American Pets Alive! (AmPA!) is the national program of Austin Pets Alive!, a nonprofit animal shelter in Austin, TX. AmPA!’s mission is to urgently save the lives of companion animals from unnecessary deaths in shelters through education and outreach activities based on the Austin No Kill Model’s proven lifesaving methods.
What does American Pets Alive! do?
American Pets Alive! teaches animal shelters how to save more lives faster. Whether you are a shelter leader, employee, volunteer or an animal advocate looking to save homeless pets we have the educational opportunities, tools, resources and know-how to help. Everything American Pets Alive! teaches is based on the lifesaving success of Austin, Texas, the nation’s largest No Kill city.
Where is American Pets Alive! located?
We are located in beautiful Austin, Texas, at Austin Pets Alive!’s flagship shelter at 1156 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703.
Is American Pets Alive! a shelter or rescue?
American Pets Alive! is not a shelter or a rescue, we are the national program of Austin Pets Alive! and offer educational services and shelter support to anyone interested in saving the lives of companion animals.
Is there a place where I can talk to others looking to learn more about No Kill best practices, too?
Of course! The American Pets Alive! Conference is the BEST opportunity to talk to others on the No Kill journey. There, you can meet No Kill experts from across the country and learn all of the Austin lifesaving ingredients.
We also encourage you to join Maddie’s Pet Forum, a digital networking platform. Search “American Pets Alive!” to find our open groups.
Does American Pets Alive! want to work with my community even if we aren’t close to saving all the homeless pets?
Yes, yes, yes! We understand that No Kill is a journey, and saving more lives takes hard work. If you want to save more lives, we want to show you how!
Can I get advice or help directly from American Pets Alive!’s experts?
Yes, fill out the form on our Contact Us page for a real life response to any questions you might have on your lifesaving journey. We also offer consultation and assessment services, which provide you with in-depth support from our experts.
Who can I reach out to if my local rescue or shelter is experiencing a crisis in which lives are at-risk?
Fill out the form on our Contact Us page for a real life response to any crisis your local shelter or rescue might be facing, and feel free to also utilize the Maddie’s Pet Forum and social media. We encourage you to be transparent with your local media and community to engage their support. In some cases, our crisis response team may be able to come to your local shelter or rescue to help.
Is American Pets Alive! a resource for saving cats, too?
Of course! We offer educational tools and resources to save cats and dogs!
How can I help American Pets Alive!?
We need your help to save the lives of vulnerable cats and dogs! You can make a donation by visiting the Donate page. We encourage you to make a recurring gift. We also like to ask you to help spread the word through social media, reviews and word of mouth about the importance of the No Kill Movement and our work. Success is only possible when we work together.
Does American Pets Alive! have sponsorship opportunities?
Yes, we do! We would love to have you sponsor our academy, traveling experts, or conference! Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss options and benefits offered.
What are American Pets Alive!’s funding sources?
Our funding is mostly composed of individual donations, corporate giving, and grants.
Are donations tax-exempt?
Yes, we are a program of a 501(c)(3) recognized charity by the IRS. Donations for our program made directly to Austin Pets Alive! will be properly acknowledged and receipted for your personal records. Our tax ID number is 74-2893360.
What is #TeamTexas?
Team Texas is a cohort of American Pets Alive! Our mission is to end the needless killing of shelter animals in every community across Texas through community collaboration, networking and support.
Does American Pets Alive! only serve Texas shelters and rescues?
No, we help shelters and rescues all across the United States. While we have many partners and students working to improve the most dangerous states for homeless pets (Texas, California, Florida), we’ve hosted students from almost every state, and a few other countries, at our academy and our our conference.
Conference
What is the American Pets Alive! Conference?
American Pets Alive! is a 3-day conference focused on actionable tactics for lifesaving and the only conference set out to teach tangible strategies to solve the biggest issues faced in lifesaving today. The conference takes place in Austin, TX annually and hosts 400-600 attendees each year.
We believe that No Kill can only be achieved through community effort, everywhere and anywhere. Participants leave the American Pets Alive! Conference inspired to do more in their communities and with the skills and knowledge to make change. While other conferences only intend to bring animal shelter leaders and thinkers together, our conference sets out to change the way shelters operate.
Where and when is the American Pets Alive! Conference?
The venue location and dates change yearly but the conference always takes place in Austin, TX. Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know any and all important conference updates!
Who should attend the American Pets Alive! Conference?
Anyone interested in learning how to save the lives of homeless pets should attend the American Pets Alive! Conference. We teach strategies geared towards leaders, staff/implementers and animal advocates from all walks of life and all parts of the world.
Join us for the most invigorating and inspiring animal welfare conference, anywhere. Every year the conference is different and every year we teach you how to save more lives through tangible methods and proven techniques. Join us and help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats!
Are there sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities at the conference?
Yes, there are sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities to market your brand to a unique and passionate demographic. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss options and benefits offered.
What will I learn at the American Pets Alive! Conference?
The American Pets Alive! Conference will teach you how to save the lives of all homeless pets, even the most vulnerable populations. We teach you how to redefine animal sheltering, so that lifesaving is the desired outcome for everything you do! You will also learn leadership skills to drive your organization forward and get the chance to network with a supportive, innovative community.
How do I register for the American Pets Alive! Conference?
Visit the Conference section of our website to learn more about registering for the conference online. Registration is processed through a third party tool and is only open for a set window of time. We highly recommend you sign up for our newsletter to be notified of registration deadlines and have the registration link sent directly to your inbox!
Can I get a refund for my American Pets Alive! Conference registration?
Refunds are available in some cases up until 2 weeks before the conference. Please contact us directly to inquire.
Can I transfer my registration to someone else?
If you’re unable to attend the conference and would like to have someone else use your registration, you will just need to contact us so we can update your registration with details of the alternate attendee.
Does pricing go up as we get closer to the conference dates?
Yes! Registering during the Early Bird Special gets you the lowest pricing available as pricing does go up as we near the date.
Can I see past presentations from the American Pets Alive! Conference?
Yes! Maddie’s Fund® has made videos of the presentations from the past 4 conferences available on their website.
Can I attend tours of Austin Pets Alive! or Austin Animal Center?
Tours of each facility are available to registered conference attendees on the day before the conference and the day after the conference. Sign up is required. Check your conference registration email for more information!
Where do I park for the conference?
Parking options vary from year to year, depending on our conference venue. Please view our Austin Guide for tips on parking, as well as accommodations and things to do around the city.
Where should I stay in Austin?
There are many great options for accommodations in Austin! Please review our Austin Guide for the most up-to-date advice. If you are a registered attendee, we advise you to book a room at our host venue for a discounted rate. Check your registration email for instructions on how to book in our room block. AirBnB and HomeAway are also great resources for low priced accommodations.
Maddie’s Learning Academy
What is Maddie’s Learning Academy?
Maddie’s Learning Academy is a professional learning experience for shelter and rescue staff, volunteers and leadership. We offer 13 different learning experiences (apprenticeships and master classes) taught by No Kill experts. Currently, accepted students receive this education for free, as well as a stipend to support travel to Austin. #ThankstoMaddie
Who is Maddie’s Learning Academy for?
The Maddie’s Learning Academy is for shelter and rescue staff, volunteers, and leadership who want to learn how to increase live outcomes at their shelter. We have found that the students who are able to make the most difference at their home shelters are those that are in a position to implement change within their organizations.
What is Maddie’s Fund®?
Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday® co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $225.7 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and gave them much joy. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl for ten years and continues to inspire them today.
Maddie's Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, investing its resources to create a no-kill nation where every dog and cat is guaranteed a healthy home or habitat. #ThanksToMaddie.
Much of our work is sponsored by and made possible by Maddie’s Fund.
Where is Maddie’s Learning Academy?
Maddie’s Learning Academy hosts classes in Austin, TX in three locations: Austin Pets Alive!’s main facility, the APA! Neonatal Kitten Nursery and the Austin Animal Center.
What types of professional learning experiences does Maddie’s Learning Academy offer?
Maddie’s Learning Academy currently offers 13 different learning experiences for shelter staff and volunteers. See a complete list of offerings here.
Is Maddie’s Learning Academy free?
Yes! And accepted students are eligible to receive a travel stipend from Maddie’s Fund to help offset the costs of travel. We encourage students who are able to waive this stipend to do so. This will help us give more shelters the opportunity to attend.
How do I get to Austin?
Flying into Austin’s airport (Austin Bergstrom International, AUS) is the easiest and most convenient method. Flying into Dallas or Houston may be less expensive, but it is a 3-4 hour drive to Austin from either. Please review our Austin Guide for more advice about your trip to Austin.
Where should I stay in Austin?
There are many great options for accommodations in Austin! Please review our Austin Guide for the most up-to-date advice. AirBnB and HomeAway are also great resources for low priced accommodations. We recommend using Google maps to identify the location of your apprenticeship and determine which hotels would be most convenient during your time here. Here is a nearby option we suggest:
The Holiday Inn – Austin Town Lake generously provides students a discounted rate. To reserve your room at the discounted rate, students should contact:
Jennifer Marshall, Holiday Inn – Austin Town Lake 512-634-1250 [email protected]
Arrangements made directly through the Holiday Inn website will not reflect the discounted rate.
Who teaches the Maddie’s Learning Academy apprenticeships?
Maddie’s Learning Academy is taught by No Kill experts. We’re lucky enough to have instructors who are either previous shelter program managers or current shelter program managers. These individuals have each led teams that have increased the live outcomes for animals in their care, and are excited to help others learn how to do the same in their home communities. Learn more about our instructors here.
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