REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION December 9, 2024, 6 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 W. 2nd St Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Animal Advisory 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, contact Eric Anderson at eric.anderson@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2562. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Lotta Smagula, D1 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Whitney Holt, D5 Luis Herrera, D6 Larry Tucker, D7 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Dr. Amanda Bruce, D10 Laura Hoke, Mayor CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA 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 October 14, 2024. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of the Animal Services strategic plan and planning process. 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 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Eric Anderson, Office of (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Eric Anderson at (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov. the City Clerk at
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on October 14, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Chair Clinton called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Luis Herrera, D6 Whitney Holt, D5 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Lotta Smagula, D1 Larry Tucker, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Amanda Bruce, D10 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Sarah Huddleston, D9 Commissioners Absent: Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Rochelle Vickery – Spay & neuter event, community cats program Laura Nesmith – Behind the misunderstood work behind TNR Deborah Ro – TNR’s positive impact on our community Jacobi Alvarez – TNR needs Diane Odegaard – Glue trap ban and bats Pat Valls Trelles – Community Cats Program 1 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on August 12, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of August 12, 2024, was approved on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Smagula’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Nilson abstained. Commissioner Dulzaides was absent. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on September 9, 2024. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of September 9, 2024, with the following correction was approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Holt’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Dulzaides was absent. The correction was to revise the action for Item 1 to read: “The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of August 12, 2024, failed on Commissioner Smagula’s motion, Commissioner Holt’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Nilson abstained. Parliamentarian Nemer, Commissioners Bruce, Herrera, Hoke, and Tucker were absent. STAFF BRIEFING 3. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. The presentation was made by Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. A motion to take up Item 7 next was made by Commissioner Holt, seconded by Commissioner Herrera, and approved on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Dulzaides was absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve a recommendation to Council to ban glue traps at City of Austin owned and/or managed facilities. A motion to approve the recommendation was made by Commissioner Holt and seconded by Commissioner Herrera. A motion …
Animal Services Office Statistical Report – November 2022-2024 November 2024 Intake November 2023 Intake November 2022 Intake November 2024 Adoptions November 2023 Adoptions November 2022 Adoptions November 2024 RTOs November 2023 RTOs November 2022 RTOs November 2024 Animals Euthanized November 2023 Animals Euthanized November 2022 Animals Euthanized November 2024 Total Live Release Rate November 2023 Total Live Release Rate November 2022 Total Live Release Rate November 2024 Animal Vaccinations November 2023 Animal Vaccinations November 2022 Animal Vaccinations October 2024 Spayed/Neuter at AAC November 2023 Spayed/Neutered at AAC November 2022 Spayed/Neutered at AAC November 2024 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2023 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2022 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster November 2024 Animals Transferred: November 2023 Animals Transferred November 2022 Animals Transferred November 2024 Animal Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2023 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2022 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing November 2024 SNR Program November 2023 SNR Program November 2022 SNR Program November 2024 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO November 2023 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO November 2022 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO
Information is from October 1, 2024– November 30, 2024 Information compiled via ASO Power BI dashboards. Difference of outcomes - intakes Outcome Year (fiscal) Intake Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Dog totals Cat totals Totals Dog totals Cat totals Totals Cats Adoption Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total Dog Adoption Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total RTO/RTO Adopt SNR (former SCRP) RTO/RTO Adopt 2025 748 982 1730 2025 727 984 1711 2025 -21 2 -19 2025 662 32 168 27 20 0 75 984 2025 472 118 107 28 2 0 727
November 2024 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT 1 Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for November was 96.09%. • A total of 762 animals were brought to the shelter which included 395 cats, 327 dogs, 25 wild animals, 6 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 2 ferrets, and 1 goat. • A total of 547 animals were adopted (101 adult dogs, 121 puppies, 244 kittens, and 81 adult cats). • A total of 62 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On November 1, there were 1,001 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (606 onsite, 390 in foster, 1 at a vet clinic, and 2 at TLAC). • On December 1, there were 937 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (551 onsite, 384 in foster, 1 at a vet clinic, and 1 at TLAC). Animal Protection • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 50 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 32 fencing assistance applications and implanted 4 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 111 injured animals and delivered approximately 54 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 194 rabies exposure reports and submitted 30 specimens for rabies testing. We had 6 positive bats and 3 decomposed bats. • There were 92 total coyote related activities (Behavior types include Sighting, Encounter, Incident, and Observation. “Observation” is defined as hearing coyotes howling and finding scat or footprints.) o 37 sightings o 34 wild sick o 10 incidents o 4 wild speak o 3 observations o 2 encounters o 2 wild injured • Out of 92 coyote related activities, 52 (57%) reports fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and observation) o Encounters: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of encounters reported. ▪ 1/2 encounters (50%) involved a coyote entering a fenced backyard with dog present ▪ 1/2 encounters (50%) involved a coyote following a resident and dog 2 o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 10/10 (100%) of incidents reported. ▪ 3/10 incidents (30%) involved a coyote killing an unsupervised outside cat ▪ 1/10 incidents (10%) involved a coyote killing two unsupervised off-leash dogs ▪ 1/10 incidents (10%) involved a coyote killing a free-ranging chicken ▪ 2/10 incidents (20%) involved a coyote eating an animal, but unsure if domesticated or wildlife ▪ 1/10 incidents (10%) involved a coyote growling at the caller ▪ 1/10 incidents (10%) involved two coyotes …
Strategic Planning Update to Animal Advisory Commission Susana Carbajal, Assistant City Manager Audrey Muntz, Budget and Performance Manager Dr. Larry Schooler, Consultant December 9, 2024 Working Group Progress Total of six working group meetings through November Report/analysis of community + staff engagement • Discussion of overall vision • Development of focus areas, goals, and strategies Recommended operational changes Representation from • • • • Humane Society • Classic Canines Austin Pets Alive! • Emancipet • Travis County • Austin Lost and Found • Pets TRAPRS • • Cat volunteers • Community stakeholders • • CMO ASO Staff 2 Progress on the “elephants in the room” • Group continues to value “no kill” policy • Continuation of formal policy • Reframe goal • Prioritizing and Maintaining Open Intake • Spay/neuter services given additional priority, both at Austin Animal Center and through partnerships with community organizations (increase free/low-cost options); trap-neuter- release also prioritized 3 Plan Refinement • Planning Team has convened to refine the draft to ensure the plan is cohesive and consistent and can be easily understood by the community while continuing to reflect the Working Group's intent • Refined plan will be shared with Working Group for review ahead of January meeting 4 Plan Definitions • Vision: A shared idea of what the community will experience when ASO implements this plan. • Mission: The core purpose and role ASO serves in supporting the community and achieving the vision. ASO’s mission will not be updated as part of this process. • Focus Area: High-level priorities. These foundational elements guide ASO in advancing its mission and achieving its vision. • Description: A brief overview of each focus area. • Goals: A specific end-result that ASO envisions, plans, and commits to achieve. • Measure: How ASO will track progress toward achieving its goals. Targets will be developed to gauge progress year to year. • Strategies: Actionable plans or methods that ASO will take to achieve its goals. 5 Focus Areas • Humane Care • Open Intake • Ensure a high quality of life for animals in shelter and foster care by providing enrichment, behavioral support, and well-maintained facilities. • Maintain open intake for strays and owner surrenders and facilitate care by partners or the public, while reducing demand for intake by managing stray populations and providing resources to help owners keep their pets. • Spay Neuter (pending Working Group discussion on keeping as …
