Animal Services candidates to speak

The city will host a community meeting April 7 for the public to meet candidates for the next chief animal services officer position and provide input about who is selected. This position oversees the operations of the Austin Animal Center, which provides shelter to more than 18,000 animals annually and serves Austin and Travis County. The officer will lead a staff of 98 with an annual budget of $10.6 million. At the community meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and interact with the winnowed applicants and will be asked to offer feedback regarding the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses. Those scheduled for interviews include: Dustin Deel, assistant director of Municipal and Community Services, Weatherford, Texas; Tawny Hammond, Animal Shelter director, Fairfax County, Virginia; Kevin Hertell, executive director, Second Chance Center for Animals, Flagstaff, Arizona; and Anne Martinez, assistant director, Department of Youth Services, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Deputy Animal Services Officer Chris Noble has served as the interim chief officer since the departure of Abigail Smith in December. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.