Tag Archives: Animal Advisory Commission
Animal Advisory Commission recommends adopting ordinance to close bull hook loophole
The Animal Advisory Commission has made a unanimous recommendation to City Council to amend the city code in order to close a loophole created by the bull hook ban. “We are confident that enacting (the ordinance) accomplishes the most good…
City Hall • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Mar 16, 2021
Animal Advisory Commission fields outcry over Gracywoods guinea fowl
In Sub-Saharan Africa, where bloodthirsty predators abound, the guinea fowl’s large numbers, fast legs, and plucky dispositions help protect them from looming peril. But over 8,000 miles away, in the charming North Austin neighborhood of Gracywoods, the birds face a…
Austin • By Seth Smalley • Feb 18, 2021
Austin Animal Center’s December report looks bright
The Animal Advisory Commission convened on Jan. 11 to discuss, among other things, the accomplishments of the Austin Animal Center at the end of 2020. One recent highlight was the implementation of a new chatbot designed to field questions residents may…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 14, 2021
Animal Advisory Commission votes down euthanasia code amendment
The city animal shelter must wait two business days before euthanizing a pet and must give other shelters or former owners the chance to claim the pet. A recent vote by the Animal Advisory Commission will ensure the rules stay…
City Hall • By Jackson Barton • Oct 19, 2020
Code revision could allow Austin shelters to euthanize dangerous animals without delay
The Animal Advisory Commission is considering a change to city code that could make it easier for city animal shelters to euthanize animals deemed too dangerous to be adopted by the public. Commission members discussed adding an exception to the…
City Hall • By Jackson Barton • Sep 28, 2020
Animal Advisory Commission tables HASS discussion for now
With the Animal Advisory Commission still in disagreement over the recommendation that Austin join a decentralized shelter pilot program, commissioners decided to push the decision to October. While commissioners were entirely in agreement over one item, voting unanimously to ask…
City Hall • By Savana Dunning • Sep 22, 2020
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Animal Advisory Commission to vote for new animal shelter pilot program
The Animal Advisory Commission is voting on a recommendation Monday for Austin to adopt a decentralized, foster home-based approach to animal services. Although the Austin Animal Center is considered an essential service by city ordinance, the shelter has had difficulties…
City Hall • By Savana Dunning • Sep 21, 2020
Animal Advisory Commission asks Council to unfreeze hiring for animal protection officers
The Animal Advisory Commission unanimously approved a recommendation for City Council to unfreeze hiring for certain Animal Services staff Monday. Currently, 12 full-time positions that had been budgeted for in the 2020 budget remain vacant in the Animal Services Department.…
Budget • By Savana Dunning • Sep 15, 2020
Animal Advisory Commission has questions about potential new shelter model
At its meeting Friday, the Animal Advisory Commission considered whether the city should join Human Animal Support Services, an international coalition led by no-kill organization American Pets Alive! The program would use case management to keep most animals out of…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 12, 2020
Animal advocates decry Austin Animal Center intake policy changes
In a video making the rounds on social media, a woman is standing near the entrance to the Austin Animal Center with a medium-sized dog on a leash. She’s telling a staff member she cannot keep the dog, who is a stray,…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 7, 2020
Reporter's Notebook: Two Apples, one day
Update on Oakwood… A Dec. 13 memo from Austin Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley gives an update to the Oakwood Cemetery archaeological findings, with “next steps for the reinterment, memorialization and educational outreach related to burials that were…
Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Dec 16, 2019
Austin cat advocates ask city to reevaluate shelter-neuter-release program
The stated goal of the Austin Animal Center is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes. However, even with this intention and a no-kill policy to back it up, not all animals are given the same chance to find…
