REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, ROOM 1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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 Nekaybaw Watson at nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2562. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Dr. Paige Nilson, Chair, D4 Jo Anne Norton, Vice Chair, D7 Jennifer Daniel, Parliamentarian, D6 Koby Ahmed, Mayor Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Erin Ferguson, D8 Whitney Holt, D5 Sarah Huddelston, D9 David Loignon, D10 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Jules Maron, D3 Erin Van Landingham, D1 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 May 11, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Staff briefing regarding the Austin Animal Services Donation Fund. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services, Jason Garza, Assistant Director , Austin Animal Services, and Melissa Pool, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Animal Services. DICUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Approve the election of Chair. Update and Discussion from the Off Leash Dog Working Group regarding working group focus areas. Approve the addition of members to the Off Leash Dog Working Group. Approve the addition of members to the Foster Incentives Working Group. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding breed labeling policies in shelters. Approve the Annual Internal Review Report for Animal Advisory Commission. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 11, 2026 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Norton called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Jo Anne Norton, Vice Chair, D7 Jennifer Daniel, Parliamentarian, D6 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Erin Ferguson, D8 Whitney Holt, D5 David Loignon, D10 Jules Maron, D3 Erin Van Landingham, D1 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Koby Ahmed, Mayor Sarah Huddleston, D9 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Commissioners Absent: Dr. Paige Nilson, Chair, D4 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Robyn Katz – State of Animals in Texas Sandra Muller – Transparency in Reporting Pat Valls Trelles – Donations Fund Rochelle Vickery – No food to people who have no record of spay or neuter 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on April 13, 2026. The minutes of the April 13, 2026 regular meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission was approved during the May 11, 2026 regular meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Ferguson’s second on an 11-0 vote. Chair Nilson was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Staff briefing regarding Austin Animal Service’s Strategic Plan One Year Update. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services; Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services; and Melissa Pool, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Animal Services. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from Pet Friendly Housing Working Group regarding future recommendations. Update provided by Commissioner Holt. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Approve the election of Chair. The motion to approve Commissioner Nilson as Chair of the Animal Advisory Commission failed on Vice Chair Norton’s motion, Commissioner Holt’s second on a 6-2 vote. Vice Chair Norton, Parliamentarian Daniel, and Commissioners Ferguson, Holt, Huddleston, and Maron were for. Commissioners Ahmed and Nemer were against. Commissioners Dulzaides, Loignon, and Van Landingham abstained. Approve the creation of a working group regarding policies related to off-leash dogs and the addition of members. The motion to approve the creation of …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 11, 2026 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Norton called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Jo Anne Norton, Vice Chair, D7 Jennifer Daniel, Parliamentarian, D6 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Erin Ferguson, D8 Whitney Holt, D5 David Loignon, D10 Jules Maron, D3 Erin Van Landingham, D1 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Koby Ahmed, Mayor Sarah Huddleston, D9 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Commissioners Absent: Dr. Paige Nilson, Chair, D4 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Robyn Katz – State of Animals in Texas Sandra Muller – Transparency in Reporting Pat Valls Trelles – Donations Fund Rochelle Vickery – No food to people who have no record of spay or neuter 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on April 13, 2026. The minutes of the April 13, 2026 regular meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission was approved during the May 11, 2026 regular meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Ferguson’s second on an 11-0 vote. Chair Nilson was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. Staff briefing regarding Austin Animal Service’s Strategic Plan One Year Update. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services. Presentation given by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services; Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services; and Melissa Pool, Chief Administrative Officer, Austin Animal Services. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from Pet Friendly Housing Working Group regarding future recommendations. Update provided by Commissioner Holt. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. Approve the election of Chair. The motion to approve Commissioner Nilson as Chair of the Animal Advisory Commission failed on Vice Chair Norton’s motion, Commissioner Holt’s second on a 6-2 vote. Vice Chair Norton, Parliamentarian Daniel, and Commissioners Ferguson, Holt, Huddleston, and Maron were for. Commissioners Ahmed and Nemer were against. Commissioners Dulzaides, Loignon, and Van Landingham abstained. Approve the creation of a working group regarding policies related to off-leash dogs and the addition of members. The motion to approve the creation of …
Animal Services Office Statistical Report – May2024-2026 May 2026 Intake May2025 Intake Chameleon ShelterBuddy – 1194 animals May2024 Intake May 2026 Adoption May2025 Adoptions Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Adoptions May 2026 RTOs May2025 RTOs Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 RTOs May 2026 Animal Euthanized May2025 Animals Euthanized Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animals Euthanized May 2026 Live Release Rate May2025 Total Live Release Rate Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Total Live Release Rate May 2026 Vaccinations – 2184 vaccinations were provided to animals in care of Austin Animal Services. May2025 Animal Vaccinations May2024 Animal Vaccinations May 2026 – Spay/Neuter at AAC May2025 Spayed/Neuter at AAC Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Spayed/Neutered at AAC May 2026 Deaths in Care May2025 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster May 2026 Animals Transferred (includes 64 cats that went through SNR) May2025 Animals Transferred: Chameleon ShelterBuddy Includes 45 cats that went to AHS for SNR May2024 Animals Transferred May 2026 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing May2025 Animal Lost, Stolen or Missing Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing May 2026 SNR Program – As noted above, 64 cats went through SNR May2025 SNR Program Chameleon May2024 SNR Program May 2026 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO May2025 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION Recommendation Number: 20260608-008 Recommendation to Council Regarding Breed Labeling Policies WHEREAS, accurate identification of a dog’s breed based solely on visual assessment has been widely shown to be unreliable without genetic testing even among animal welfare professionals and veterinary staff; and WHEREAS, research has found that the vast majority of dogs at animal shelters are composed of three or more breeds; and WHEREAS, labeling dogs as specific breeds—particularly “pit bull” or “pit bull mix”—based on appearance alone can misrepresent their true genetic makeup; and WHEREAS, many housing providers enforce breed restrictions that disproportionately impact dogs labeled as “pit bull” types, creating significant barriers for adopters seeking rental housing; and WHEREAS, such labeling practices can unintentionally reduce adoption rates and increase length of stay for affected dogs; and WHEREAS, a growing number of animal welfare organizations are adopting best practices that prioritize temperament, and individual characteristics over speculative breed identification including: 1. Orange County Animal Services (OCAS), an open intake municipal shelter in Florida, stopped using breed labels in 2014, and an independent peer-reviewed study of OCAS’s outcomes data found that removing breed labels improved adoption rates and decreased lengths of stay for all dog types, with the greatest impact for pit-bull-type dogs (https://www.ocnetpets.com/); 2. Williamson County Animal Services, an open intake municipal shelter in Texas, stopped using breed labels in 2017; most dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.wilcotx.gov/163/Animal-Shelter); 3. Memphis Animal Services, an open intake municipal shelter in Tennessee, stopped using breed labels in 2016; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://memphisanimalservices.com/); 4. DeKalb County Animal Services and Fulton County Animal Services, two open intake municipal shelters in Georgia managed by LifeLine Animal Project, stopped using breed labels in 2017 (https://dekalbanimalservices.com/; https://fultonanimalservices.com/); . 5. Fairfax County Animal Shelter, an open intake municipal shelter in Virginia, stopped using breed labels in 2015; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalservices/); 6. Rochester Animal Services, a managed intake municipal shelter in New York, stopped using breed labels in 2017; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/department-recreation-and-human-services- drhs/rochester-animal-services-ras); and WHEREAS, studies show that shifting to a “mixed breed” designation where lineage is unknown and distinct and undeniable breed traits are absent promotes fairness, reduces bias, and improves adoption outcomes for all dogs; and WHEREAS, “mixed breed” is an acceptable designation …
Updates, Reports and Briefings Austin Animal Services | June 8, 2026 Upcoming Events 2 30-60-90 Day Horizon Plan Monica Dangler, Director Accomplishments Completed action items in the past 30 days Empty the Shelter Event Partnered with Bissel Pet Foundation to adopted out 269 animals including 78 cats, 47 kittens, 108 dogs, 33 puppies, and 2 rabbits! Programs and Socials Started the second cohort of dogs in the Enduring Service program! Improvements to shelter presence Added billboard sign on HWY 71 promoting the shelter and events Enhance Staffing Hired temporary Public Information Specialist and onboarded intern to support marketing activities. 4 Monthly Reporting May 2026 Jason Garza, Assistant Director 1,376 animals were impounded this month. May 2026 (FY26) saw 1,286 domestic animals impounded at AAS. This is a 22% increase from April 2026 which brought in 1,053 domestic animals to the shelter. The remaining number was wildlife. Intake Sources A breakdown of the sources for intake. Most animals came from stray brought in by the public. The number of strays impounded increased by 50%. 498 385 307 111 35 21 Stray from Public APO Impound Community Cat Owner Surrender Returned to Shelter APD | TCSO Emergency Clinic Born in Care Abandoned APO DOA Impound Wildlife Animals Impounded A breakdown of impounded animals by species and/or age. Fowl 6 Bird 3 Kittens 600 Rabbits 11 Wildlife 53 Puppies 104 Dogs 288 Cats 294 6 46 animals were euthanized this month* Animals Euthanized A breakdown of animals euthanized this month by species and/or age. Reasons for Euthanasia This chart shows the breakdown of reasons for euthanasia by animal. Each bar is equal to 100% of the euthanasia reason category. Kittens 8 Dogs 3 Wildlife 13 Cats 22 Kitten 7 Wildlife 1 Cat 18 0 Wildlife 10 Kitten 1 Wildlife 1 Dog 2 Cat 2 Wildlife 1 Cat 2 Dog 5 Dog 1 Suffering Rabies Risk Dog 0 Trauma Dog 0 DB4 Bites Injured Neuro Court Order 7 May 2026 had a live-release rate of 96.11 percent This means that of all companion animal outcomes for the month of May, 96.11 percent or 1064 were “live” and involved adoption, rescue transfer, return-to-owner, etc. Live Outcomes by Animal Type This chart shows how many of each animal type had a positive or live outcome during May. Breakdown per Outcome Type This chart shows the breakdown of each kind of live outcome by the number of …
Animal Services Office Statistical Report – May2024-2026 May 2026 Intake May2025 Intake Chameleon ShelterBuddy – 1194 animals May2024 Intake May 2026 Adoption May2025 Adoptions Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Adoptions May 2026 RTOs May2025 RTOs Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 RTOs May 2026 Animal Euthanized May2025 Animals Euthanized Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animals Euthanized May 2026 Live Release Rate May2025 Total Live Release Rate Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Total Live Release Rate May 2026 Vaccinations – 2184 vaccinations were provided to animals in care of Austin Animal Services. May2025 Animal Vaccinations May2024 Animal Vaccinations May 2026 – Spay/Neuter at AAC May2025 Spayed/Neuter at AAC Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Spayed/Neutered at AAC May 2026 Deaths in Care May2025 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster May 2026 Animals Transferred (includes 64 cats that went through SNR) May2025 Animals Transferred: Chameleon ShelterBuddy Includes 45 cats that went to AHS for SNR May2024 Animals Transferred May 2026 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing May2025 Animal Lost, Stolen or Missing Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Animals Lost, Stolen or Missing May 2026 SNR Program – As noted above, 64 cats went through SNR May2025 SNR Program Chameleon May2024 SNR Program May 2026 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO May2025 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO Chameleon ShelterBuddy May2024 Intact Animals Adopted/RTO
Updates, Reports and Briefings Austin Animal Services | June 8, 2026 Upcoming Events 2 30-60-90 Day Horizon Plan Monica Dangler, Director Accomplishments Completed action items in the past 30 days Empty the Shelter Event Partnered with Bissell Pet Foundation to adopted out 269 animals including 78 cats, 47 kittens, 108 dogs, 33 puppies, and 2 rabbits! Programs and Socials Started the second cohort of dogs in the Enduring Service program! Improvements to shelter presence Added billboard sign on HWY 71 promoting the shelter and events. Enhance Staffing Hired temporary Public Information Specialist and onboarded intern to support marketing activities. 4 Monthly Reporting May 2026 Jason Garza, Assistant Director 1,366 animals were impounded this month. May 2026 (FY26) saw 1,306 domestic animals impounded at AAS. This is a 22% increase from April 2026 which brought in 1,060 domestic animals to the shelter. The remaining number was wildlife. Intake Sources A breakdown of the sources for intake. Most animals came from stray brought in by the public. The number of strays impounded increased by 50%. Stray from Public APO Impound Community Cat Owner Surrender Returned to Shelter APD | TCSO Emergency Clinic Born in Care Abandoned APO DOA Impound Wildlife 497 380 305 112 35 21 5 4 3 3 1 Animals Impounded A breakdown of impounded animals by species and/or age. Rabbits 11 Wildlife 60 Fowl 5 Birds 3 Puppies 104 Dogs 285 Cats 290 Kittens 598 6 48 animals were euthanized this month Animals Euthanized A breakdown of animals euthanized this month by species and/or age. Reasons for Euthanasia This chart shows the breakdown of reasons for euthanasia by animal. Each bar is equal to 100% of the euthanasia reason category. Kittens 8 Dogs 3 Wildlife 13 Cats 22 Kitten 6 Wildlife 1 Cat 17 Kitten 1 Wildlife 2 Dog, 2 Cat 2 Wildlife 1 Kitten 1 Cat 2 Puppy 1 Cat 1 Wildlife 10 Dog, 1 Suffering Injured Neuro Agonal Rabies Risk 7 May 2026 had a live-release rate of 96.16 percent This means that of all companion animal outcomes for the month of May, 96.16 percent or 1100 were “live” and involved adoption, rescue transfer, return-to-owner, etc. Live Outcomes by Animal Type This chart shows how many of each animal type had a positive or live outcome during May. Breakdown per Outcome Type This chart shows the breakdown of each kind of live outcome by the number of …
Off-Leash Dogs Working Group Draft June 2026 Working Group Members Animal Advisory Commission • Whitney Holt • Jo Anne Norton Non-Commission • Pat Vals-Trelles City of Austin Staff • ?? Issues Considered by the Working Group • Misinformation about existing laws, especially on social media platforms (Any impact HB 285 “Pancho’s Law”) • New Austinites may not know about existing laws • Off-leash dogs on parkland that is on-leash only – Citizens cannot safely enjoy City parkland • Off-leash dogs in neighborhoods (owned dogs) – Citizens cannot safely walk in their neighborhood • Options for citizens to report issues • Continued education and data monitoring Citizen Concerns Gathered from NextDoor, emails, conversations about off- leash dogs in on-leash areas and neighborhoods • Chase bikes potentially causing accidents • Run up to strollers or citizens with walking aides • Poop not scooped because owners are on their phones or talking to others • Not enough tickets written for violations • Dogs run up to random adults and children • Dog owners are not trained to break up dog fights Data • 311 and 911 call data related to off-leash dogs in parks and neighborhoods • One year lookback (6/01/2025 through 5/31/2026) – # of calls by category (loose dog, SBI) – APO follow up on 311 and 911 calls • # of suggestions for fencing • Action taken for repeat calls • # of visits/letters to pet owners who let their pets go loose • Future - Lookback after a year to confirm education is making an impact Raising Awareness About Existing Off-Leash Laws • Develop educational plan – Review collateral – Create messaging – Explore social media platforms – Other • Sessions at libraries • CM newsletters
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION Recommendation Number:20260608-008 Recommendation to Council Regarding Breed Labeling Policies WHEREAS, accurate identification of a dog’s breed based solely on visual assessment has been widely shown to be unreliable without genetic testing even among animal welfare professionals and veterinary staff; and WHEREAS, research has found that the vast majority of dogs at animal shelters are composed of three or more breeds; and WHEREAS, labeling dogs as specific breeds—particularly “pit bull” or “pit bull mix”—based on appearance alone can misrepresent their true genetic makeup; and WHEREAS, many housing providers enforce breed restrictions that disproportionately impact dogs labeled as “pit bull” types, creating significant barriers for adopters seeking rental housing; and WHEREAS, such labeling practices can unintentionally reduce adoption rates and increase length of stay for affected dogs; and WHEREAS, a growing number of animal welfare organizations are adopting best practices that prioritize temperament, and individual characteristics over speculative breed identification including: 1. Orange County Animal Services (OCAS), an open intake municipal shelter in Florida, stopped using breed labels in 2014, and an independent peer-reviewed study of OCAS’s outcomes data found that removing breed labels improved adoption rates and decreased lengths of stay for all dog types, with the greatest impact for pit-bull-type dogs (https://www.ocnetpets.com/); 2. Williamson County Animal Services, an open intake municipal shelter in Texas, stopped using breed labels in 2017; most dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.wilcotx.gov/163/Animal-Shelter); 3. Memphis Animal Services, an open intake municipal shelter in Tennessee, stopped using breed labels in 2016; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://memphisanimalservices.com/); 4. DeKalb County Animal Services and Fulton County Animal Services, two open intake municipal shelters in Georgia managed by LifeLine Animal Project, stopped using breed labels in 2017 (https://dekalbanimalservices.com/; https://fultonanimalservices.com/); DRAFT . 5. Fairfax County Animal Shelter, an open intake municipal shelter in Virginia, stopped using breed labels in 2015; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalservices/); 6. Rochester Animal Services, a managed intake municipal shelter in New York, stopped using breed labels in 2017; dogs are currently listed on their website as “mixed breed” (https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/department-recreation-and-human-services- drhs/rochester-animal-services-ras); and WHEREAS, studies show that shifting to a “mixed breed” designation where lineage is unknown and distinct and undeniable breed traits are absent promotes fairness, reduces bias, and improves adoption outcomes for all dogs; and WHEREAS, “mixed breed” is an acceptable designation …
