As a no-kill shelter, Austin Animal Center has a goal of sending out as many animals into happy homes as possible. Unfortunately, this month, the shelter was able to do that less often for its cats than it has in the past. Jason Garza, the deputy chief animal services officer with Austin Animal Center, informed the […]
Animal Services
This is the city department tasked with running the city’s animal shelter, providing care to more than 20,000 animals a year, and maintaining Austin’s no-kill status.
Posted inAustin
Report: ‘No-kill’ policy an asset to Austin
An analysis prepared by researchers at the University of Denver argues that the benefits of Austin’s “no-kill” policy outweigh its costs. The decision to no longer euthanize stray dogs and cats has certainly cost city taxpayers, but those dollars do not disappear, according to the report “Legislating Components of a Humane City: The Economic Impacts […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Cool for cats?
It is in Austin!… During a discussion of the Aquatic Master Plan during a City Council work session last Tuesday, Council Member Delia Garza highlighted the dearth of public pools in her southeastern district, which includes parts of Del Valle. She noted that there are no existing pools in Del Valle and apparently no plans […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Just mull it over
“Sanctuary cities” protests continue… Protesters interrupted a Cedar Park Fourth of July parade last week to protest Senate Bill 4. No one was arrested, but they were removed so the parade could continue. They told KVUE they were calling for a boycott of HEB so the state could see the economic impact of immigrants. James […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Services to take community-centered approach to lost pets
In some parts of Austin, runaway pets are likely to stay lost. That’s what an analysis by the city’s Animal Services Department has found. While roughly one animal for every 100 residents gets brought into a shelter citywide, three ZIP codes in East Austin – 78702, 78724 and 78617 – have intake rates two and […]
Posted inAustin
City investigates whether spay/neuter clinics are reaching the people who need them
The city of Sunset Valley is leading other Austin-area locations in taking advantage of free spay/neuter clinics – a surprise, since these clinics are usually used more heavily in poorer neighborhoods. City staff is working to better understand who is using spay/neuter clinics in Austin at a neighborhood level, although the numbers are still incomplete. […]
Posted inCity Council
Council votes to spay/neuter stray animals on first impoundment
A proposal that requires that stray dogs and cats be spayed or neutered so they can’t reproduce moved forward this week, despite questions over whether the measure actually addresses the problems it’s meant to solve. City Council voted 8-1 to pass a proposal that dogs and cats be spayed or neutered the first time they […]
Posted inCity Council
City Council debates coyotes
City Council spent most of the morning Thursday discussing what to do about coyotes. Council was asked by city staff to approve an ordinance that would authorize the Animal Services Department to negotiate and execute a contract with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services-Wildlife Services (otherwise referred to as Texas Wildlife Services) to assist in the […]
Posted inAustin
Animal Commission votes down spay and neuter proposal
Despite public appeals, the Animal Commission has decided not to move forward on a proposed ordinance that would require that all dogs brought to Austin animal shelter be spayed or neutered the first time they are impounded. The ordinance was meant to reduce the number of animals filling shelters by preventing stray dogs from breeding. […]
Posted inAustin
Spay and neuter proposal continues to simmer
The City Council Health and Human Services Committee took a look at the results of a survey on Tuesday that asked whether a spay/neuter initiative could help reduce animal intake for local shelters, but it is holding off on a recommendation for the time being. “Individuals are saying that they are being turned away from […]
Posted inAustin
Austin’s reputation as an animal haven may be slowing pet rescues
Six years ago, City Council passed a resolution that animal shelters would no longer kill homeless pets for the sake of space or convenience. But now that Austin has a solid reputation as a no-kill city, Animal Services officials are worried that animal rescue groups and people wanting to adopt are going to other communities […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Kitten tsunami
Ignorance and arrogance… In her bid to stall the creation of the WildHorse Ranch public improvement district, City Council Member Ora Houston found support this weekend from none other than the Austin American-Statesman. The editorial board of the Lady Bird Lake real estate concern on Sunday published a piece accusing Travis County officials of “ignorance […]