Tag Archives: Animal Advisory Commission
Monday, December 16, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Two Apples, one day
Update on Oakwood… A Dec. 13 memo from Austin Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley gives an update to the Oakwood Cemetery archaeological findings, with “next steps for the reinterment, memorialization and educational outreach related to burials that were…
Friday, December 13, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Austin
Austin cat advocates ask city to reevaluate shelter-neuter-release program
The stated goal of the Austin Animal Center is to place all adoptable animals in forever homes. However, even with this intention and a no-kill policy to back it up, not all animals are given the same chance to find…
Friday, September 14, 2018 by Jack Craver
Austin
Commission calls on Austin to ban cat declawing
The city Animal Advisory Commission has unanimously recommended that the city ban cat declawing.The commission unanimously approved the resolution on Monday after hearing an hour of testimony from veterinarians and animal rights activists, most of whom described declawing as a…
Friday, July 13, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Austin
The cats are alive and well at the Austin Animal Center
After a significant dip in live outcomes for cats in April, the Animal Advisory Commission began to seriously consider how it could reverse that trend to allow more animals to survive their stay as a guest at the Austin Animal…
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
City Hall
Commission weighs benefits of playgroups vs. walks for dogs
Although walking a dog seems like one of the most rudimentary interactions you can have with your pet, it is a daily chore that routinely takes a back seat at the Austin Animal Center due to its lack of manpower. Instead,…
Friday, May 18, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Austin
Shelter cat live outcome rate dips below 90 percent
As a no-kill shelter, Austin Animal Center has a goal of sending out as many animals into happy homes as possible. Unfortunately, this month, the shelter was able to do that less often for its cats than it has in the…
Monday, November 27, 2017 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Solutions and such
That got a little prickly… The Texas Health and Science University earned the recommendation of the Planning Commission at its Nov. 14 meeting to rezone in order to construct a library next door to the acupuncture school as well as dormitories…
Friday, October 7, 2016 by Jack Craver
City Council
City Council debates coyotes
City Council spent most of the morning Thursday discussing what to do about coyotes.Council was asked by city staff to approve an ordinance that would authorize the Animal Services Department to negotiate and execute a contract with Texas A&M AgriLife…
Monday, September 19, 2016 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: What has hot dogs, great views and live music? It’s a roundup festival!
Hot dogs at Town Lake Animal Center… Things got heated during the Animal Advisory Commission’s recent discussion of the temperature of the Town Lake Animal Center. There has been increasing public concern over ineffectual swamp coolers where the outdoor kennels…
Friday, September 16, 2016 by Cate Malek
Austin
Animal Commission votes down spay and neuter proposal
Despite public appeals, the Animal Commission has decided not to move forward on a proposed ordinance that would require that all dogs brought to Austin animal shelter be spayed or neutered the first time they are impounded.The ordinance was meant…
Monday, July 25, 2016 by Cate Malek
Austin
Austin’s reputation as an animal haven may be slowing pet rescues
Six years ago, City Council passed a resolution that animal shelters would no longer kill homeless pets for the sake of space or convenience.But now that Austin has a solid reputation as a no-kill city, Animal Services officials are worried…
Friday, July 15, 2016 by Cate Malek
Austin
Austin suffers from lack of animal protection officers
Although Austin has a reputation as a city of pet lovers, a chronic shortage of animal protection officers may be putting pets, and local communities, at risk.The city currently has 20 officers, only one-third of the number recommended by the…
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 by Vicky Garza
City Hall
Advocates push for permanent animal cruelty prosecutors
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has assigned two prosecutors to handle animal cruelty cases after a family and animal law attorney made the case for a special animal cruelty prosecutor to the Animal Advisory Commission last month during citizens…
Thursday, May 19, 2016 by Jo Clifton
City Hall
No new members for animal advisory group
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Monday postponed for one month a vote to recommend adding members to the city’s Animal Advisory Commission from Travis County, as requested last year by County Judge Sarah Eckhardt. In doing so,…
Monday, March 21, 2016 by Vicky Garza
Austin
Animal Services punts spay and neuter proposal
The Animal Advisory Commission voted down a proposal last week that would have allowed animal shelter staff to spay or neuter an animal the first time it is impounded. Instead, the commissioners will wait for the results of a six-month…
Monday, January 18, 2016 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Peacocks and loose lips
Wherever you go, there you are… Though it seems that former Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis is eager to put Austin behind him, it looks as though he may be taking a bit of his history with him to…
Thursday, January 14, 2016 by Vicky Garza
Austin
Mandatory pet sterilization not recommended to help reduce number of animals in shelters
Austin animal owners should not be forced to spay or neuter their animals, said Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond in a briefing before the City Council Health and Human Services Committee.The presentation, which comes just as Austin is about to…
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 by Caleb Pritchard
Austin
County shoots down Austin’s no-kill request
Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday rejected a request from the city of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission to enter into a partnership that would develop a no-kill management strategy for wild animals, including coyotes.David Lundstedt and Craig Nazor of the…
Monday, October 19, 2015 by Jack Craver
The Region
Commission tells city to cut ties with state on coyote control
The Animal Advisory Commission approved a number of recommendations last Monday aimed at getting the city to set up its own wildlife management service. Since 2012 the city and county have contracted with Texas Wildlife Services, which has assigned a…
