REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION DECEMBER 12, 2022, 6 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, Room 1101 301 W. Second St. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Stephanie Hall, by Sunday noon, December 11, at 512-974-2210, or stephanie.hall@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS Craig Nazor, Chair Nancy Nemer Palmer Neuhaus Jo Anne Norton Luis Herrera Kristen Hassen, Parliamentarian Dr. Amanda Bruce AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Ryan Clinton, Vice Chair Lisa Mitchell Katie Jarl Lotta Smagula Beatriz Dulzaides Dr. Paige Nilson The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on November 14, 2022. 2. Staff briefing by new wildlife Officers in the Animal Service Center regarding scope of 3. Overview of monthly report provided by the Animal Service Center. 4. Presentation of the Monthly Report by Austin Pets Alive! 5. Discussion regarding any updates for companion animals at emergency shelters in winter STAFF BRIEFINGS work. DISCUSSION ITEMS weather. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Advisory Commission. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 6. Discussion and creation of rules and procedures for public communication at the Animal 7. Update from the Spay/Neuter Working Group regarding the Spay/Neuter Program Policy. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 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 two days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Stephanie Hall, Office of the City Clerk, 512-974-2210 or at Stephanie.Hall@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Stephanie Hall at 512-974-2210 or Stephanie.Hall@austintexas.gov
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2022 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 301 W. Second Street, Rm 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nazor called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Chair Nazor, Vice Chair Clinton, Commissioners Bruce, Herrera, Nilson, Norton, and Smagula attended in person. Commissioners Dulzaides, Jarl, Nemer, and Neuhaus joined via videoconference. Commissioners Hassen and Mitchell were absent. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Eileen McFall – no kill shelter Pat Valls-Trelles – wildlife animal protection Rochelle Vickery – vouchers for spay/neuter Ellen Jefferson – no kill resolution APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on October 10, 2022. The minutes from the meeting of October 10, 2022, were approved on Commissioner Nemer’s motion, Commissioner Norton’s second on a vote 9-0. Vice Chair Clinton and Commissioner Jarl abstained. Commissioners Hassen and Mitchell were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Monthly Report. Reports were provided in back up documents. Presentation the Monthly Report by Austin Pets Alive! Presentation by Neil Hay, Senior Director of Operations, Stephanie Bilbro, Director of Lifesaving Operations. 1. 2. 3. 1 4. 5. 6. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a Recommendation to Council concerning the City of Austin's upcoming Five Year Strategic Plan. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council for the City of Austin include information about our many programs for Austin citizens and their companion animals, as well as all of Austin’s valuable and iconic wildlife, in the upcoming Strategic Development 28 Plan was approved, as amended below, on Commissioner Norton’s motion, Commission Herrera’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Bruce, Herrera and Nilson abstained. Commissioners Hassen and Mitchell were absent. An amendment to replace “best no kill shelter in the world” to “the most Pet Friendly City in America” was offered on Commissioner Herrera’s motion, Commissioner Bruce’s second. Commissioner Dulzaides offered a friendly amendment to replace “in the world/America” with “in the nation” and was accepted without objection. The amendment to replace “best no kill shelter in the world” to “the most Pet Friendly City in the nation” failed on Commissioner Herrera’s motion, Commissioner Bruce’s second on a 4-7 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Bruce, Herrera, Nilson and Norton. Those voting nay were Chair Nazor, Vice Chair Clinton, Commissioners Dulzaides, Jarl, Nemer, Neuhaus and Smagula. …
November 2022 November 2022 Animal Services Report AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for November was 98.49 percent. • A total of 841 animals were brought to the shelter which included 443 dogs, 315 cats, 47 domestic birds, 18 wild animals, 10 rabbits, five guinea pigs, and one tortoise. • A total of 494 animals were adopted (252 cats, 225 dogs, 12 birds, and five small pets). • A total of 76 dogs, cats, and tortoise were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 49 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 32 fencing assistance applications and implanted two microchips. • Officers took custody of 99 injured animals and delivered 32 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 157 rabies exposure reports and submitted 21 specimens for rabies testing. One bat tested positive for rabies, one was non-negative (not able to test). • 72 total coyote related activities • Out of 72 coyote related activities, 46 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and • Encounters: Pets were a factor in 100% of activities: o An encounter involved a coyote approaching off leash pet with resident nearby o An encounter involved a coyote entering a backyard with pets present o An encounter involved a coyote not responding to assertive hazing with chasing an outside cat Incidents: Pets were factor in 66% of these encounters. • o An incident involved a coyote taking a neighbor’s outside off leash cat o An incident involved a coyote lunging at a caller. Unable to make contact with caller Animal Protection o 40 sightings o 16 wild sicks o 9 wild injured o 3 encounters o 3 incidents o 1 wild speak observation). November 2022 Animal Services Report o An incident involved a coyote taking an animal. Unable to make contact with caller • Out of 72 related activities, 26 fell within the reported behavior types (wild sick, wild speak, and wild injured) Volunteer, Foster, and Rescue Programs • A total of 363 volunteers donated 4,990 hours of volunteer service. • The Volunteer Coordinators held six orientations for new volunteers, introducing 166 people to the shelter programs. 104 new volunteers attended their first training or mentor shifts in September. • 117 individuals donated 234 hours towards dog walking and cat care through group volunteer service. …
Animal Services Office Statistical Report – November 2020-2022 November 2022 Intake November 2021 Intakes November 2020 Intakes November 2022 Adoptions November 2021 Adoptions November 2020 Adoptions November 2022 RTOs November 2021 RTOs November 2020 RTOs November 2022 Animals Euthanized November 2021 Animals Euthanized November 2020 Animals Euthanized November 2022 Total Live Release Rate November 2021 Total Live Release Rate November 2020 Total Live Release Rate November 2022 Animal Vaccinations November 2021 Animal Vaccinations November 2020 Animal Vaccinations November 2022 Spayed/Neutered at AAC November 2021 Spayed/Neutered at AAC November 2020 Spayed/Neutered at AAC November 2022 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2021 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2020 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2022 Animals Transferred: November 2021 Animals Transferred November 2020 Animals Transferred November 2022 Animal Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2021 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2020 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2022 SNR Program November 2021 SNR Program November 2020 SNR Program November 2022 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO November 2021 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO November 2020 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO
Austin Animal Protection Wildlife Officers Emery Sadkin & Greg Richens Guiding Philosophy The City of Austin does not remove or relocate healthy native wildlife. Guiding Philosophy Instead, we work with residents to humanely resolve conflict with wildlife using effective, evidence-based methods. Wildlife Ordinances – City of Austin § 3-2-4 - HUNTING AND TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person may not knowingly shoot, kill, or hunt a wild animal; or use a steel-jawed spring trap or any other type of trap that could injure a trapped animal or person. § 9-6-7 - FIREARM DISCHARGE RESTRICTED Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person may not discharge a firearm in city limits. § 10-8-3 - FEEDING OF DEER PROHIBITED Except as provided in subsection (C), a person commits an offense if the person intentionally feeds deer or makes food available for consumption by deer on private or public property within the territorial limits of the city. Wildlife Officer Roles Investigate potential rabies exposures Identify non-native species for rehoming at the shelter • • • Assist sick and injured wildlife • Austin Wildlife Rescue • Assess wildlife behavior • Work with residents to address the root cause of conflict Suggest methods for humane exclusion (denning) • • Encourage the animal to move on its own • Offer tailored solutions • Utilize game cameras, site visits, yard audits, identification • Provide presentations, education, and outreach Travis County temporary contract for Wildlife Officer started January 2018 and became permanent in 2019. Wildlife Officer Stats 2022 • Average response time was .5 hours • Officers provided over 354 hours of outreach • Officers fielded 489 coyote calls in City of Austin from Jan – Nov 2022 • Officers fielded 624 wildlife calls in Travis County from Oct 2021- Sept 2022 • Of the 624 calls, 504 were escalated calls Emphasis on Education In-field Outreach ○ Hotline (311) ○ Email ○ Yard audits ○ Site visits ○ Neighborhood canvassing ○ Presentations ○ Events ○ Newsletters ○ Mailers ○ Community partnerships Educational Topics ● Animal behavior and ecology ● Hazing ● Identifying attractants ● Pet safety ● Wildlife exclusion / denning ● Spring / young wildlife ● Child safety ● Rabies prevention ● Coexistence City of Austin Coyote Policy • In November 2014, City Council approved a Coyote Management Policy • The goal is to help maintain a balance of public safety concerns …
