Versión en español a continuación. Special Meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission Monday, September 21, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Animal Advisory Commission special meeting to be held September 21 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by Sunday noon, September 20. 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 the board liaison, Belinda Hare, at Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov or 512-978-0565, no later than noon, Sunday, September 20. Email works best for communicating. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) 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 Sunday noon, September 20. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. • If the meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Animal Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion Monday, September 21, 10 to 11:30 a.m. La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación by Sunday noon, September 20. Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: junta en Belinda Hare, at • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov or 512-978-0565 a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una …
Animal Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting September 21, 2020 Animal Advisory Commission HASS Working Group Proposals for Commission Consideration Special Called Meeting, September 21, 2020 Agenda Item 2a a. To recommend that Animal Services be designated an "essential service" and that hiring for Animal Services positions be "unfrozen." b. To recommend that the City of Austin participate in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) program.
AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-09-14 REGULAR MEETING APPROVED SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION September 14, 2020 The Animal Advisory Commission convened via a remote meeting, Monday, September 14, 2020, 3:02 to 4:37 p.m. Chair David Lundstedt conducted a verbal roll call and called the Commission Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: David Lundstedt, Lisa Mitchell, Craig Nazor, Palmer Neuhaus, Andrea Schwartz, JoAnne Norton, Nancy Nemer, and Ryan Clinton. Commission Members Absent: Dr. Jon Brandes, Katie Jarl, Edward Flores, Monica Frenden, District 4 Vacant Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Abigail Varela, and Belinda Hare Speakers: The following seven citizens spoke for three minutes on agenda items as noted: Christine Poreca, 4b Lana Lesley, item 4b Sandra Muller, 3c Lucy Fernandez, 4b Nicole Clark, 4b Pat Valls-Trellis, 4b Dolly Ensey, 4b 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-09-14 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Nemer moved to approve the minutes from the August 7, 2020, Special Called meeting, and Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, 7 – 0, with Commissioner Mitchell abstaining. Commissioners Lundstedt, Nazor, Neuhaus, Schwartz, Norton, Nemer and Clinton voted approval. Commissioners Dr. Brandes, Jarl, Edwards and Frenden were absent, and District 4 is vacant. 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Animal Services Office (ASO) Chief Animal Services Officer, Don Bland, and Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer, presented July and August 2020 monthly reports. b. Don Bland provided updates on expenditures and vacant positions. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Budget and Priorities Workgroup. Commissioners to discuss Animal Services Office (ASO) budget priorities. No Action. b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Workgroup on Austin Animal Center’s Shelter-Neuter-Release (SNR) Program. No Action c. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Code Revision Workgroup. Commissioners to discuss review of Ordinance 2019107-025 and recent Code Revisions regarding public safety and animal welfare. Commissioner Norton presented two recommendations from the Work Group: 1) to remove the word, “fear,” from Section 3-1-1 (20); and 2) to add language to the ordinances, including new language for Section 3-1-26, Notice to Rescue Organization. Commissioner Schwartz moved to approve the removal of the word, “fear,” from Section 3-1-1 (20); Commissioner Norton seconded. Commissioners Lundstedt, Norton and Schwartz voted for the move; Commissioners Mitchell, Neuhaus, Nazor, Nemer and Clinton voted against. Motion failed, 5 – 3. Commissioners discussed concerns and suggested changes to recommendation which will be brought forward …
AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-09-21 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 APPROVED October 12, 2020 The Animal Advisory Commission convened via a remote, Special Called Meeting, Monday, September 21, 2020, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Chair David Lundstedt conducted a verbal roll call and called the Commission Meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Commission Members in Attendance: David Lundstedt, Lisa Mitchell, Craig Nazor, Katie Jarl, Edward Flores, Monica Frenden, Andrea Schwartz, JoAnne Norton, and Ryan Clinton. Commission Members Absent: Palmer Neuhaus, Dr. Jon Brandes, Nancy Nemer, District 4 Vacant Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Belinda Hare Speakers included (agenda item): • Ellen Jefferson, 2a • Lucy Fernandez, 2a • Yolanda Rodriguez, 2a • Pat Valls-Trellis, 2a • Wendy Murphy, 2a 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 Commissioner Nazor moved to approve the minutes from the September 14, 2020, meeting, and Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, 9-0. Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor, Jarl, Flores, Frenden, Schwartz, Norton, and Clinton voted approval. Commissioners Neuhaus, Dr. Brandes, and Nemer were absent, and District 4 is vacant. AAC Meeting Minutes 2020-09-21 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Recommendations from the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) Work Group. Commissioner Nazor moved to recommend that the City of Austin participate in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) Program; Commissioner Mitchell seconded the motion. Commissioner Frenden recused from voting. Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor, Jarl, and Clinton voted in favor; Commissioners Flores, Schwartz and Norton voted against. Commissioners Neuhaus, Dr. Brandes and Nemer were absent; District 4 position is vacant Motion failed 5-3. Commissioner Clinton moved to accept the second recommendation from the HASS Work Group which is to recommend that Animal Services be designated an “essential service’ and that hiring for Animal Services positions be “unfrozen.” All Commissioners present voted in favor: Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor, Jarl, Flores, Schwartz, Frenden, Clinton and Norton. Motion passed unanimously 9-0. Commissioners Neuhaus, Dr. Brandes and Nemer were absent; District 4 position is vacant 3. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioners agreed to include the following under Old Business: a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Workgroup on Austin Animal Center’s Shelter-Neuter-Release (SNR) Program Commissioners to discuss concerns regarding ASO’s SNR program for cats. b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Code Revision Workgroup Commissioners to discuss review of Ordinance 2019107-025 and recent Code Revisions regarding public safety and animal welfare. Commissioners agreed to include …
Animal Advisory Commission Remote Meeting Monday, September 14, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Animal Advisory Commission meeting to be held September 14 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by noon on Sunday, September 13. 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 the board liaison, Belinda Hare, at Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov or 512-978-0565, no later than noon on Sunday, September 13. Email works best for these meetings. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, a telephone number and 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 (no later than 2:45 p.m. for this meeting}. 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 on Sunday, September 13. The 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. Versión en español a continuación. Reunión del Animal Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion (Monday, September 14, 3 to 4:30 p.m.) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (September 13 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov or 512-978- 0565, a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • …
Ordinance No. 20191017-025 Section 3-1-1 (20): (20) UNPROVOKED BITING means biting that is not provoked. Biting is unprovoked if, among other things, it occurs during ordinary care, including feeding and placing a collar, leash or harness on a dog, or from merely initiating interaction with a dog, or standing and facing the dog, walking towards a dog or its owner or addressing the dog’s owner. Biting is provoked if, among other things, it occurs because the dog was being taunted, or the dog was acting in defense of self, a person, another animal, or property, or the dog was acting from maternal instinct, or the dog was reacting to hunger, pain, or fear, or the dog bites accidentally, as when playing. To be provoked a biting must occur contemporaneously with or immediately following the provocation. Section 3-1-26 - Add language to (A); (2) has new language; original (2) and (3) become (3) and (4): 3-1-26 NOTICE TO RESCUE ORGANIZATION (A) Not less than two business days before the euthanasia of any animal that does not qualify for exemption under Section C, the City animal shelter must: (C) This section does not apply to: (1) An animal who is irremediably suffering; (2) An animal who, after a high risk assessment, has been recommended for euthanasia for humane reasons or to protect the public from imminent danger to persons or property. Such animal may be euthanized without regard to any time limitations otherwise established in this title and without court order; (3) A dog whose release to a rescue organization would violate a court order; or (4) A dog with a documented history of unprovoked biting that has resulted in severe injury to a person.
CODE REVISION WORKGROUP RECOMMENDATION, SEPTEMBER 2020 MISSION Review of Ordinance 2019107-025 with regard to public safety and animal welfare RECOMMENDATION #1 - REMOVE THE WORD “FEAR” FROM THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED SECTION IN 3-1-1 (20), LEAVING IT TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (20) UNPROVOKED BITING means biting that is not provoked. Biting is unprovoked if, among other things, it occurs during ordinary care, including feeding and placing a collar, leash or harness on a dog, or from merely initiating interaction with a dog, or standing and facing the dog, walking towards a dog or its owner or addressing the dog’s owner. Biting is provoked if, among other things, it occurs because the dog was being taunted, or the dog was acting in defense of self, a person, another animal, or property, or the dog was acting from maternal instinct, or the dog was reacting to hunger, pain or the dog bites accidentally, as when playing. To be provoked a biting must occur contemporaneously with or immediately following the provocation. Note: Text in red was approved at the January 2020 Animal Advisory Commission meeting but is still not part of Code. RECOMMENDATION #1 JUSTIFICATION "Fear" is not a visible action, it is an internal state It ‘s often difficult to ascertain internal state when a bite occurs (even for trained observers) Even if we can identify fear as a motivation, that doesn’t mean the dog is “safe”, treatable, or behaving normally The presence of “fear” in a severe bite situation is far too vague a reason to release a high-risk dog City law and Mr Bland concur with our recommendation RECOMMENDATION #2 - ADD TEXT HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW (A) Not less than two business days before the euthanasia of any animal that does not qualify for exemption under Section C, the City 3-1-26 NOTICE TO RESCUE ORGANIZATION animal shelter must: (C) This section does not apply to: (1) An animal who is irremediably suffering; (2) An animal who, after a high risk assessment, has been recommended for euthanasia for humane reasons or to protect the public from imminent danger to persons or property. Such animal may be euthanized without regard to any time limitations otherwise established in this title and without court order. (3) A dog whose release to a rescue organization would violate a court order; or (4) A dog with a documented history of unprovoked biting …
Animal Advisory Commission Meeting September 14, 2020 Animal Advisory Commission HASS Working Group Proposals for Commission Consideration 1. Agenda Item 4a 2. Agenda Item 4b a. To recommend that Animal Services be designated an "essential service" and that hiring for Animal Services positions be "unfrozen." a. To recommend that the City of Austin participate in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) program.
Animal Advisory Commission Meeting September 14, 2020 From Commissioner Craig Nazor 1. Agenda Item 4 a Request for Commission Consideration We respectfully request that the Austin City Council take any actions available to them to ensure that already budgeted Animal Protect Officer positions currently unstaffed and "frozen" be filled as soon as possible, and that none of the full-time positions be designated as "temporary."
July 2020 July 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News The live outcome rate for July was 96.3 percent. A total of 310 animals were adopted (161 dogs, 142 cats, one livestock and six small pets). A total of 89 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). A total of 781 animals were brought to the shelter (537 stray, 164 owner surrender, 11 abandoned, 30 public assist and 39 wildlife). Animal Protection month of July. Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 40 animals to their owners in the field during the Officers handed out 28 fencing assistance applications, implanted seven microchips and impounded 184 injured animals, 100 of which were transferred to Austin Wildlife Rescue (AWR). Officers entered 206 rabies exposure reports and submitted 40 specimens for rabies testing. Three bats tested positive. Wildlife APO received 30 total coyote-related activities: o 18 sightings o 4 wild sick reports of mange o 3 incidents o 2 encounters o 2 wild injured o 1 wild speak encounter, and incident). o Out of 30 coyote related reports, 23 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, Incidents: Pets and livestock were a factor in half of the activities. o One incident involved a security camera that caught a coyote taking an unattended cat. o One incident involved a suspected coyote chasing joggers. Report was made by police. o One incident involved a suspected coyote attack on an unattended cat. APO’s were unable to make contact with resident to confirm. Encounters: Pets were a factor in half of the verified activities. o One encounter involved a coyote that entered a backyard with a pet present. o One encounter involved a coyote with mange that entered the backyard with possible person present. APO was unable to make contact with the resident to confirm. July 2020 Animal Services Report Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs Volunteers were able to come back onto AAC campus in a very limited capacity this month. We started with three dog walkers and quickly increased to four walkers, one playgroup runner, one vet services volunteer, one data entry position and two cat volunteers. Increase in volunteer numbers is evaluated on safety and operational needs. AAC staff have been very thankful to have volunteers return. A total of 66 volunteers donated 1,537.88 hours in July. A large majority …
Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, August 7, 2020 Special Meeting of the Animal Advisory Commission Friday, August 7, 3 p.m., 2020 Animal Advisory Commission to be held August 7 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by noon, Thursday, August 6. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, residents must: • Email or call board liaison, Belinda Hare, Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov, phone 512-978-0565, no later than noon, August 6. Email works best and most efficiently. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, phone number, and an email address. • Once a request to speak has been emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or 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 FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 3 to 4:30 P.M., 2020 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING Lisa Mitchell, Vice Chair Edward Flores Monica Frenden Andrea Schwartz Jo Anne Norton Ryan Clinton AGENDA Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, August 7, 2020 CURRENT COMMISSION MEMBERS: David Lundstedt, Chair Katie Jarl Palmer Neuhaus Craig Nazor Dr. Jon Brandes Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian District 4 Vacant CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission’s July 6, …
March 2020 March 2020 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT • The live outcome rate for March was 96.5 percent. • A total of 382 animals were adopted (289 dogs, 85 cats, two birds and six small pets). • A total of 173 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). Animal Services News Animal Protection month of March. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 67 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 27 fencing assistance applications, implanted eight microchips and impounded 132 injured animals. • A total of 119 animals were transferred to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 340 rabies exposure reports and submitted 113 specimens for rabies testing. Three bats tested positive. • Wildlife APO received 31 coyote-related activities: 4 encounters o 16 sightings o o 4 wild sick reports of mange o 2 wild injured o 2 incidents o 1 wild speak o 1 community coyote presentation o 1 suspected bite to pet (later found out the wound was caused by a skin problem, not a bite) injuries. • Out of 31 coyote related reports, 22 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets were a factor in all activities • o One incident involved a coyote injuring an off-leash pet in the greenbelt. Pet had minor o One incident involved a coyote displaying flushing and defensive behavior with a large dog. The owner of the dog stated it is reactive to other animals. • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all verified activities o Two encounters involved a coyote that was seen chasing a cat o One encounter involved a coyote displaying flushing behavior with a dog and citizen o One encounter involved a coyote with mange that did not respond to hazing until assertive techniques were implemented March 2020 Animal Services Report Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs • A total of 306 volunteers donated 3,385 service hours. • AAC closed to the public and volunteers on March 16. • Due to COVID-19, a plea for help was sent out to find foster homes for animals in the shelter because of the uncertainty of what the next few weeks would look like. • A total of 400 families provided foster care, a 200 percent increase over last month, and a total of 104 animals were adopted directly from foster care. • There are 1487 …
