Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck has been awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in the 2014 City Livability Awards Program during The U.S. Conference of Mayors' 82nd Annual Meeting in Dallas. The award recognized the creative programs offered through Arlington's Animal Services Department.

This is the 35th year in which cities have competed for the award, which is sponsored by the Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc., the nation's largest environmental solutions provider. The award recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America's cities, focusing on the leadership, creativity, and innovation demonstrated by the mayors.

This year's winning cities were selected by former mayors from a pool of over 200 applicants.

Barry Caldwell, Waste Management's Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, presented the awards during today's annual luncheon in Dallas, TX. "It remains a joy for Waste Management to partner with the USCM to honor mayors who are enhancing their cities' quality of life, which the City Livability Award represents," said Mr. Caldwell. "For more than 25 years, Waste Management has sponsored the Award because as the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental solutions in North America, our services are vital to the quality of life of cities and communities across the nation."

"Our City Livability Awards Program gives us the opportunity to highlight mayoral leadership in making urban areas cleaner, safer, and more livable," said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the Conference of Mayors. "We are grateful to Waste Management for its many years of support for the City Livability Awards Program, and for the opportunity to showcase the innovation and commitment of mayors and city governments across the country."

"I am proud to accept this year's City' Livability Award on behalf of the employees and citizens of Arlington, who have come together to deal with pet overcrowding in our region," said Mayor Robert Cluck. "This organization gives mayors an opportunity to exchange ideas about similar problems or successes that each city faces."

In addition to the two top awards, which went to New Orleans (LA) and West Sacramento (CA), Outstanding Achievement Awards were given to five cities with populations of 100,000 or more-Arlington (TX), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Mesa (AZ), Providence - and five cities with populations of less than 100,000- Beverly Hills (CA), Braintree (MA), Roanoke (VA) Tamarac (FL) and York (PA).

Honorable Mention citations for cities with populations of 100,000 or more went to Aurora, (CO) Gresham (OR), Little Rock, (AR), and Orlando, (FL). Citations for cities with populations of less than 100,000 went to Brick (NJ), Cathedral City (CA), Newton (MA), and Wauwatosa (WI).

City of Arlington's Program Description

Arlington Animal Services Center - Arlington Animal Services' (AAS) innovative programs have stimulated community interest and development, and have also generated awareness and involvement through the Responsible Pet Ownership Program. Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, a pet owner and animal lover, helped launch the Responsible Pet Ownership Program.

AAS programs led to a creative anti-bullying campaign where the youth see life through the perspective of a pit bull that was bullied and overcame severe abuse. Pet therapy is another program meant to provide health and wellness benefits to the community. This outreach touches the lives of students at UT Arlington during final exams, senior citizens and students with autism, Down's syndrome and others with disabilities.

The latest component to the program is the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) of feral cats. The growing feral cat population demonstrated a challenge for Arlington, but AAS along with community partners are working together to overcome that challenge. In January 2014, TNR contributed to an AAS first ever ninety percent shelter live release rate.

Arlington Animal Services also has mobile adoption and vaccination units that make it easy and accessible for Arlington residents to take care of their furry friends or adopt new ones.

"It is my belief that we have been very aggressive in taking care of the animals in our city and teaching residents to become responsible pet owners. It's the only humane thing to do. It is nice to get recognized for that," said Mayor Cluck. "Nearly every City Council member is a pet owner and are big supporters of animals in our community."