REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION August 11, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 West 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 or in person, contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Travis County Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Whitney Holt, D5 Jo Anne Norton, Parliamentarian, D7 Erin Ferguson, D8 Sarah Huddleston, D9 David Loignon, D10 Koby Ahmed, Mayor AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 July 14, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Animal Services Office. 3. Staff briefing on Close Out Report on GoodFix Spay and Neuter Clinics and current Spay and Neuter count provided by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Animal Services Office DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Discussion of the Bond Election priorities as it relates to the delivery of animal services. 5. Discussion of heart worm testing and monthly preventative for animals at the Austin Animal Center. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 6. Good Fix Working Group recommendation regarding animal welfare policies and marketing priorities. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding animal welfare policies and marketing priorities. 8. Conduct officer election for Chair. 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 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Christi Vitela, Office …
Animal Advisory Commission Minutes July 14, 2025 Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, July 14, 2025 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, at Austin City Hall, 301 W 2nd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Parliamentarian Jo Anne Norton called the Animal Advisory Commission meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Erin Ferguson, D8 Whitney Holt, D5 David Loignon, D10 Jo Anne Norton, Parliamentarian, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Koby Ahmed, Mayor Ryan Clinton, Travis County Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Commissioners Absent: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Nancy Nemer, Travis County PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Kaitlan Brandstetter – Implementation for ASO’s strategic plan Suzie Chase – Austin Pets Alive! Update Rochelle Vickery– TNR Group Termination Pat Valls-Trelles – Agenda Comprehension and Supporting Rochelle Vickery Julie Oliver- Support Rochelle Vickery, Staff Compliments, and Budget 1 Animal Advisory Commission Minutes July 14, 2025 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on April 14, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on April 14, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Loignon’s second on a 9-0 vote. Vice Chair Linder and Commissioner Nemer were absent. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on June 9, 2025. The minutes from the meeting on June 9, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Dulzaides’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Clinton abstained. Vice Chair Linder and Commissioner Nemer were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. 4. 5. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer and Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Animal Services Office. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer and Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Animal Services Office. Staff briefing regarding the Animal Services Office’s hot weather protocol by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Robert Golembeski, Operation Manager, and Pat D’Angelo, Building Services Manager, Animal Services Office. The presentation was made by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Robert Golembeski, Operation Manager, Animal Services Office and Pat D’Angelo, Building Services Manager, Building Services Department. Staff briefing regarding the Animal Services Office’s Three-Year Public Relations Plan by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Animal Services Office, Melissa Pool, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, Animal Services Office and Elizabeth Ferrer, Marketing …
Outcome vs. Intake FY 25 Information is from October 1, 2024– July 31, 2025 Intake Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Outcome Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Difference of outcomes - intakes Dog totals Cat totals Totals Cats - Outcomes Adoption RTO/RTO Adopt Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing SNR (former SCRP) Total Dog - Outcomes Adoption RTO/RTO Adopt Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total 2025 4313 5275 9588 2025 4104 5066 9170 2025 -209 -209 -418 2025 3062 176 1053 239 141 8 387 5066 2025 2569 604 761 131 36 3 4104
July 2025 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT 1 On May 5, 2025, Animal Services transitioned to a new database for shelter management. This transition is ongoing and has potentially impacted data reporting. Austin Animal Center Data is partially incomplete due to systems transfer. • The live outcome rate for July was 93.16%. • A total of 1,094 animals were brought to the shelter which included 633 cats, 446 dogs, 43 non-dog/cat mammals/marsupials/wild birds, 8 rabbits, and 7 reptiles. • A total of 767 animals were adopted (178 adult dogs, 67 puppies, 404 kittens, 116 adult cats, and 2 guinea pigs). • A total of 82 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On July 1, there were 1530 animals within the ASO inventory. • On August 1, there were 1306 animals within the ASO inventory. Animal Protection Data is partially incomplete due to systems transfer. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 12 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 2 fencing assistance applications and implanted 0 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 24 injured animals and 114 regular or sick animals. • Officers submitted 40 specimens for rabies testing. We had 3 positive bats, 2 decomposed bats, and 1 destroyed bat. Wildlife Data is partially incomplete and does not include non-coyote wildlife. • There were 40 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 17 wild sick, 16 sightings, 4 wild injured, 2 incidents, 1 encounter • Out of 40 coyote related activities, 19 (48%) reports fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and observation) o Encounters: Pets were a factor in 0/1 (0%) of encounters reported 1/1 encounters (100%) involved coyote not responding to hazing efforts made by the resident o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of incidents reported 2/2 incidents (100%) involved off-leash dogs going off trail and getting bitten by a coyote Volunteer Data is partially incomplete due to systems transfer. • 594 volunteers contributed 7,307.43 hours in July. • • The Volunteer Program held 4 orientations, introducing 123 potential volunteers to shelter operations. The Volunteer Program scheduled 16 Community Service Restitution individuals to perform 145.2 hours of laundry, dishes and other duties as assigned. • 185 volunteers dedicated their time to volunteer development and onboarding training. …
Reporting AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES Animal Advisory Commission August 11, 2025 Rolando Fernandez Jr. Animal Services Interim Director Jason Garza Animal Services Deputy Director 1 Monthly Reporting AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES 2 AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER MONTHLY DATA The live outcome rate for July was 94.27%. 1,094 animals were brought to the shelter 767 animals were adopted 82 dogs and cats were returned to their owners July 1, 2025 1530 animals in the ASO inventory August 1, 2025 1306 animals in the ASO inventory 3 ANIMAL PROTECTION FIELD DATA Field Return to Owner (RTO) Fencing Applications Impounded Injured Impounded Regular or Sick Rabies Specimens 12 2 24 114 40 WILDLIFE COYOTES Coyote Related Activities 40 Activities Breakdown 17 wild sick 2 incidents 16 sightings 1 encounter 4 wild injured 4 VOLUNTEERING HOURS OVERVIEW 594 volunteers contributed 7,307.43 hours 4 orientations, introducing 123 potential volunteers 16 Community Service Restitution individuals to perform 145.2 hours 27 individuals donated 54 hours toward group volunteer service, through dog-walking and cat care SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook • 1.52 million page views • 472,000 unique individuals • 47,000 content interactions Instagram • 1.1 million page views • 271,000 unique individuals • 51,000 content interactions 5 FOSTER AND RESCUE In July, 13 different rescue partners pulled a total of 314 domestic animals from the Austin Animal Center. • This total included: 100 kittens, 100 cats, 48 puppies, 57 dogs, 4 guinea pigs, 4 rabbits, and 1 reptile • 476 different people/families fostered. • As of August 1st @ 7:30 a.m. there are 456 animals in foster care. • 31 animals were a part of Finder to Foster • More than 273 animals were adopted directly from foster care. • 341 new foster applications were processed. • There are currently 902 approved foster care providers 6 VET SERVICES • 615 spay/neuter surgeries were performed in July. • 1206 animals were vaccinated. • 0 visibly pregnant animals were spayed. • 345 animals were transferred to rescue organizations. • 66 animals were euthanized in July. • 64 for severe injury, neurological, congenital, cardiac, suffering, toxicity, or agonal reasons. • 2 for court ordered euthanasia. 7 Spay and Neuter AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES 8 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES BY THE YEAR FY2020 4642 FY2020 5986 Surgeries performed In-house FY2022 6079 FY2021 4916 FY2023 5217 Surgeries performed via Contract FY2022 4761 FY2023 7571 FY2021 4956 FY2024 5641 FY2024 10628 Austin Animal Services supports the community and the welfare of …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: (20250811-7): Animal Welfare Policies and Marketing Priorities WHEREAS, spay neuter surgeries are critical services provided to the community to stabilize and ultimately reduce shelter intake of unplanned litters of kittens and puppies; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin contracted with Greater Good Charities to provide high-quality, high-volume community spay/neuter services for up to seven (7) free clinics for the residents of Austin and Travis County with the goal of up to 1,200 animals spayed/neutered for each clinic; and WHEREAS, during each of the four (4) prior clinics the maximum goal of 1,200 animals spayed/neuterd per clinic was not met; and WHEREAS, when significant efforts by the public to assist with marketing the clinic resulted in an excellent turnout for the fifth clinic held in July 2025; and WHEREAS, when Austin Animal Center worked with all their partners and increased marketing efforts it also contributed to the success of the fifth clinic. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council to support the following marketing recommendations to ensure continued excellent turnout for future spay neuter clinics by: 1. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s marketing team find new and creative ways to encourage participation in the free spay neuter clinics by posting clinic information in the Austin Chronicle, requesting the site hosting the clinic to cross promote, requesting more media coverage both before and during the clinic, creating more variety in social media posts about the clinic, and reaching out to contracted nonprofits providing services for APH/HHS to promote the clinic. 2. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s Community Cats Program work with the Greater Good Charities/Good Fix team to determine how many community cats they can accept each clinic day and plan and work with volunteer trappers and community members to fill these slots. 3. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s customer service team promote the clinic by posting flyers outside the Pet Resource Center, distributing flyers to customers, including a link to clinic information in the auto-reply for all shelter emails, emailing clinic information to every pet owner who has reclaimed their pet intact, and harvesting emails from 311 requests for the past year and email flyers to those addresses. 4. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s outreach team reinstate their spay and neuter outreach efforts where they picked up and transported owned pets to be sterilized and vaccinated and returned to their …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Animal Advisory Commission Recommendation Number: (20250811-7): Animal Welfare Policies and Marketing Priorities WHEREAS, spay neuter surgeries are critical services provided to the community to stabilize and ultimately reduce shelter intake of unplanned litters of kittens and puppies; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin contracted with Greater Good Charities to provide high-quality, high-volume community spay/neuter services for up to seven (7) free clinics for the residents of Austin and Travis County with the goal of up to 1,200 animals spayed/neutered for each clinic; and WHEREAS, during each of the four (4) prior clinics the maximum goal of 1,200 animals spayed/neuterd per clinic was not met; and WHEREAS, when significant efforts by the public to assist with marketing the clinic resulted in an excellent turnout for the fifth clinic held in July 2025; and WHEREAS, when Austin Animal Center worked with all their partners and increased marketing efforts it also contributed to the success of the fifth clinic. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Animal Advisory Commission encourages the Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court to support the following marketing recommendations to ensure continued excellent turnout for future spay neuter clinics by: 1. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s marketing team find new and creative ways to encourage participation in the free spay neuter clinics by posting clinic information in the Austin Chronicle, requesting the site hosting the clinic to cross promote, requesting more media coverage both before and during the clinic, creating more variety in social media posts about the clinic, and reaching out to contracted nonprofits providing services for APH/HHS to promote the clinic. 2. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s Community Cats Program work with the Greater Good Charities/Good Fix team to determine how many community cats they can accept each clinic day and plan and work with volunteer trappers and community members to fill these slots. 3. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s customer service team promote the clinic by posting flyers outside the Pet Resource Center, distributing flyers to customers, including a link to clinic information in the auto-reply for all shelter emails, emailing clinic information to every pet owner who has reclaimed their pet intact, and harvesting emails from 311 requests for the past year and email flyers to those addresses. 4. Recommending Austin Animal Center’s outreach team reinstate their spay and neuter outreach efforts where they picked up and transported owned pets to be sterilized …
