The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest include: 11. Consider and take appropriate action on Travis County appointee to the City of Austin Animal Advisory […]
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
Circus animal ordinance stalls in committee
A proposed ordinance aiming to protect circus animals within city limits sparked a passionate debate at a City Council Health and Human Services Committee meeting on Monday, with supporters calling it a major step forward and opponents arguing that it is burdensome and flawed. The committee ultimately chose to table the proposal until its next […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Commission reviews audit criticisms
While members of the Animal Advisory Commission acknowledged Wednesday the deficiencies identified in the city’s first audit of Animal Services, they also argued that scrutinizing city animal shelters differs from auditing other city departments. “Housing animals is not an exact science,” said Commissioner Babette Ellis. “And with an open-intake shelter, you never know what’s going to be […]
Posted inCity Council
Animal Commission votes to protect circus animals
Before the Austin Animal Advisory Commission endorsed a proposed ordinance Wednesday banning the use of painful devices on circus animals, commissioners deliberated how the city should define a circus animal. Members said the inclusion of lions, tigers and bears, plus other usual circus animals, was certainly right. However, Commissioner Babette Ellis worried that including horses and […]
Posted inAustin, Texas State Legislature
Animal Commissioners skeptical of vet legislation
Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission decided Wednesday that City Council should investigate whether two bills filed in the Texas Legislature would affect the city’s no-kill agenda. The bills, one of which opponents say threatens the ability of city shelters to care for animals, will be placed on Council’s legislative agenda with recommendations neither for nor against […]
Posted inAustin, Texas State Legislature
Animal Advisory Commission wary of animal legislation
Members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission requested more time Wednesday night to consider whether to recommend a bill some say would threaten city shelters’ “no-kill” status. The committee considered two bills filed by state representatives concerning veterinarian practice in city shelters, but because of confusion over what the bills would mean for animal care, it […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Council to finally get controversial coyote plan
A new coyote management policy will be brought to the Austin City Council in November, following a nine-month-long and somewhat controversial process. The policy was most recently before City Council’s Public Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. In 2013, some Austin residents who were worried about coyote sightings in the Blunn Creek watershed complained […]