Getting To Zero - A Whole Community Change Model
AWL Qld has been working intensively on two key goals over the last 8 years:
1. To achieve zero killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs in one large Australian city, and
2. To develop a strategic model that can be applied in other cities and shires around Australia to Get to Zero nationwide.
This has resulted in the Getting to Zero Model which details the principles, structures and strategies for achieving zero killing in whole communities. Simultaneously, in the United States of America, the No Kill Equation has been evolving. It identifies similar strategies, providing evidence of the effectiveness of these strategies in a range of communities. However, the Getting to Zero Model also provides the structures that need to be in place so that these strategies can be achieved. AWL Qld statistics for the Gold Coast region can be viewed here.
Through the application of the Getting to Zero model, 80% of the 7000 stray and surrendered cats and dogs in Gold Coast City (population 500 000 people and growing by 13000 to 16000 each year) are now saved i.e. reclaimed or rehomed. This includes 87% of all incoming dogs and 65% of incoming cats in 2008/9. This save rate is much higher than most other pounds and shelters.
It has also been identified that 90% of stray and surrendered dogs and cats in a large city are either healthy or treatable and should be rehomed. Euthanasia should only occur if an animal is irremediably suffering or if a dog is vicious (i.e. exhibits aggression towards people even when the dog is not hungry, in pain, or frightened) and the prognosis for rehabilitation is poor. In a whole city these animals represent less than 10% of stray and surrendered animals.
By accepting 3000 cats and dogs from surrounding cities and shires, the rehoming of 1300 treatable Gold Coast dogs and cats in 2008/9 (3% of all incoming dogs and 25% of all incoming cats) was prevented. If these surrounding communities had been applying the Getting to Zero Model, Gold Coast City would have achieved zero, along with the surrounding cities and shires. Statistics for the Gold Coast region can be viewed by clicking below:
AWL Qld, with the assistance of the Elsie Cameron Foundation, now working with other local governments and shelter and rescue groups to implement this successful model in their own communities, so that all healthy and treatable cats and dogs can be saved nationwide.
We hope you will be equally as passionate about being part of this Getting to Zero Evolution in Australia. Please complete the Getting to Zero Checklist to show where your city/shire is at, in Getting to Zero. Once completed and returned to us, we can do some pre-assessment and then meet with you to discuss how we can help.
How to become part of the Getting To Zero revolution
1. Self-Audit - Complete Getting to Zero Checklist
2. Forward self-audit to AWL Qld at joy@awlqld.com.au
3. Follow-up Meeting to discuss structural strategic needs and possible future assistance.