Austin City Council has adopted changes to the city ordinance related to spaying cats and dogs at the Austin Animal Shelter, including an amendment that proved controversial.
Under the changed ordinance, the city will notify Austin Pets Alive! (APA) about animals that are lactating so that APA can pick up lactating animals within three hours of the notice. Mayor Kirk Watson provided that amendment, which a representative of Austin Pets Alive! praised during her comments to Council on Thursday. (Animals sometimes begin lactating prior to giving birth.)
Council Member Krista Laine objected to the addition to what she had proposed, which was simply to require more reporting on spays of visibly pregnant animals, the live release rate, and frequency of euthanasia. She also suggested that the city consider working with other animal groups. Mayor Kirk Watson pointed out that the city already has a contract with Austin Pets Alive!, adding that he had already checked with legal staff to ensure the contract does not need to be amended.
The vote on Watson’s amendment passed 6-4, with Laine among the no votes.
Austin Pets Alive!, which partners with the Austin Animal Center to find homes for animals, objected to the changes without Watson’s amendment.
Throughout the testimony on the subject it was evident that there is considerable hostility between supporters of the city animal center and Austin Pets Alive!. The city’s shelter has seen a number of controversies, particularly with its previous director. Austin Animal Center has been overcrowded for years, limiting intake of new animals. Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland retired earlier this year.
Council Member Marc Duchen said, “I’ve been incredibly frustrated with the Animal Services situation. I think it would be more accurately described as a stalemate. . . starting back in January.” He noted that he had asked for data from animal services and Austin Pets Alive! on the number of animals taken in and released to the private organization and gotten “wildly different” answers. He said he had been advised to avoid the whole subject. He added that the problem between the two organizations cannot really be attributed to one person.
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison also talked about the relationship between the two organizations, calling on their supporters to treat one another more civilly.
After the vote, Watson said, “The vitriol with which people speak to each other is a real problem. And it needs to be addressed and everybody needs to address it. This has become, (evident) even prior to Council Member Laine making attempts to make good changes… and I agree with Council Member Duchen that it can’t be just one person. . .This has become almost partisan politics and we’ve got to get past partisan politics or we’re not going to be making good decisions.”
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