March 2019 by Ellen Jefferson, DVM Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive!

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 61 minutes

Why Are Big Dogs So Hard to Save? Identifying and Maintaining Adequate Capacity

Dr. Ellen Jefferson presents the essential programs, best practices, and core philosophies needed to start saving big dogs in your communities. Think of this presentation as the key ingredients needed to move towards and achieve a 90% save rate for your community's dogs. This presentation was recorded by Maddie's Fund® at the 2019 American Pets Alive! Conference.

About Dr. Ellen Jefferson

Dr. Jefferson graduated veterinary school in 1997 and started her career in private practice. In 1999, in response to an 85% death rate at the city shelter, she started EmanciPET, a low cost and free spay/neuter clinic in an effort to decrease the number of homeless animals. In 2008, still not satisfied with how fast the city of Austin was moving towards no-kill status, she stepped in as Executive Director of Austin Pets Alive! Since 2008, Austin Pets Alive! has been the driving force to bring the entire city of Austin to a greater than 90% save rate and the largest no-kill city in the US, and to redefine what no-kill means, as Austin's save rate now approaches 98%. Dr. Jefferson was unanimously chosen as the first recipient of the Avanzino Leadership award, named for the father of no-kill and given for her outstanding contribution to the no-kill movement.