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Cup of Joe to Relieve Your Morning Stress (and keep those eyelids from
shutting)?
Who knew? Coffee, it's actually good for you! Caffeine, according to
researchers, is high in antioxidants and vitamins that help repair cell
damage...
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Has Annoying Back and Neck Pain From Spending Too Many Hours at Your Computer Terminal Got You Down?! Relief Is On its Way!
By Shelley Bueche
If you are a freelancer spending more hours at a computer desk than you
can count, and if you are over say, 25, there’s no doubt in my mind you
suffer with occasional nagging _____ (fill in the blank) pain from time
to time.
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Kelli Alexander and Dr. Ellen Jefferson of Emancipet: Putting Austin on the Map EmanciPet, Paving the Way toward a More Humane Tomorrow By Shelley Bueche EmanciPet, a low cost sterilization nonprofit organization founded in Austin in 1999, is having a tremendous impact locally. Since its inception, EmanciPet has performed over 40,000 spay and neuter surgeries on cats and dogs in the Austin area. EmanciPet recently applied for an Impact Austin grant for $108,000 that will enable them to expand operations and achieve the goal of having Austin become the number two No Kill community for pets, in America. Austin would be just behind San Francisco, the only ‘No Kill’ city in the country. Numbers released by the Humane Society of the United States are impressive:
- There are an estimated 6 to 8 million animals released to shelters each year in the nation
- Of these animals, approximately 3 to 4 million, are euthanized annually
- In 7 years, one female cat can produce up to 420,000 offspring
- In 6 years, a single female dog can produce up to 67,000 dogs
Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Medical Director and founder of EmanciPet, was a biology/pre-Veterinary major at Trinity University in San Antonio. The campus is located across the street from the animal shelter in the Alamo city. As she watched the parade of animals being herded into the shelter, Jefferson became discouraged and knew “there had to be a better way.” After graduating from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997, Dr. Jefferson began her professional career as an emergency vet in Austin. Being a stranger in town with few acquaintances, it was only natural that she volunteered in a place where she could maximize her talents, the Town Lake Animal Center. Witnessing the number of adoptable animals that were euthanized simply because of sheer numbers, was “unacceptable” to Dr. Jefferson. She needed no further convincing after seeing “puppies licking the faces of the people who had to kill them.” In 1999, loading a recreational vehicle and retrofitting it to accommodate animal cages and surgery tables in the back of Dr. Jefferson’s truck, EmanciPet, was born. Little did she realize that she was gaining momentum and helping pave the way for Austin to become a revolutionary community in terms of compassion for animals. Not only does EmanciPet provide reproductive surgeries for dogs and cats at below cost, or even no cost, they also provide other services including vaccinations, and post surgical check-ups. The clinic absorbs approximately $10,000 in operating expenses each month providing pain injections for animals after surgery while ensuring that the post-surgical animal patient is recuperating as comfortably as possible. In April of 2005, the City of Austin leased land in Southeast Austin, at 183 and Airport Boulevard, for a stationary headquarters for the agency. This expansion from a mobile spay/neuter operations to a facility, meant a greater need for community input in getting the word about the agency’s mission.To help address the need for greater community awareness Kelli Alexander, was hired as the first Executive Director of EmanciPet. A veteran board member and animal lover, Alexander brings experience and compassion plus an infusion of energy to her job. Staff members at the agency include 4 veterinarians, a medical director, executive director, fundraising liaison and support staff. With funding from Impact Austin’s grant, plus matching grant monies from PetsMart, EmanciPet would then be able to immediately add additional four veterinarians to their staff, doubling the number of surgeries performed each day moving Austin to the enviable position of becoming a ‘No Kill’ community.Certainly the definition of what exactly a ‘No Kill’ community is varies, but Kelli Alexander summarizes EmanciPet’s definition as one where every “adoptable animal” in Austin, finds a home. “As far as volunteers, like most nonprofits, we rely heavily on the help and support of volunteers. We could certainly use more help in the areas kennel techs, animal care, clerical and education” explains Alexander.Dr. Ellen Jefferson summarizes the work of EmanciPet for Central Texas as being “proactive and showing that spayed animals will live longer, healthier lives.” In fact the staff at EmanciPet readily acknowledges that they would like to see themselves out of a job and instead start the process of leading other communities in promoting a ‘No Kill’ policy so that every adoptable animal in the country finds a proper home.
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