Intake at animal center continues to outpace adoptions

Animal intake at the Austin Animal Center continues to surpass the number of adoptions, according to a presentation at an Animal Advisory Commission meeting Monday.  

In July, the center took in 932 animals while 769 animals were adopted, according to the presentation from the Animal Services Office. Animal intake dropped from June, which saw an intake of 1,119 animals. Animal adoptions had a slight uptick from 740 last month, according to the presentation. 

The numbers come as the center announced last month that they have reached critical capacity, which limits intake to “critical emergency intakes.” Commissioners heard from a woman who said she had to wait six weeks for an intake appointment for 11 sick kittens she brought to them, one of whom she said passed away since she contacted the animal center on May 30.  

“There is no reason that it should take over six weeks to get an appointment for sick kittens,” the woman said. 

Don Bland, the chief animal services officer, said he’ll look into the issue, calling it “concerning.” 

Commissioners also heard an update on the strategic plan process for the Animal Services Office. Officials are continuing to hold listening sessions with staff and volunteers. Nine interviews with ASO leadership were conducted in July, and listening sessions with staff and volunteers drew a total of over 130 participants, which will conclude on Thursday. 

During the first meeting with a working group composed of relevant stakeholders including Austin Pets Alive!, city staff and animal commissioners on Aug. 7, the group addressed the elephant in the room – literally. Larry Schooler, the consultant leading the working group discussions, said participants placed sticky notes with comments on how to better improve animal services in Austin on a stuffed elephant.  

“We felt as if this was an apt metaphor to deal with some of what will go into the strategic plan for this topic, that folks need to tease out what some of those sort of sensitive, for lack of a better word, topics that need to be addressed over the course of the strategic planning discussion,” Schooler said. 

One note reads, “lack of trust in shelter management.” 

“No animals were harmed in the making of this working group, but Assistant City Manager [Stephanie] Hayden-Howard disobeyed a direct order and touched the elephant that you see on the screen,” Schooler joked.  

The working group is scheduled to hold three more meetings throughout August and September. 

Officials also provided an update on their community engagement efforts, including on the survey released in July to solicit feedback on the state of animal services in Austin. Over 2,000 people have completed the survey, according to the presentation. 

A website explaining the strategic plan process has received more than 13,000 page views, according to the presentation. 

“There will be additional opportunities posted to this feedback page for feedback later on in this,” said Audrey Muntz, a budget and performance manager with the city.  

Going forward, city officials will continue to hold internal and external stakeholder meetings and analyze the findings from their engagement efforts, including the survey and listening sessions, according to the presentation.  

Photo by SteelMaster Buildings made available through a Creative Commons license.

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