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Tag Archives: Animal Advisory Commission
Should Austin limit public contact with wild animals at for-profit zoos, aquariums?
The Animal Advisory Commission continues to grapple with language on a proposed ordinance that would limit public contact with wild animals at for-profit zoos and aquariums. At its June 12 meeting, the commission voted to convene a second working group…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 21, 2023
City's animal commission OKs cat educator
The Animal Advisory Commission unanimously approved a motion for a second permanent position for community cat public health educator last Monday. The Community Cats program in Austin helps the thousands of free-roaming cats in the city remain healthy and safe…
Austin • By Ava Garderet • May 12, 2023
Animal Advisory Commission asks for city bat biologist
The Animal Advisory Commission has approved a recommendation that the city hire a bat biologist to manage and provide expertise on the various bat populations in Austin, including the popular colony under the Congress Avenue Bridge. “Bats are an extraordinarily…
Environment • By Ava Garderet • Mar 17, 2023
Animal Advisory Commission splinters over spay/neuter expansion
The city’s Animal Advisory Commission continues to duke it out over an approach to shelter overcrowding, with a proposal to expand contracts with Emancipet and Austin Humane Society forecasting more friction ahead. The proposal, put forth by the commission’s spay/neuter…
City Hall • By Kali Bramble • Feb 27, 2023
Animal services programs missing from city strategic planning
The Animal Advisory Commission is asking the city manager’s office to include animal services programming in its upcoming strategic plan. At its regular meeting Nov. 14, the commission voted to approve a letter asking City Manager Spencer Cronk and Chief…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 21, 2022
As Congress Avenue bats prepare to migrate, officials consider ways to better care for the colony
Austin’s bats are in need of additional protections and the city is preparing to take some small steps to aid the colony. During an Animal Advisory Commission meeting last week, members voted unanimously on recommendations to help the Congress Avenue bats…
Environment • By Andrea Guzman • Oct 20, 2022
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Ethics commission shelves lobbying complaint against Austin Pets Alive! employee
The Ethics Review Commission has opted not to move forward with a lobbying complaint against a member of the city’s Animal Advisory Commission who also works in a governmental affairs job for Austin Pets Alive. Last week the ethics commission…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 3, 2022
Animal Advisory Commission dives into Robert's Rules
The Animal Advisory Commission grappled with process questions at its regular meeting on Monday. Item 5 on the commission’s agenda was intended to be an explanation of Robert’s Rules of Order by the parliamentarian. But since the parliamentarian was absent, Chair…
City Hall • By Nina Hernandez • Sep 16, 2022
Proposal to audit animal shelter fuels debate about choice of auditor
Austin’s Animal Services Office, which runs the Austin Animal Center, will soon be audited, per a recent resolution approved by City Council. The Office of the City Auditor will report on the department’s effectiveness and bring in an expert on…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Aug 9, 2022
Animal shelter workers demand better conditions in wake of vote of no confidence
The Animal Advisory Commission discussed improvements needed at the Austin Animal Center at its July 11 meeting. The discussion came after the commission’s vote of no confidence in AAC Director Don Bland on June 13. The meeting began with comments…
Austin • By Veronica Apodaca • Jul 21, 2022
Shelter leader gets vote of no confidence from commission
The city’s Animal Advisory Commission has passed a vote of no confidence in Don Bland, chief animal services officer and the director of the Austin Animal Center. At Monday’s meeting the commission voted 8-1, with two abstentions, to approve a…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 14, 2022
Austin Animal Center faces questions about monthly update
Alongside shelters nationwide, the Austin Animal Center has been struggling with staffing shortages and soaring populations of shelter animals – a situation that was evident in the shelter’s monthly update to the Animal Advisory Commission. In April, a total of 1,067…
