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Tag Archives: Animal Services
City clarifies shelter policies
A clarification about the ownership of shelter animals should keep the city out of legal trouble, though some City Council members had reservations that the changes were moving too fast. Kristen Auerbach, who is the deputy chief animal services officer…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 28, 2016
Coyote debate howls through committee
Debate over the region’s coyote policy continued at City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Monday, where public comment on the city’s policy took center stage for about an hour. In November 2014, the city passed a coyote management plan, and…
Resources • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 31, 2016
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…
Austin • By Vicky Garza • Mar 21, 2016
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…
Austin • By Vicky Garza • Jan 14, 2016
Animal Services chief responds to department audit
Austin is a leader in animal shelter and care, but the common metrics used for auditing animal care facilities have not kept pace with its no-kill policy, Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond told the Audit and Finance Committee on…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Dec 15, 2015
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…
Austin • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 11, 2015
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Council prohibits use of bullhooks on elephants
While several bullhooks were brought into City Council chambers as evidence Thursday – one even passed around on the dais – these instruments, used to train circus animals, will be prohibited from use on elephants within city limits starting in…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 7, 2015
Shelter dogs to get playgroups, not paid dog walkers
Austin’s new Chief Animal Services Officer, Tawny Hammond, said Monday she will institute part of a City Council recommendation intended to deal with concerns that dogs in the city’s shelters were not getting out of their cages enough. Hammond said…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 15, 2015
New Chief Animal Services Officer stresses adoption
Austin’s new chief animal services officer says the city’s no-kill status was what persuaded her to take the job. But Tawny Hammond told the Austin Monitor on Tuesday that for Austin to sustain its no-kill status, more people need to be adopting…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 2, 2015
Animal Commission reviews audit criticisms
While members of the Animal Advisory Commission acknowledged Wednesday the deficiencies identified in the city’s first audit of Animal Services, they also argued that scrutinizing city animal shelters differs from auditing other city departments. “Housing animals is not an exact science,” said…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 18, 2015
Council committee examines Animal Services audit
Unlike the majority of city audits, the troubling Animal Services audit did not come with an immediate plan of action from the department. However, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee did find some answers to the many questions its members…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 1, 2015
Audit reveals trouble in city's animal shelters
A city audit of Austin Animal Services has revealed serious problems within the department and its shelters. The audit found that the department does not have sufficient resources to meet its 90 percent live outcome goal while maintaining state requirements…
