Tawny Hammond will be the new Chief Animal Services Officer of the Austin Animal Center[/caption]

The Austin Animal Center's new Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond started her new position in mid-June. With 26 years of public service under her belt, Hammond said June 29 she is ready to enrich the animal welfare program of Austin.

Hammond previously served as the director of the Fairfax County animal shelter in Virginia before relocating to Austin. Impressed by the commitment and thoughtfulness of the city when it came to animal welfare, Hammond said she saw this opportunity as being at the right place at the right time.

“Austin is a beacon of hope for other communities that want to do what we’re doing,” Hammond said.

The importance of animal welfare is understood in Austin because the foundation has already been laid, according to Hammond. However, the fight to establish best practices was easy, she said, compared to the challenge of holding their footing. As Austin grows, more animals could end up in a shelter, which threatens the city's no-kill initiative, she said.

One big difference between the Austin Animal Center and the Fairfax, Va., shelter she previously led is the sense of urgency for the situation, Hammond said. With close to 18,000 animals taken in annually, she said her chief concern is the mental health of support staff, who have a direct impact on the well-being of animals who are otherwise affected by stress.

In the same vein, Hammond said another obstacle she will have to overcome in her new role is the lack of enthusiasm people have toward adopting. With less than 30 percent of people adopting their pets, shelters can reach critical capacity quickly, she said, especially with the city's No Kill Bill implemented in 2011.

Hammond plans to combat this low percentage by showcasing adoptable animals in more natural environments. Hammond said she also will encourage families to keep animals in homes during times of struggle and work to form a closer partnership with Austin Pets Alive and other animal welfare organizations to stop the discouragement of pet ownership.

“I want people to discover the joy of adoption,” Hammond said. “I want to communicate how wonderful big, mature dogs are as well as puppies.”

Because of the recent flooding in Central Texas, the animal shelter is at critical capacity, she said. From now until the end of July, any cat or dog can be adopted for $25 and any senior animal age 7 or older is free.