Support Gina's Healing After Shelter Incident

Hi, I'm a founding director of a local senior dog all-volunteer advocacy, and I'm asking for help for one of our volunteers who is going through injury recovery. Gina Flink has been a longtime volunteer at Austin Animal Center, starting before the pandemic, and continuing on right through it and afterward. We lost many volunteers during that timeframe, but Gina has been with us through thick and thin. She's lent her love and eternal optimism for all dogs, but especially the senior dogs, her passion area. She's lent her photo and social media talents for dogs of all ages that have become "stuck" in the confines of the shelter system, bringing love, companionship, fun, and outings for so many dogs that needed to find a pathway home.

Gina was injured during the course of volunteering on a beautiful day, Feb 17th, on the campus where Austin Animal Center is located. She was walking a 3-year-old Otterhound who had just arrived less than 14 days prior, as a stray dog with very little history. He had a higher behavior code assigned, for which Gina was trained. After being out a few minutes together on a walk and being near the Emancipet building, Gina paused briefly with him, and shortly thereafter, the dog began a relentless attack. Gina was viciously attacked leaving deep wounds, sustained on both legs, arms and back. Despite her injuries and the sheer panic of the attack, Gina was not going to let the dog run off to attack other people on the premises. Through a miracle, she was able to get him secured and made her way into Emancipet, screaming for help. A kind medical professional applied a tourniquet, 911 was called, the dog was retrieved and immediately quarantined. Gina was taken by EMS after a long period of time in the parking lot to assess and start treating the blood loss and injuries. She received Emergency Room treatment, including x-rays and wound care, at Dell hospital before being released later that night. It is not known if the injuries may cause permanent issues down the road. We want to assist Gina as she recovers; she's been missing work as a result and has expenses that go beyond the extent of her insurance coverage. As shelter volunteers, we all sign waivers of liability, and there is no coverage for accidents and incidents like this. We need to take care of our own and that means taking care of those who help animals with no voice. This is why I ask for you to rally around and consider donating to help offset expenses while Gina is out of work and is facing unexpected medical costs.

Shown: Gina with Archie A918915 bit.ly/AACArchie

Archie is available for foster and adoption.

Please see Gina’s work with all her shelter babies : @walktalklove_dogs

If you are unable to donate, please consider fostering or adopting a shelter pet.