The Parks and Recreation Board and the Animal Advisory Commission are expected to form a work group to address the growing issue of off-leash dogs in Austin. Both bodies have received complaints from Austin residents about off-leash dogs and noncompliant pet owners in parks and in city neighborhoods. According to a monthly report provided this […]
Animal Advisory Commission
The Animal Advisory Commission advises the Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court on Texas Health and Safety Code compliance regarding animal shelters and on animal welfare policies.
Posted inAustin
Austin Animal Center offers free microchipping to help residents track their pets
In an effort to educate and encourage Austin residents to get their pets microchipped, the Austin Animal Center will offer a free drive-up clinic to pet owners on April 10. The process involves implanting a microchip, a tiny electronic device the size of a grain of rice, between the animal’s shoulder blades. Once the chip […]
Posted inAustin
Shelter logged record-setting number of animal distress calls during ‘snowmageddon’
The weeklong winter “snowmageddon” that stretched from February 16 to 21 also affected the city’s ability to respond to animal distress calls. Pounding sleet, icy roads and temperatures as low as 10 degrees in Austin made the roads dangerous for animal rescue trucks as well as staff traveling to and from the shelters. Austin 311 […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 for the most animals and in no way authorizes or condones any cruelty to livestock,” […]
Posted inAustin
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 different sort of threat, one their sundry adaptations can’t remedy: indignant neighbors. “I want to […]
Posted inAustin
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 have about the services the shelter provides. “Since its inception, 3,800 people have used the […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 that way for now. The commission voted 8-3 not to move forward with a code […]
Posted inCity Hall
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’s animal euthanization process during their meeting Sept. 14. The new exception would give shelters […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 Council to unfreeze hiring for all animal services positions and declare the department a […]
Posted inCity Hall
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 managing its continued intake of animals with fewer staff members and adopters. To combat this […]
Posted inBudget
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. Four of these are animal protection officers, who are responsible for protecting animals from abusive […]
Posted inAustin
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 the shelter while awaiting adoption. When a person calls with an animal for surrender, the […]