? And how many politicians do you know who consistently make the right life-saving decisions, time and again, even despite the public opposition of the purportedly credentialed old-guard, pro-killing animal-welfare establishment organizations? And how many city council members do you know who, in releasing a press statement, would fully understand— even while celebrating a high-save-rate December month at the municipal shelter— that December is a low-intake month and that, therefore, there is still much work to be done in Austin to achieve high-save rates in the coming months? Mike does. He, and his staff, have done all of these things.

This is not to say that we don’t have other government leaders who care about animals. Quite the contrary.

Council Member Laura Morrison has been flat-out amazing when it comes to animal welfare. She’s the first candidate I know of in the country who literally ran on a pro-No-Kill message. She ran a full-page ad in the local newspaper in favor of life-saving programs and policies, and she has been an unbending advocate for companion animals. Council Member Morrison has used her bully pulpit (pun intended) to bring attention to issues that affect humans and animals alike in Austin. She has successfully convinced the media to help educate pet owners on how to keep their animals safe during inclement weather and during New Years fireworks, and she also helped ensure that Austin’s homeless people can have a warm place to sleep— on the coldest nights of the year— without having to leave their much-loved pets outside and uncared-for.

In Central Texas, we’re also fortunate to have an extraordinary State Representative in Eddie Rodriguez. The Representative has championed Austin’s No Kill cause, expending political capital to do what’s right for companion animals even when no one is watching. He has dedicated personal time and effort to the cause. He even serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Austin Pets Alive, an outstanding non-profit organization in Austin, Texas, that has saved over 6,000 lost and homeless animals from imminent death at Austin’s municipal shelter as well as other surrounding shelters.

We’re just plain lucky to have Mike, Laura, and Eddie in our community. It will take leaders in your community, like them, to achieve the kind of seismic change it takes to turn a high-kill municipal shelter into a loving and safe place for companion animals. So the question is: who will be the Mike Martinez in your community? Who will be the Laura Morrison? Who will be the Eddie Rodriguez?

To get to No Kill in your community, you’re going to need some wise government leaders to step forward. To be compassionate, smart, and strong. To be like Mike.