Animal Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting, July 6, 2020 Special Meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission Monday, July 6, 10 a.m., 2020 Animal Advisory Commission to be held July 6 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance Sunday, July 5, by noon. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, residents must: • Call or email board liaison, Belinda Hare, at 512-978-0565 or Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov no later than noon, July 5. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. • Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Board Liaison, Belinda Hare, Austin Animal Services, at 512-978-0565, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Animal Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting, July 6, 2020 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 at 10:00 AM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: David Lundstedt, Chair Katie Jarl Palmer Neuhaus Craig Nazor Dr. Jon Brandes Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian District 4 Vacant Lisa Mitchell, Vice Chair Edward Flores Monica Frenden Andrea Schwartz JoAnne Norton Ryan Clinton AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. NEW BUSINESS 3. ADJOURNMENT a. Minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission’s February …
M E M O R A N D U M Mayor and Council TO: THRU: Christopher Shorter, Assistant City Manager June 22, 2020 Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Austin Animal Center Intake Protocols With this memorandum, I would like to clarify any confusion about perceived changes in our shelter model, as noted in recent emails to Mayor and Council. Austin Animal Center is not participating in the National Pilot project that Austin Pets Alive! and other major shelters throughout the nation are participating in. To be clear, none of the participating partners in the national project are advocating closing intake. The new model of sheltering promotes procedures that the Austin Animal Center (AAC) and our Animal Protection Officers (APOs) have been utilizing. Our neighborhood level programs are focused on keeping pets in homes where they are loved and cared for and out of the shelter, as well as assisting those animals that are sick, injured or in danger. Our community assistance model, implemented through our Animal Protection and Public Resource Center (PRC), has provided guidance to shelters and communities for many years and assisted pet owners with the resources needed to keep their animals. During our COVID-19 closure, the community did an amazing job assisting with lost pets. AAC has taken in more than 1,000 sick, injured, aggressive, bite quarantines cases, and animals that were truly in danger. We also know, prior to our Covid-19 closure, that citizens who have contacted us through 311, after finding a stray and taking a few steps in the neighborhood where the pet was found, have a 50 percent success rate at getting the animals back home. Citizens who are able and willing to assist before bringing the animals to the shelter, where the chances of it being reunited with its family are reduced, are greatly appreciated. Our data shows that, if that pet was brought to the shelter, its chance of being reunited with its family dropped to 18 to 20 percent. Our Animal Protection Officers have been keeping data for years, and we have learned that most animals are picked up within 1,000 feet from where they live. Prior to the closure, Animal Protection was in the process of enhancing programs aimed at getting pets home faster, and the PRC was expanding access to free spay and neuter services, free microchips and low-cost veterinary care. We placed 70 …
1. Determine where the pet was found Walk-Up Stray Protocol a. If not in our jurisdiction, refer to area shelters (info attached) 2. Assess for medical needs a. If sick or injured, we can assist immediately 3. Scan for a microchip 4. Let the finder know that we are only able to take animals at the shelter by appointment due to COVID operational concerns. We understand that this is frustrating and hear the concerns, but this is the current protocol. Let them know that we can offer the following… 5. Offer crate, food, leash, and other resources 6. Take a picture and have them fill out a stray intake form (attached) so that the PRC can create a Found Report. 7. Talk about how many stray pets are found very close to home. Have they posted to Nextdoor, Austin Lost and Found Pets, and Craigslist yet? We’ve seen a lot of success for Nextdoor – if they aren’t already on the app, they can post in ALFP and request someone do it for them. a. If they don’t have Facebook, send an email to Kelsey (kelsey.cler@austintexas.gov) with the picture and details, and Kelsey will do a courtesy post. 8. If they cannot hold onto the pet, they can call 311 and request to speak with an Animal Protection Officer. An APO will come pick up the pet within 1-3 days. Have they… ☐ Had it scanned for a microchip? ☐ Walked it around the neighbor and knocked on doors? ☐ Posted on Nextdoor, Austin Lost and Found Pets, Craigslist? ☐ Hung flyers where they found it?
SPEAKER LIST: Animal Advisory Commission, Monday, July 6, 2020, 10 a.m. Peggy Fikac Catherine Chamblee Jean Hubrath Terry Hackworth Lotta Smagula Joanne Molinyawe Stephanie Timko Kayla Murray Heather Newby Cecilia Ryan Chelsea Kotria Mary Ellen Miller Carol Philipson Jill Bailey Beverly Luna Raphael Oyervides Shelly Leibham Rona Distenfeld Pat Valls-Trellis Alice Biggs Rita Cross Sandra Muller Stephanie Martens Stephanie Bilbro
AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-07-06 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING July 6, 2020 APPROVED AUGUST 7, 2020 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a remote meeting, Monday, July 6, 2020, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Chair David Lundstedt called the Commission Meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Commission Members in Attendance: David Lundstedt, Lisa Mitchell, Katie Jarl, Craig Nazor, Palmer Neuhaus, Edward Flores, Monica Frenden, Andrea Schwartz, JoAnne Norton, Nancy Nemer, and Ryan Clinton. Commission Members Absent: Dr. Jon Brandes, District 4 Vacant Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Mark Sloat, Rebekha Montie, and Belinda Hare AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Officers: Chair David Lundstedt suggested retaining the current slate of officers until February 2021 at which time he plans to retire. Commissioner Craig Nazor moved to accept retaining the current officers until February 2021; Commissioner Katie Jarl seconded the proposal which passed unanimously, 11-0, with Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Jarl, Nazor, Flores, Frenden, Schwartz, Norton, Neuhaus, Nemer and Clinton voting in favor. Commissioner Dr. Brandes was absent from the meeting; District 4 position is vacant. Minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission’s July 6, 2020, special meeting. 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-07-06 b. Discussion, Update and Possible Action on Shelter Intake Policies No action taken. Speakers included the following: Peggy Fikac Catherine Chamblee Jean Hubrath Terry Hackworth Lotta Smagula Joanne Molinyawe Stephanie Timko Kayla Murray Heather Newby Cecilia Ryan Chelsea Kotria Mary Ellen Miller Carol Philipson Jill Bailey Beverly Luna Raphael Oyervides Shelly Leibham Rona Distenfeld Pat Valls-Trellis Alice Biggs Rita Cross Sandra Muller Stephanie Martens Stephanie Bilbro 2 3. ADJOURNMENT Chair David Lundstedt adjourned the meeting at 11 a.m.
SPEAKER LIST: Animal Advisory Commission, Monday, July 6, 2020, 10 a.m. Peggy Fikac Catherine Chamblee Jean Hubrath Terry Hackworth Lotta Smagula Joanne Molinyawe Stephanie Timko Kayla Murray Heather Newby Cecilia Ryan Chelsea Kotria Mary Ellen Miller Carol Philipson Jill Bailey Beverly Luna Raphael Oyervides Shelly Leibham Rona Distenfeld Pat Valls-Trellis Alice Biggs Rita Cross Sandra Muller Stephanie Martens Stephanie Bilbro
Austin Animal Center Snapshot of Dog Services Before COVID, Now and if Austin was a HASS Pilot Program Service Pre-Covid Now HASS PILOT Lost dog intake Intake Intake by priority level (aggressive, confined vs at large/nonaggressive/n oninjured) Finders asked to hold stray dogs and file found report By appointment unless animal is injured or bite emergency. Mandatory Found Fosters Up to six week wait to bring in a stray Instant live counseling by shelter staff to determine needs of pet and person and pathway options Pathways include finder-to-foster, shelter intake, finder holds while shelter provides support to get pet home, intake-to-foster Owner Surrender Intake By appointment only with many week wait to surrender Support limited to triage services and referral to low cost options for care. Limited, by appointment intake started in last month. Instant counseling by live shelter staff to determine needs of pet and person. Pathway options include shelter intake, supported self-rehoming services, temporary boarding support, access to supplies, medical care, and/or food, and intake-to-foster. Wait time to receive support reduced from weeks to hours or a couple of days. Calls come into central hotline operated by trained experts who can amend scripts quickly, update software, triage competently to right path, etc Calls 311 fields most calls - gives inconsistent information, triages to APO if needed for pick up/case #. Glitch in system for posting found foster pets in adequate amount of time (can take up to 2 weeks) that cannot be fixed easily. 311 fields most calls - gives inconsistent information, not appropriately triaging to APO if needed for pick up/case #. Glitch in system for posting found foster pets in adequate amount of time (can take up to 2 weeks) that is not fixed. Sheltering Most of “normal intake” animals are not sheltered nor case managed. Most animals live at shelter until rto, adopted, transferred or euthanized. Foster placement efforts focus on medical animals and long stay animals Fewer than 3,000 pets to foster annually Centralized in shelter clinic Animals must be surrendered and permanently separated from owner to receive care Medical care for pets Minimal in shelter clinic Majority of animals who need sheltering are marketed to foster home before or at the time of intake. 50% or more pets go to foster homes annually (8-9,000) Case Manager follows animals sheltered in the community to ensure appropriate outcome Most animals can receive care without being …
Austin? a. 1156 W. Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703 512.961.6519 www.austinpetsalive.org Human Animal Support Services (HASS) in Austin: Frequently Asked Questions 1. Does HASS recommend closing intake (refusing animals into the shelter’s care) in HASS recommends dedicating staff and volunteers to provide It is important to differentiate COVID-19 recommendations from HASS recommendations. COVID-19 requires limited intake due to real or possible lack of staffing and human access to the shelter. HASS recommends being open to the animals who need shelter and helping the ones who don’t have a dire need navigate the same resources they would get in the shelter, out of the shelter. needs-assessments to animals and people to determine the pathway they require to be kept safe. The pathway could be to be taken into the shelter, fostered in the community, or directly connecting them with a rescue partner. There is so much that can be done to build robust community programs to prevent animals and people from being in unsafe situations, but simple things like transparent and individualized needs assessment by a trained individual could be instituted immediately. performing a 2. Does HASS mean sick and injured dogs and cats will be turned out on the streets? a. No. All incoming pets or calls about pets will be given a needs assessment to determine the pathway that they need: shelter, foster, or remain in the home and receive care. 3. Why is Austin Animal Center taking in so few animals? a. We can’t answer for the city but like every other major city in America, they have to prioritize people. COVID-19 is a life and death risk for people, and the city has to do everything it can to limit exposure. City staff have been split into shifts so there are fewer people at the shelter at a time. With fewer people, there have to be fewer animals onsite to offer care. Driving intake while not having enough people onsite would be irresponsible and could lead to euthanasia staff cannot keep up or if they push so many to APA! that we cannot keep up either. It is imperative that the city develop processes and procedures to handle what used to be “intake” in a different way than they ever have before. if AAC 4. Austin Animal Center already does so many progressive programs including neighborhood programming. They probably don’t need …
comma comma comma More shelter industry organizations are working together than ever before to build systemic change. Leadership, and their local communities, from... ok to remove last sentence Sick and injured dogs and cats will be turned out on the streets.All incoming pets or calls about pets will be given a needs assessment to determine the pathway that they need: shelter, foster or remain in the home and receive care. Stray, healthy pets will be turned away from the shelter.We know pets are many times more likely to find their owners if they stay in the neighborhood. People who find a lost pet will be given support to find the owner if they’re willing. If they can’t find the owner or aren’t able to hold the pet, the shelter will take in the lost pet and triage them based on their needs.Finders are required to hold an animal they find and are responsible for finding the owner themselves.The local shelter will take the animal if the finder isn’t willing or able to find the owner on their own. The new model will build infrastructure to help individuals and facilities such as fire stations help people and pets in their own neighborhoods. Lost pets won’t be at the shelter so the owner can’t find them.21st Century technology allows us to work more efficiently and not solely rely on in-person interactions. The system has to be reimagined and rebuilt to make it virtuallyimpossible for an owner not to find their pet, regardless of where it is temporarily housed. Austin Pets Alive! and a few other executives are working in a silo and changing the whole animal sheltering system by themselves.Leadership from over 30 municipal shelters nationally, as well as industry leaders in Petfinder, Michelson Found Animals, Maddie’s Fund, Pedigree Foundation and many more, are working in groups to reimagine animal sheltering. Pilot shelters are working in collaboration with their community stakeholders to build more options for people to care for pets in the best ways possible.People in underservedcommunities within Austin will be discriminated against and unfairly left behind with this model.The animal welfare industry (both publicly and privately funded) has long been known to discriminate against marginalized people. The current system unfairly leaves people without the same means as the richest parts of Austin out of the reclaim, foster and adoption process as it stands. The new model of sheltering is meant …
