A city audit of Austin Animal Services has revealed serious problems within the department and its shelters. The audit found that the department does not have sufficient resources to meet its 90 percent live outcome goal while maintaining state requirements and industry best practices. The city conducted the audit from October 2012 through November 2014. […]
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, City Hall, Local Politics
Town Lake Animal Center in disrepair, ‘not sound’
Town Lake Animal Center continues to operate in disrepair, and a recent state inspection has the Animal Services Department and Austin Pets Alive! scrambling for temporary fixes. Susan Monger, DVM, conducted the inspection this year. That inspection found that the shelter is not structurally sound, nor is it maintained well enough “to protect the animals […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety
Background checks for dog walkers ?
Fingerprinting and an eight-week wait for a background check … to walk shelter dogs? At Wednesday’s City Council budget work session, Council Member and mayoral candidate Mike Martinez noted that some would-be Austin Animal Center volunteers decide to help elsewhere when faced with these stringent requirements. According to Chief Animal Services Officer Abigail Smith, all […]