[00:00:08]
WHY DO YOU DO ME WRONG, BABY? I KNOW.
WHY DO YOU DO ME WRONG? I LOVE IT, EMMA.
WHY DON'T YOU CHEAT ME? RAIN, BABY.
HONEY, WHY DON'T YOU CHEAT ME, RIGHT? I LOVE IT IN THE MORNING.
DO YOU WANNA DO, WHY DO YOU WANNA DO TO THE WESTERN PLANE? I'M FROM THE 50 50, LIKE WE'RE TODAY.
KEEP A LITTLE CORNER IN MY HEART, SO WHERE I CAN GET A FIRE TO START.
[CALL TO ORDER]
WELL, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENCE, SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.SO, I'M CRAIG NAZER, COMMISSION CHAIR, CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:03 PM THIS IS ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 9TH, 2023.
[00:05:03]
UH, IN PERSON WITH TELECONFERENCING.UH, I'M GONNA CALL ROLL THE COMMISSIONS, UH, MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE HERE, SAY HERE.
CAN YOU GUYS ONLINE HEAR ME? NONE OF 'EM CAN HEAR ME.
RYAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? NO, THEY CAN'T HEAR.
[00:10:23]
CAN Y'ALL HEAR US ONLINE? YEAH.CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? ALL RIGHT.
I'M CRAIG NAZER, COMMISSION CHAIR, CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:09 PM THIS IS THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 9TH, 2023, UH, IN PERSON AND WITH VIDEO CONFERENCING.
I'M GONNA CALL ROLL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
PLEASE SAY HERE IF YOU ARE HERE.
IF ANYONE THINKS YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH ANY AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE SIGN UP.
A SHEET HAS BEEN PASSED AROUND FOR YOU TO SIGN.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
WE'LL BE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.UH, WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 UNDER GENERAL.
SO LET, WELL, LET'S START WITH ANDREA SCHWARTZ.
UM, FIRST OFF, I JUST WANTED, SO NO PRO, NO WORRIES.
I'VE BEEN A LARGE DOG NIGHT VOLUNTEER AT AAC FOR 11 YEARS.
THE NIGHT STAFF HAS GENERALLY BEEN A SAFETY NET CATCHING ANIMALS WHO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS DURING THE DAY.
STAFFERS ARE UNSUPERVISED AND OFTEN SOLO AND ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEIR EYES ON EVERY ANIMAL AND DO HEALTH CHECKS TO SEE IF THEY ARE SICK, HAVE WATER, OR ARE LOCKED OUT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS EVENING, SAFETY NET HAS RECENTLY WEAKENED, AND NOW THERE ARE BIG HOLES IN IT.
THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR DECLINE IN ANIMAL CARE.
THE ONLY REASON I'M SPEAKING PUBLICLY IS BECAUSE MANY OF MY CONCERNS HAVE BEEN DISMISSED.
SO, I'M HERE HOPING MANAGEMENT WILL LISTEN.
UH, PLEASE NOTE COMMISSIONERS.
SOMETIMES IT'S INSINUATED THAT VOLUNTEERS' EYES ARE DECEIVING THEM AND THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AT AAC, WHEN IN FACT IT'S NOT.
I ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN VOLUNTEERS EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR EYES CAN BE TRUSTED.
BY MISREPRESENTING THE TRUTH, PLEASE CONSIDER WHO HAS SOMETHING TO GAIN WHEN EVALUATING INFORMATION.
SO WHY ARE THERE HOLES IN THE SAFETY NET? NOW? UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE DOCUMENTED AND REPORTED THAT THE NEWEST NIGHT STAFFER DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY LOOK AT THE DOGS AND DO NIGHTLY CHECKS.
SOMETIMES HE DOESN'T EVEN TURN THE LIGHTS ON TO DO THE CHECKS.
I ASSURE YOU THE CHECKS CAN'T BE DONE IN THE DARK.
UM, I'VE PROBABLY VOLUNTEERED ALONGSIDE 20 DIFFERENT NIGHT STAFFERS AND I, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE NOT LOOK AT THE DOGS UNTIL NOW.
ALSO, WHEN HE WAS A DAY STAFFER, I OBSERVED HIM CUTTING CORNERS AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO SAFETY ON COLD NIGHTS NIGHT, STAFFERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLD WEATHER PROTOCOL.
THIS PROTOCOL IS VERY DETAIL ORIENTED, AND IF NOT DONE PROPERLY, DOGS WILL BE STUCK OUTSIDE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
A LONG TIME AGO, I WAS ON A VOLUNTEER TEAM HELPING STAFF WITH THIS PROTOCOL, SO I'M VERY ATTUNED TO IT.
MANY YEARS AGO, I STARTED NOTICING TRAINING DEFICIENCIES AND THAT STAFF WEREN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL ALONG WITH A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PROTOCOLS THAT AREN'T FOLLOWED.
I REPORTED MY CONCERNS OVER AND OVER, BUT NOTHING IMPROVED.
[00:15:01]
CONSEQUENTLY, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DOGS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND FIXED LOTS OF DANGEROUS ERRORS DURING THIS PAST FREEZE.THANKFULLY, OUR LONGTIME NIGHT STAFFER WAS IN CHARGE.
HE'S CONSCIENTIOUS AND KEPT THE ANIMAL SAFE CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL.
SO, I'M HERE PLEADING MANAGEMENT FOR TWO PROACTIVE THINGS.
ONE, PLEASE IMPROVE TRAINING FOR THE COLD WEATHER PROTOCOL.
AND TWO, PLEASE CONSIDER HAVING OUR LONGEST SERVING NIGHT STAFFER IN CHARGE AGAIN DURING THE NEXT DANGEROUS FREEZE.
HE WILL SAVE LIVES IF THE NEWER NIGHT STAFFER IS IN CHARGE.
HE SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF A LIFE OR DEATH PROTOCOL.
I HOPE THESE CONCERNS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THAT I WON'T BE RETALIATED AGAINST FOR EXPRESSING THEM.
I JUST WANT DOGS TO BE SAFE IN THE COLD.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARCY KISCO AND I HAVE BEEN A LARGE DOG WALKING VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, OR AAC SINCE AUGUST OF 2021.
THOUGH I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MANY PRACTICES BEING IMPLEMENTED AT AAC, I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY ALLOTTED TIME TO SHARE CONCERNS I HOLD WITH THE CURRENT ADOPTION APPLICATION SYSTEM.
FOR SOME CONTEXT, INDIVIDUALS WANTING TO ADOPT AN ANIMAL FROM AAC MUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION ONLINE THROUGH THE SYSTEM CALLED AIP PETS.
FROM THERE, THEY MUST COME TO THE SHELTER IN PERSON TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND DO NOT RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION UNTIL THEY COME ON CAMPUS.
I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE BACK END OF ATIP PETS WHEN I FOSTERED A DOG NAMED ZEUS IN JUNE OF 2022.
ZEUS HAD BEEN AT THE SHELTER FOR SIX MONTHS WHEN I FOSTERED HIM AND HAD PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DECLINED DUE TO SHELTER STRESS.
ONCE I BECAME HIS FOSTER AND WAS GRANTED ACCESS TO HIS AIP PETS PROFILE, I SAW THAT HE HAD SIX ADOPTION APPLICATIONS THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED OVER THE ENTIRETY OF HIS SHELTER STAY.
I CONTACTED PAST APPLICANTS AND WITHIN A WEEK, ZEUS WAS ADOPTED INTO A WONDERFUL FAMILY WHO HAD SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO MY FOSTERING HIM.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW THAT ZEUS COULD HAVE BEEN SPARED MONTHS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRESS IF THEY WERE MORE ACTIVE IN DIRECT MONITORING OF APPLICATIONS FOR LONGS STAY DOGS AND TALKING TO OTHER VOLUNTEERS AND FOSTERS.
I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT.
IT IS COMMON FOR THE FOSTERS OF LONGS STAY DOGS TO FIND SEVERAL APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT DOG BEING FOSTERED.
I SPOKE WITH A FEW STAFF MEMBERS MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT VOLUNTEERS HELPING TO CREATE A SYSTEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH APPLICANTS FOR OUR LONG STAY DOGS.
BUT ALL MY REQUESTS AND CONCERNS WERE MET WITH DEAD ENDS.
I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS HAVE RAISED SIMILAR CONCERNS IN THE PAST AND HAVE BEEN FACED WITH INACTION.
IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT IMPROVED MONITORING OF ADOPTION APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNICATION WITH INTERESTED CUSTOMERS COULD GREATLY IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR DOGS.
IT IS UNFATHOMABLE THAT AAC LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THESE CONCERNS AND HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED THESE LOW-COST STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING AND REDUCING THE LENGTH OF STAY FOR OUR SHELTER DOGS.
OUR LONG STAY DOGS ARE NOT PROBLEMS TO FIX OR GET RID OF.
THEY'RE KIND, GOOFY, CUDDLY, PLAYFUL, LOVING DOGS.
THESE ARE ONE TO DOGS, AND THEY'RE RELYING ON US TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEMS AND HELP THEM FIND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS DOG PROCEDURES.
UM, I HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG, UM, AND I PUT THAT UP THERE.
I HOPE THIS GENTLEMAN CAN SHARE WITH YOU THE PICTURES OF OUR DANGEROUS DOG, LUNA.
UM, THE STORY BEHIND IT HER IS THAT HER OWNER WAS ELDERLY AND COULD NOT TAKE CARE OF HER PROPERLY.
SHE CALLED AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER NUMEROUS TIMES, ASKING FOR HELP AND WAS REFUSED.
UH, NEIGHBORS CALLED ASKING FOR HELP.
UM, THEY WERE TOLD THAT IF, IF THEY COULD BE GIVEN THE DANGEROUS DOG LABEL, THEN THAT AAC WOULD COME.
UM, AAC ACTUALLY OFFERED THEM A FREE EUTHANASIA CERTIFICATE.
THAT WAS THEIR SOLUTION FOR THESE THREE BABIES.
UM, A NEIGHBOR FINALLY FILED A COMPLAINT FOR A NIP THAT DID NOT EVEN BREAK SKIN.
UM, THE CITY DEEMED THEM ALL DANGEROUS AND SET THEM FOR EUTHANASIA.
UH, FINAL FRONTIER RESCUE STEPPED IN AND GOT THEM.
UH, THREE OF US STEPPED UP AND TOOK ALL THREE OF THESE BABIES, AND I CAN AT, I CAN ATTEST TO ALL THREE OF THEM BEING NOT DANGEROUS.
I RUN A WELLNESS, UH, BUSINESS AND I HAVE CLIENTS COME IN AND OUT OF MY HOUSE ALL THE TIME.
LUNA HAS DONE NOTHING BUT BE SWEET.
[00:20:01]
SCARED AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE IF THEY ACTUALLY SPEND THE TIME.
UM, IT'S VERY SAD TO ME THAT I LIVE IN A CITY THAT SUPPOSEDLY NO KILL, BUT ALLOWS THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.
AND I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE, I GO TO THE SHELTER AT LEAST PROBABLY THREE TIMES A WEEK AND WALK DOGS MYSELF.
UM, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE, WE ARE OVERRUN IN THE CITY WITH IT, BUT THE CITY HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THAT THE POPULATION HAS GROWN TO WHAT, AND WE HAVE NOT ADDED MORE KENNELS.
WE HAVE NOT ADDED MORE PEOPLE.
THE VOLUNTEERS, I KNOW THAT STEP IN DO AN AMAZING JOB, BUT THE CITY'S GOTTA DO SOMETHING BETTER.
ALSO, WHEN WE WENT TO PICK UP THE THREE DOGS, WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO BACK IN THE 600 S AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO ALLOW US TO HELP THEM BECAUSE THESE GIRLS WERE SO SCARED AND THEY ALL PEED ON THEMSELVES AS WE WERE TRYING TO GET THEM OUT.
NOBODY CAN SEE THEM, NOBODY CAN WALK THEM, NOBODY CAN GET THEM OUT.
HOW IS THAT AN A NO KILL CITY? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE? IS THAT WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WANTS? UM, I DON'T THINK IT IS.
AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT LEADERSHIP WOULD ACTUALLY LISTEN TO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE THEM TODAY AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
AND I'VE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN TO AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND I'VE NEVER SEEN LEADERSHIP EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICES.
I ALSO HAD SOME VISUALS, IF YOU CAN PULL THEM UP, SOME EMILY PICTURES.
DO YOU WERE YOU HAVE TO ONLINE? I JUST OH, OH, THO THOSE, I MEAN, IT'S EMILY.
WERE YOU ABLE TO SHOW THOSE PREVIOUSLY? UM, YES.
DID YOU WANT TO THROW THEM OUT THERE? YOU CAN PUT THEM OUT THERE TILL WE GET THE OTHER ONE.
MAYBE YOU CAN RELOAD YOUR EMAIL CHAIR.
I MEAN, YOU'VE SENT THAT TWICE.
I ONLY GOT ONE EMAIL FROM Y'ALL.
I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY MOVE ON.
WE CAN SEND THOSE PICTURES TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
IF YOU COULD BRING THOSE, THAT ONE UP, I CAN AT LEAST USE THAT.
UH, BEFORE YOU START, LET ME, UH, KRISTEN IS TRYING TO GET IN.
SHE'S, I THINK SHE'S LISTED AS, UH, I DON'T, DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S LISTED PROPERLY.
IF SOMEONE COULD LOOK INTO THAT, SHE NEEDS TO BE MOVED TO PARTICIPANT KRISTEN HASSAN CHAIR.
THE THING HAPPENED TO ME, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN GO INSIDE IS BY MY PHONE, NOT BY MY COMPUTER.
SO, LOUISE, WELL, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HERE ON YOUR COMPUTER.
NO, I, OH, WE HAVE TO SEE THEM.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO SIGN BY THE COMPUTER ONLY BY MY PHONE, IF NOT BY SENDING ME AS PARTICIPANT.
UH, CAN YOU, CAN, DO YOU HAVE THE LINK? CAN YOU TRY AGAIN BY COMPUTER? BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO OFFICIALLY BE HERE, YOU HAVE TO, UH, APPEAR ALSO.
CAN WE SEE YOU, KRISTEN? WELL, WHILE, WHILE THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT, LET 'EM WORK ON THAT.
MY NAME'S EMILY STEINBERG, AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW
[00:25:01]
ME BY NOW, BUT I, THIS IS GOING ON MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING AN AAC LARGE DOG VOLUNTEER, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH PLAYGROUP.AND, UM, I'M ALSO A FOSTER AND PARTICULARLY LOVE SOME OF THE MORE BEHAVIOR TYPE DOGS.
UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT, AND I'LL SEND MY VISUALS AFTERWARDS SINCE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BE BROUGHT UP ON SCREEN.
UM, FIRST TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT KARA JUST SPOKE ABOUT, WHICH IS THE DANGEROUS DOG, UM, RULES AND ORDINANCES.
I AM ACTUALLY THE OTHER ADOPTER OF ONE OF, OF ONE OF THE THREE DANGEROUS DOGS.
UM, I ADOPTED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCESS.
NOW, SHY, SHY, WHO IS JUST A SCARED 35 POUND, UM, MUTT.
SHE'S VERY PETITE AND SMALL AND TIMID AND SCARED OF HER OWN SHADOW.
UM, SHE IS IN NO WAY A DANGEROUS DOG.
BUT I WANTED TO OFFICIALLY PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT TWO OF US STEPPED UP TO ADOPT THESE DOGS BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUND, UM, HOMES OUT OF STATE TO GET RID OF THIS DANGEROUS DOG ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, THIS WAS KIND OF A SLOPPY, LAZY WORKAROUND FOR THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS TO GET THESE DOGS, UM, TAKEN IN BY, DURING THE RESTRICTED INTAKE PERIOD.
UM, THIS IS NOT A CASUAL WORKAROUND THAT WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE PURSUING.
THIS IS A LIFELONG, ESSENTIALLY DEATH SENTENCE AND POTENTIAL EUTHANASIA FOR DOGS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE FINE.
UM, ONE OF THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS I SPOKE WITH ACTUALLY SAID HE HAS A DANGEROUS DOG CHIHUAHUA.
THEY HAVE TO WEAR A RED TAG ABOUT THIS BIG AROUND THEIR NECK THAT'S BIGGER THAN A CHIHUAHUA'S HEAD.
UM, THERE ARE VERY STRICT LAWS AROUND THIS, AROUND HAVING, UM, A LOCKED GATE, A FENCE, SIGNAGE, UM, AND BEING ABLE, AND ALWAYS HAVING TO NOTIFY PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE THROWN AROUND CASUALLY JUST BECAUSE INTAKE IS RESTRICTED.
WE NEED TO FIX OUR INTAKE PROCESSES AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, THAT ARE UN, UN COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE AND OUTSIDE THEIR CONTROL, BE ABLE TO SURRENDER THEIR ANIMALS WHEN THEY NEED HELP.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PAID FOR BY TAXES TO DO FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO, I'D LIKE TO REGISTER THAT, AND I'LL SEND YOU SOME PHOTOS OF SHAHE.
THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT TONIGHT IS, UM, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PROTOCOL THAT IS FOLLOWED BY AAC STAFF IN PARTICULAR.
UM, AND SOME WAYS THAT IT IS BEING ENFORCED VERY INCONSISTENTLY BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ESSENTIALLY HELD TO A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT THAN CITY OF AUSTIN AAC EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE TO ME.
UM, AND I'M A FORMER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER MYSELF.
THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
UM, ON NOVEMBER 10TH, I WOKE UP, UM, TO A VERY UPSETTING CONVERSATION ON THE PUBLIC AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER FACEBOOK PAGE THAT HAD BEEN POSTED A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE.
AND I WAS GONNA READ YOU A COUPLE EXCERPTS OF THE EMAIL THAT I THEN SENT TO THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS AND ASKED TO BE SHARED WITH LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENTS.
UM, I'VE ALSO SHARED THIS WITH STEPHANIE HAYDEN, HOWARD.
I'VE SHARED THIS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN HR AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN SOCIAL MEDIA DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE I FIND THIS SO TROUBLING THAT THIS IS HOW WE'RE HANDLING OUR PUBLIC FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR PUBLIC PRESENCE.
OKAY? I'LL JUST SAY THAT A MEMBER OF THE AAC STAFF COMMENTED ON A PUBLIC PAGE ON THE, A PUBLIC POST BY A RESCUE PARTNER THAT THIS PERSON SHOULD GO F THEMSELVES, UM, AND THAT THEY W THEY MADE THREATENING COMMENTS TOWARDS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND, UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL.
UM, AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND IF A VOLUNTEER HAD DONE THAT, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN FIRED.
BUT THIS EMPLOYEE HAS SINCE BEEN PROMOTED, UM, AND MADE FULL-TIME AND PERMANENT.
I WORKED, UM, FOR AAC FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AS A DOG WALKER.
UM, I SAY WAS BECAUSE I WAS RECENTLY LET GO ON DECEMBER 20TH, FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SHIFT, I WAS CALLED TO HR BY ABBY, AND I WAS TOLD MY CONTRACT WAS OVER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT SHE HAD TO ESCORT ME OFF THE PROPERTY LIKE I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
THIS HAPPENED ON A DAY WHERE THERE WERE OVER 100 DOGS THAT HAD RECEIVED NO EXERCISE THE DAY BEFORE.
UH, THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE SHELTER, ONCE AGAIN HAS DOGS AND CRATES AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THEM.
OVER THE PAST YEAR AND LONGER, EVERY DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR SUPPORT, AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED WITH SILENCE.
ANIMAL CARE WORKERS ARE EXPLOITED, GIVEN EXTRA WORK WITHOUT ADDED COMPENSATION ON, ARE EMOTIONALLY MANIPULATED BECAUSE OF THEIR CARE AND COMMITMENT TO THE ANIMALS.
ANIMAL CARE IS CONSTANTLY ON EDGE, WONDERING WHAT THE NEXT OBSTACLE TO THEIR DO DOING THEIR JOB WILL BE.
AND BECAUSE ANIMAL CARE IS STRETCHED SO THIN, THEY'RE FORCED TO USE SHORT SHORTCUTS TO GET THE JOB DONE, WHICH LEADS TO THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND DOG BITES AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THE OVERCROWDED
[00:30:01]
CONDITIONS, EXTRA WORK, UM, AND EXTRA WORK, THERE ARE ALSO EQUIPMENT FAILURES.FOR WEEKS, THE WASHER DRYER AND DISH WASHING MACHINES HAVE BEEN OUT OF ORDER, LEAVING EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS SCRAMBLING TO PROVIDE, UH, CLEAN BOWLS AND LAUNDRY FOR THE ANIMALS.
BUT THE BEHA, THE BEHAVIOR TEAM, IS SO UNDERSTAFFED, THEY CANNOT FUNCTION THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS SUFFER, THE DOGS THAT NEED TO BE EVALUATED WILL SIT FOR DAYS, SOMETIMES WEEKS BEFORE BEHAVIOR TEAM CAN GET TO THEM.
DOG WALKER POSITIONS ARE TEMPORARY, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY'RE TERRIFIED THEY COULD LOSE THEIR JOBS AT ANY MOMENT.
CASE IN POINT, IF A DOG THAT THEY CARE ABOUT IS STRUGGLING OR HAS A BAD MOMENT, THEY KNOW THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT DOG IS GOING ON A LIST AND THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT PART OF THE REASON FOR MY DISMISSAL WAS DUE TO MY REPEATED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF MANY OF THE DOGS THAT ARE STRUGGLING.
THE CULTURE THAT MANAGEMENT IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING IS IF YOU FALL IN LINE, YOU'LL BE REWARDED AND REPORT ON YOUR COWORKERS.
DON'T QUESTION ANYTHING AND DO NOT HOLD LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE.
I HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXAMPLES, BUT I'M JUST GONNA EMAIL IT TO YOU.
UM, THE MISSION STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT BECOME, BE, CAN BE SUMMED UP BY USING ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PHILOSOPHIES.
MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS, WHY AREN'T WE? AUSTIN IS NO KILL SHELTER.
UM, PART OF NO KILL IS PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR UNHOUSED ANIMALS UNTIL WE CAN FIND THEM HOMES.
UH, STOP PUNISHING THESE PETS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM AND HOLD THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM ACCOUNTABLE, PLEASE.
AS OF THIS WEEK, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS EXPERIENCING AT SECOND GIARDIA OUTBREAK IN FOUR MONTHS.
GIARDIA IS AN INTESTINAL PARASITE THAT SPREADS THROUGH THE FECAL ORAL ROUTE.
CONTROL DEPENDS ON REMOVAL OF FECES AND DISINFECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
DRAIN BLOCKAGES IN THE KENNELS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST YEAR.
THE DAILY TASK OF CLEANING KENNELS RESULTS IN FLOODING AND SPREAD OF FECAL MATERIAL THROUGHOUT MULTIPLE ADJACENT KENNELS.
LEADERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BY AAC STAFF ON MAY 15TH, AND THE RESPONSE INDICATES AN AWARENESS OF THIS LONG-STANDING ISSUE AND MULTIPLE PREVIOUS REPORTS.
MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS CONTACTED LEADERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER WITH ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING PHOTOS.
DON BLA ACKNOWLEDGED THIS FAULTY SYSTEM AND CORRESPONDENT STATED FROM OCTOBER.
NOW AAC HAS YET ANOTHER GIARDIA OUTBREAK.
THE CURRENT OUTBREAK IS FOCUSED WITH THE MAJORITY OF CASES ALONG THE SAME FAULTY DRAINAGE PATHWAY.
AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAD 10 CONFIRMED AND TWO SUSPECTED CASES IN THE PUBLIC KENNELS.
THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES ARE IN THE SAME RUN WHERE FECAL FLOODING HAS BEEN MOST PREDOMINANT.
OVERALL, THE RESULT IS THAT GIARDIA CREATES A BARRIER TO ADOPTION.
THE DOGS, MANY OF WHICH ARE LONG STAYS, ARE UNAVAILABLE TO MEET THE PUBLIC DUE TO KEYED LOCKS PLACED ON THE KENNELS CIDER.
A DOG ILL BACK IN OCTOBER, WAS UNAVAILABLE TO LEAVE THE KENNEL FOR OVER THREE WEEKS.
PROLONGED ISOLATION IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR.
ANOTHER BARRIER FOR ADOPTION, ALTHOUGH THE OUTBREAK IS OF ACUTE CONCERN, WE OBSERVE FACILITY AND COMMUNICATION FAILURES DAILY THAT ARE RISK TO DOGS AND HANDLERS.
IN THE LAST WEEK, COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE OUTBREAK WAS DELAYED FOR OVER 24 HOURS FROM THE FIRST CASE, WHICH IS A RISK TO DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS.
COMMUNICATION REMAINS INTERMITTENT AND CONTRADICTORY REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF THESE CURRENT CASES.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE CONCERNS FOR THE LACK OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE THAT CREATES AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF, VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR MONTHS, DOORS TO ENTER AND EXIT THE FACILITY HAVE BEEN BROKEN, LEAVING VOLUNTEERS STRANDED WITH DOGS OR DOORS WIDE OPEN, ALLOWING UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO DOGS AND FACILITIES AND TEAR DOORS TO THE KENNELS ARE LOCKED DURING BUSINESS HOURS, CREATING LIMITED ACCESS TO DOGS THAT ARE ADOPTABLE AND LIMITED ACCESS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO WALK THOSE DOGS.
DURING THE RECENT WINTER STORM.
COLD WEATHER PROTOCOLS WERE NOT FOLLOWED, LEADING TO INHOSPITABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE DOGS IN OUR CARE.
OUR GOAL IS FOR AAC LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF DOGS AT AAC.
THROUGH IMPROVED SANITATION PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FACILITATE THE INVESTIGATION OF THE RECENT OUTBREAK AND REQUEST A PLAN OF ACTION TO PREVENT, MITIGATE, AND TREAT THE DOGS IN THE CARE OF A A C.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ASHLEY NES, AND I WAS THE FORMER BEHAVIOR AND ENRICHMENT SUPERVISOR AT AAC.
DUE TO THE CONTINUING TOXIC CULTURE, I DID SUBMIT MY RESIGNATION IN NOVEMBER.
I GAVE THREE WEEKS NOTICE SO I COULD GET MY TEAM IN A GOOD PLACE, FINISH WRITING SOPS, AND COMPLETE A ROUND OF TRAINING FOR BOTH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
INSTEAD, AFTER NEARLY NINE YEARS OF SERVICE, THE NEXT DAY, I WAS TOLD TO PACK UP MY STUFF AND GO HOME.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING MISTREATMENT AND RETALIATION AGAINST GOOD EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DARE TO SPEAK
[00:35:01]
OUT AGAINST THE DETRIMENTAL POLICIES THAT CURRENT LEADERSHIP INSISTS ON PUSHING BETH DAVIDSON TOLD HER OWN STORY, BUT I AM HERE TO SAY, AS HER FORMER SUPERVISOR FOR OVER A YEAR, THAT SHE WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING, MOST COMPASSIONATE AND MOST SKILLED WALKERS ON THE TEAM.GETTING RID OF HER IS AN INCREDIBLE BLOW TO THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF MANY OF OUR LONG STAY DOGS.
TO FIRE A DOG WALKER WHEN DOGS SIT IN THEIR KENNELS FOR DAYS ON END WITH NO OUT IS SIMPLY LUDICROUS.
SINCE DOGS AREN'T GETTING OUT, SHIRLEY AAC HAS BEEFED UP.
ITS IN KILL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, RIGHT? NO.
THE STAFF MEMBER I ASSIGNED WAS PULLED BY MANAGERS TO DO SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND ANDREA TRUMAN TAZI, A VITAL VOLUNTEER FOR THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, HAS BEEN BERATED ISOLATED AND GASLIGHTED BY MANAGEMENT, WHILE STAFF WHO ACTIVELY ADVOCATE AGAINST NO KILL, AND OTHERS WHO VERBALLY ATTACK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND RESCUE PARTNERS, UH, GET A PAT ON THE BACK FROM LEADERSHIP.
THOSE WHO GIVE THEIR ALL FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE ANIMALS IN THE CITY'S CARE ARE TREATED LIKE THE ENEMY.
WHEN WILL THIS STOP? WHEN WILL CITY MANAGEMENT STOP PROTECTING INEPT SHELTER LEADERSHIP AND INSTEAD START TO ENFORCE THE NO-KILL MANDATE SET FORTH BY CITY COUNCIL WAS HAVING WILLIAMSON COUNTY'S MIN MISTY VALENTA BEGGING AAC TO JUST DO ITS JOB, NOT MORTIFYING ENOUGH.
IT'S TIME FOR THE EXCUSES TO END.
I HAVE VISITED NUMEROUS SHELTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST YEAR.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, BUT THEY ARE ALL DOING LEAPS AND BOUNDS BETTER THAN AAC BECAUSE THEY IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT WORK.
INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING UP THEIR HANDS AND SAYING THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, IT'S TIME TO STEP UP OR STEP ASIDE.
IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED TO NO KILL, MOVE ALONG AND LET THE POSITIONS BE FILLED BY COMPETENT, COMPASSIONATE ADVOCATES.
ASHLEY, ARE THERE, ARE, ARE THERE ANY MORE GENERAL COMMENTS? IS DOES ANYONE HERE WANT TO MAKE ANY MORE GENERAL COMMENTS? WHO DIDN'T SIGN THE SHEET? YEAH, NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on DECEMBER 12, 2022.]
IS, UH, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.UH, AND, UH, YEAH, HERE THEY ARE.
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? IS I SECOND THE MOTION? OKAY.
SECONDED BY, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER ZITI.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? SEEING? NO OPPOSED.
SO THAT'S, UH, ALL VOTED IN FAVOR.
UH, I WANT TO TAKE JUST A SECOND FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
PAGE NIELSEN, COMMISSIONER NIELSEN WANTS TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
JUST A PROVISIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT WITH THE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NFL THIS WEEK.
UM, I, FOR THOSE WHO ARE AWARE OF IT, I'VE BECOME AWARE THAT I WANNA KNOW WHERE ALL OF THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATE DEFIBRILLATORS ARE IN PLACES WHERE I REGULARLY GO, ONE OF WHICH IS CITY HALL.
AND THE CLOSEST ONE TO US HERE IS IF YOU GO OUTSIDE THIS STORE AND JUST UP THE STAIRS IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT, AND THERE'S A LITTLE HALLWAY THAT SAYS RESTROOMS THAT'S MARKED CLEARLY, AND THERE'S ONE RIGHT IN THERE.
AND ONE OF THOSE SAVED MY UNCLE'S LIFE.
ONCE THEY'RE SUPER EASY TO USE, YOU JUST OPEN IT UP, PUT IT ON, AND IT TALKS TO YOU AND TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
SO, JUST WANTED EVERYBODY KNOW WHERE THAT WAS.
[2. Overview of monthly report provided by the Animal Service Center. ]
THE AGENDA IS STAFF BRIEFINGS.WE HAVE A MONTHLY, UH, REPORT.
UM, AND THERE'S, UH, SO I GUESS WHAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK OVER THE MONTHLY REPORT, AND IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DON BLAND IS ONLINE.
I'M, MAYBE WE COULD ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A REPORT, DON? I WOULD CHAIR, HOLD ON.
I, WE HAD A REQUEST, I THINK, FROM COMMISSIONER BRUCE, UM, TO MAKE A REQUEST.
UM, SO I HAVE GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT POTENTIALLY, UM, PUTTING THE STAFF BRIEFING AT THE END AFTER THE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO DROP OFF FROM THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING AND THAT IT GETS A BIT LONG.
COULD WE DO A TRIAL OF BUMPING THAT AFTER? CAN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO A TRIAL OF BUMPING THAT TO THE END OF THE MEETING THIS EVENING? SO WHAT WE HAVE IS, UH, UH, DR.
[00:40:01]
BRUCE IS MAKING A MOTION THAT WE MOVE THE STAFF BRIEFING FROM SLOT TWO TO AFTER WHAT'S NOW FOUR.DO I HEAR A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND.
UH, DO I HEAR ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? OKAY.
SO HOW MANY ARE IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THE AGENDA IN THAT WAY? YOU CAN JUST ASK FOR NO OBJECTIONS.
UH, ANY OBJECT? ANY OBJECTIONS? SORRY.
ARE OKAY? UH, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO CHANGING THE, THAT WAY? OKAY.
UH, SO HOW MANY ARE OR FOUR MOVING THE ITEM? WE HAD THAT.
WHO ARE FOUR? HOW MANY ARE AGAINST? UH, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
YOU'RE WHAT? I WAS IN FAVOR TO MOVE.
AND, AND THERE'S SEVEN AGAINST 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 AGAINST, SO THE MOTION FAILS.
SO LET'S HAVE THE STAFF BRIEFINGS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
UH, AS YOU SAW FROM THE REPORTS, OUR NOVEMBER, OUR DECEMBER LIVE EXIT BREAK WAS 97.25%.
UH, COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS, UH, WITH ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT WE, UH, OFFERED, WE, THEY PROVIDED 5,498 VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR DECEMBER.
WE SUCCESSFULLY, UH, SET A GOAL TO SEND OUT A HUNDRED MEDIUM TO LARGE DOGS INTO FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE HOMES BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
AND, UH, THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY MADE THEIR GOAL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IT, BUT WE HAD A STORY THAT THE STAFF WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TRYING TO REUNITE A, UH, SIX FOOT PYTHON, UH, TO ITS OWN THAT HAVE BEEN MISSING SINCE THE SUMMER.
AND, UH, WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS.
CURRENTLY, UH, WE HAD, UM, AS OF JANUARY 9TH, WE HAD 19 VACANT POSITIONS FOR FULL-TIME.
OF THOSE THREE WERE ACTIVELY POSTING.
TWO WERE CLOSED, 11 WERE IN PROCESS, AND THREE ARE WAITING ON H R D APPROVAL, TWO POSTS OF OUR TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
UH, SIX OF THOSE ARE ACTIVELY POSTING AND EIGHT ARE IN PROCESS OF BEING ONBOARDED.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I DON'T SEE ANY, UH, YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON HAS A QUESTION.
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST, UH, HAVE A COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO THANK, UH, THE SPEAKERS, UH, WHO SPOKE ON CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
I WANTED TO, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT WE'RE LISTENING, UM, THAT WE'RE SORRY, UH, THAT WE WISH THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE COMMENTING ON AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'RE HAVING.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL AS THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, UH, ZITI? YES.
I, I HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, ABOUT THE REPORTS AND, UM, THE FOSTER PROGRAM, IT SHOWS THAT, UM, I'M SORRY, LET ME BEFORE I GO TO THAT.
IT SHOWED THAT THERE WEREN'T 27 INDIVIDUALS THAT MADE IT 54 HOURS TOWARDS DOC WALKING IN CAT CARE.
AND, UM, THAT, THAT IS CONCERNING.
UM, I MEAN, AND I, I HEARD HERE ABOUT A WALKER WHO WAS LET GO.
UM, WH WHY AREN'T THOSE INDIVIDUALS GOING DOWN THAT WALK THE DOGS AND, AND DO CAT CARE? UM, CAN I INTERRUPT YOU AND TELL YOU REAL QUICK THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ARE THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT
[00:45:01]
DID IT THROUGH GROUPS THAT THE, THE DOG WALKERS ACTUALLY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY.THE 387 VOLUNTEERS, THESE WERE SPECIFIC GROUPS THAT CAME IN, LIKE, LET'S SAY, UH, MICROSOFT BROADER GROUP.
SO THIS, THIS WAS NOT REGULAR VOLUNTEER HOURS.
THESE WERE SPECIAL GROUPS THAT CAME IN THAT BROUGHT, THAT DID THOSE 54 HOURS.
THAT WAS, UH, NOT REGULAR VOLUNTEERS.
SO THE REPORT, EVERY MONTH, YOU REPORT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU WALKS AND THE HOURS.
THOSE, IF YOU SEE, YOU SAY IT SAYS THROUGH A VOLUNTEER GROUP, VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
DO, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? YEAH.
I, I, I WAS LOOKING AT THE FOSTER PROGRAM AND I, I COMMEND TO, UH, UH, THE, THAT YOU GUYS LOOK AT THE, THE DATABASE AND PLANNED OFF TO SEE WHO ARE THE REALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FOSTER TO REALLY FOSTER.
SO IT WENT FROM, I DON'T KNOW, 1500, 1600 TO AROUND, UH, 600 IN ONE THING THAT I, I NOTICE IS THAT, UM, THE FOSTER PROGRAM, THE NUMBER CONTINUES TO GO DOWN EACH MONTH.
IT JUST HAD A SMALL TICK IN DECEMBER.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENT OF ANIMALS THAT ADOPTED FROM FOSTER IS, IT IS A BIG PERCENTAGE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN, IN DECEMBER, UM, THERE WERE 139 DOGS OR ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED FROM FOSTER THAT WERE IN FOSTER.
WERE THOSE PEOPLE FROM FOSTER WHO ADOPTED THEM OR, UH, THE, UM, PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT, IT'S BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION THROUGH THE FOSTERING, AND IT'S BOTH, UH, WE, MAJORITY OF THOSE PROBABLY WERE ADOPTED THROUGH FOSTER, NOT, NOT THROUGH THE FOSTER THEMSELVES.
WE DO HAVE SOME FIRST TIME FOSTER FAILURES THAT THEY, THEY ADOPT THEMSELVES.
BUT, UH, THOUGH THAT, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
SO IT, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE, UM, YOU PROBABLY ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THAT.
IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO THE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOSTERS.
UM, DOLLAR QUESTION I HAD, I REMEMBER THE LAST SESSION WE TALK ABOUT, UH,
YOU MENTIONED TO ME THAT TYPICALLY ALWAYS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER COMES UNDER BUDGET EVERY FISCAL YEAR.
AND, UM, TODAY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WERE TESTIFYING OR NOT TEST THEY DOING THEIR COMMENT AT, AT THE BEGINNING, I HEARD ABOUT THE, THE WASHER DRYER OR THE BROKEN, I HEARD ABOUT THE DRAIN DETECTIVE DRAINAGE THAT HAS PRODUCED THE GUARDIAN ARE THERE, I MEAN, YOU'RE UNDER BOB.
I, THERE SHOULD BUMPS THERE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE DRAINAGE SITUATION THAT HAS PROVIDED, HAS, UH, IMPACTED SUPPLIES THE ANIMAL POPULATION AND OF THE PEOPLE SAFETY.
UM, THE, THE, THE WASHER, THE WASHER AND THE DRYERS AND THE DISHWASHER WERE DOWN FOR PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED TO GET IN TO MAKE THEM WORK.
IT WAS NOTHING THAT WE HAD CONTROL OVER THAT.
AND THIS LAST ARIA OUTBREAK, UH, DR.
AND, UH, IT WAS NOT BASED ON OUR DRAINAGE.
THAT WAS NOT THE DETERMINING FACTOR ON WHAT THIS ONE WAS CAUSED FROM.
AND, AND BUILDING SERVICES HAS, EVERY TIME A DRAIN GETS REPORTED, UH, THEY ARE TURNED INTO THEM AND THEY DO, UH, TAKE CARE OF THEM.
SO, UM, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
I, I PROBABLY, UH, AND I'M JUST, AGAIN, I'M LISTENING TO, TO THE POWER, IT SOUNDS LIKE COMMUNICATION, OPTUM, COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC, THE VOLUNTEERS, WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND IT IS, SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND ONE LAST THINGS THAT I WAS GONNA ASK YOU, UM,
[00:50:01]
LOOKING AT THE REPORTS, UM, WE GET THE INTAKES, THE NUMBER INTAKES, BUT IT, THAT OUTCOMES, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO GET ONE NUMBER, JUST THE OF ANIMAL CENTER HAS A PETS ONSITE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE MONTH ONSITE CAN ALSO AND FOSTER, BECAUSE THAT WILL REALLY CAUSE UNDERSTAND THE MATH OF WHAT READS HAPPENING WITH TOO MANY PASTS OR WHAT'S UNUSUAL TO GET UP AT OUR PICTURE.DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT I'M SURE WITH YOU IT DOES, IT DOES.
IS THAT SOMETHING POSSIBLE THAT CAN BE DONE? I'M SURE YOU, YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UH, I WILL WORK WITH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO, TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT ONE OF THE REPORTS THAT, UH, THEY CURRENTLY RUN.
UH, AND I KNOW, I THOUGHT IN OUR NARRATIVE, UH, WE DO SAY HOW MANY ANIMALS WERE SENT EACH MONTH TO FOSTER.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT SAYS HOW YOU GET THE BEGINNING FOSTER.
SO IT IS SORT OF LIKE A BALANCE SHEET OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AND I THINK IT'LL MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND.
UH, DOES COMMISSION NEWHOUSE HAVE A QUESTION? YES.
UM, DON, REGARDING THE GIARDIA, YOU SAID THIS TIME IT WASN'T A DRAINAGE ISSUE, WAS IT IN THE PAST? I WAS NOT LED TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS IN THE PAST.
UH, I KNOW THAT THEY HAD SOME, A DRAINAGE, UH, BACKUP, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE VETS WERE TELLING ME THAT CAUSED IT.
DO WE KNOW WHAT DID CAUSE IT THE FIRST TIME? I TELL NO.
DO I? NO, SHE DIDN'T KNOW AT THIS POINT CAUSE THE FIRST TIME.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS, IS VERY PREVALENT THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE OF THAT WE'VE PUT OUT NOTIFICATIONS QUITE RECENTLY IS SOME OF THESE ANIMALS THAT GET IT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLOSE TOGETHER.
AND, UH, IT, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING THAT AREN'T PICKING UP POOP AND A DOG NATURALLY MIGRATES TOWARDS WHERE THAT FOOD HAS BEEN.
SO THERE'S, ARE THERE CURRENTLY NO, DR, THERE ARE NO CURRENT DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
NO ONE'S TURNING THEM IN? YES.
AND THEN ALSO, COULD YOU, UH, GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ON THE COLD WEATHER PROTOCOL ON WHAT THAT IS? WE HAVE QUOTE WHAT COLD WEATHER PROTOCOLS.
UH, THAT'S AN SOP THAT, UH, GOES BY, YOU KNOW, TEMPERATURES, WHAT CAN BE OUT ON THE TRUCK PORT, WHAT CAN BE, UH, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THEY BLOCK THE DOOR, THE, THE AN INSIDE RATHER THAN ALLOWING THEM TO USE THEIR GUILLOTINES.
THAT IS, UH, A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN THE SAME THAT, THAT WAY BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND, AND THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THEN THAT GETS FOLLOWED DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH US? YES, THAT IS, THAT IS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE THAT, OKAY.
AND ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO, UH, WHAT BRIAN SAID ON THANKING THE PUBLIC FOR COMING AND SPEAKING AND ASKING THEM TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO.
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND? UH, YES.
UH, IT'S NOT A QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR BLAND, IT'S JUST A ECHO.
PALMER AND RYAN, AND THANK THE PEOPLE THAT REPEATEDLY COME AND SPEAK, INCLUDING PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY, I'M GONNA CALL OUT ASHLEY NES BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS NOW INTO YEARS.
AND CLEARLY WE DO NEED THE PUBLIC'S ASSISTANCE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MADE MUCH HEADWAY.
AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE NEW MAYOR IN PLACE, PERHAPS WE'LL GET SOME TREAD, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF TREAD HERE.
ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, UH, FOR DIRECTOR BLAND? YES.
UM, DIRECTOR BLAND, YOU STATED THAT THE STAFF DOG WALKING HOURS ARE COUNTED IN THE VOLUNTEER HOURS EARLIER.
IS THAT ACCURATE? NOT STAFF VOLUNTEER.
THE PEOPLE, THE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME IN WITH DOG WALKING, STAFF HOURS, WALKING HOURS, THAT'S WOULD GO IN THERE WITH SH REGULAR STAFF
[00:55:01]
HOURS THAT WE DO NOT REPORT OUR STAFF HOURS.UH, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DISSEMINATE WITH HER IS THOSE, UH, 54 HOURS THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT FOR DOG WALKING WAS VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT CAME IN, LIKE, YOU KNOW MM-HMM.
SO THOSE ARE THE HOURS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT.
IF A VOLUNTEER COMES IN AND WALKS DOGS, THOSE GO IN THE VOLUNTEER HOURS.
STAFF DOG WALKING HOURS NOT, NOT REPORTED ON HERE ANYWHERE.
UM, MY SECOND QUESTION IS ON YOUR STATISTICAL REPORT, WHERE IS THE SLIDE ON PREGNANT SPACE THAT SEEMS TO BE MISSING THIS TIME? WHY IS THAT NOT INCLUDED? WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS ZERO.
AND IF THEY NORMALLY IS NOT ANY ON THE, THE, IF IT DOESN'T COME IN ON THE, THE CHARTS WITH THE PIE CHARTS, IT'S PUT IN THE DIRECT, UH, IN, IN THE NARRATIVE.
AND I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE NARRATIVE THIS TIME.
BUT, UH, I'LL POINT THAT OUT AND WE WILL SEND A CORRECTION BECAUSE IT WAS ZERO.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, DURING THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS, UM, ONE OF THE ADOPTERS OF ONE OF THE THREE YOUNG DOGS THAT CAME IN LABELED DANGEROUS STATED THAT AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OFFERED A EUTHANASIA VOUCHER TO THE ELDERLY OWNER.
UM, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT? DID, DO YOU KNOW, AWARE OF THAT? I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.
UH, DANGEROUS DOGS ARE NOT DEEMED BY, UH, THE ANIMALS YES.
HOWEVER, UM, IT DISTURBS ME THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM CITIZENS HERE SPEAKING THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE OFFICERS GOING OUT THERE ARE RECOMMENDING DOGS BE LABELED DANGEROUS IN ORDER TO GET THEM OFF OF THE STREETS AND INTO THE SHELTER, BECAUSE WITH LIMITED INTAKE, UM, THE OWNERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SURRENDER THEM WHEN THERE IS A NEED.
UM, THAT'S QUITE DISTURBING TO ME IF IT IS ACCURATE.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY PLAN IN PLACE TO VERIFY OR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING WITH YOUR PATROL OFFICERS THAT ARE GOING OUT, THAT THEY'RE NOT MAKING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITIZENS? OH, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK TO 'EM ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT WOULD BE NOT OUR ADVANTAGE TO DO SINCE TO, TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO DEEM A DOG DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US TO FIND A, A, A LIVE OUTCOME FOR.
SO THAT KIND OF GOES AGAINST WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO ANYWAY.
SO, UM, I, I CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO NEXT.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION? OKAY.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHERE IS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WITH THE RESTRICT INTAKE? WHERE ARE YOU LOOKED AT? UH, WE ARE STILL CURRENTLY, UH, IN THE RED ON LARGE DOGS.
UH, IT DIDN'T LOOK TODAY ON SMALL DOGS, BUT, UH, IT IS, IT IS ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THE DASHBOARD HAS, UH, THE DIALS.
IT'LL TELL YOU WHERE WE'RE AT.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT BASED ON THE NUMBERS COMING IN, UH, WHILE WE ARE ASKING FOR APPOINTMENTS, WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO HELP US OUT.
WE'RE STILL TAKING IN, UH, MORE DOGS THAN WE CAN GET OUT AT THIS POINT.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS HERE? UH, YES.
SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION REGARDING THE COLOR CHARTS FOR THE INTAKE.
UM, DON, IS IT THAT YOU WOULD, WOULD NOT FULLY BE OPEN UNLESS THEY, YOU WERE IN GREEN, IS THAT CORRECT? WITH WITHOUT LEFT POINT ON THE SCALE, WOULD YOU BE BACK TO, UH, DOORS FULLY OPEN? UH, WELL, GREEN, OF COURSE.
UH, AND THERE THERE'S A DEFINITION WITH EACH OF THE COLORS AND THE NUMBERS OF PERCENTAGE OF KENNELS THAT WE HAVE OPEN AND AVAILABLE.
AND HOW, AND, AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME, UH, THAT BOSTON ANIMAL CENTER WAS IN THE GREEN FOR, UH, DOCS? I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH THAT.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
COULD YOU COULD GIVE THAT TO US ON WHEN THAT LAST WAS? BECAUSE I SEE THOSE REPORTS
[01:00:01]
EACH MORNING, AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER REALLY REMEMBER SEEING TIME THAT WE WERE IN THE GREEN.SO IT MAKES ME FEEL EVER WITH THE WAY IT'S CALCULATED, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE PLAN IS TO NEVER OPEN THE DOORS FULLY AGAIN.
WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE WE WERE IN GREEN ON, UH, SMALL DOGS.
UH, SO I'M TALKING KIND OF ALL CATEGORIES, LIKE ALL DOORS OPEN, NO RESTRICTIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT.
AND I GET THOSE REPORTS EACH MORNING.
SO IT MAKES ME THINK THAT WE'RE JUST ON A TRAJECTORY THAT WE'LL NEVER HAVE THE DOORS FULLY OPEN.
AND I, SO I WAS WONDERING WHEN THE LAST TIME THAT EVERYTHING WAS GREEN, IF THAT'S THE CRITERIA.
HOW, HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? UH, PROBABLY YEARS AGO.
UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON HAS A QUESTION.
I WAS JUST, MY QUESTION IS FOR COMMISSIONER NIGEL'S INITIAL ANSWER, UH, WHICH IS HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE DAILY REPORTS, UH, TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN THE LAST TIME, BASED ON THAT CRITERIA OF THE SHELTER WOULD HAVE OPEN INTAKE? YEARS.
YEARS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN ALL CATEGORIES.
UH, UH, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS? UH, I I HAVE, YES.
QUESTION COMMISSIONAL DISEASE.
SO WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN GREEN, CORRECT? PALM? NO, NO.
WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WITH THE WAY THE NUMBERS ARE CALCULATED, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE CATEGORIES ALL GREEN BECAUSE THEY'RE CALCULATING BASED ON STILL KEEPING KENNELS OPEN TO MOVE ANIMALS AROUND DURING THE DAY.
THEY'RE NOT, IT'S NOT A VIRTUAL KENNEL WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S A VACANCY THAT KEEPS 'EM SET ASIDE.
AND WITH THE FORMULA, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN SET UP WITH THIS FORMULA THAT THEY'RE USING, I DON'T REMEMBER EVER SEEING ALL CATEGORIES, WHICH WOULD BE LARGE DOGS, SMALL DOGS AND CATS GREEN.
AND IF THAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT WE WERE WAIT AND WE WERE OPEN WHEN WE WEREN'T IN THE GREEN, WE WERE FULLY OPEN FOR ALL THE YEARS BEFORE, NOT FULLY IN THE GREEN.
AND MY CONCERN IS NOW, IF THAT'S CRITERIA TO FULLY OPEN, I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER FULLY OPEN WITH THAT FORMULA AND THAT CRITERIA.
EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS, THIS IS STEPHANIE HALL.
I JUST WANNA INTERJECT THAT A BRIEFING IS FOR CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ONLY, AND I FEEL AS IF WE MIGHT BE WAVERING INTO A DISCUSSION, AND THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS POSTED ITEM.
SHOULD WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? YES, THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD POINT.
UH, SO LESS LIMITED TO QUESTIONS, UH, TO DIRECTOR BLAND, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER ZITI, AND MAYBE YOU ANSWER THIS, DIRECTOR BLAND, THAT CRITERIA CALCULATION, IS THIS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU INHERITED? YES AND NO.
UH, THE CALCULATIONS ON THE REPORTS THAT COMMISSIONER NEWHOUSE IS GETTING HAS BEEN DONE WAY BEFORE I GOT YOU.
THAT THAT HAS BEEN CALCULATED WAY BEFORE THAT.
THE PUTTING IT ON THE DASHBOARD AND INTERPRETING THAT ON THE DASHBOARD IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID HERE RECENTLY, PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, I DO HAVE, YOU HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP? SORRY.
UM, DIRECTOR BLAND, THE, UM, IN THE, IN THE SER ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CURRENT WAIT TIME IS FOR AN OWNER'S SURRENDER APPOINTMENT? IS THAT A LINE ITEM THAT CAN BE ADDED TO THAT REPORT? UM, YES, IT WOULD CHANGE DAILY, BUT THE DAY WE REPORTED IT, YEAH.
BUT IF YOU DID IT ON THE, WHATEVER THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH THAT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE RE THE REPORT IS PRINTED, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE? WE CAN SURE LOOK AT THAT, YES.
AND DO YOU CURRENTLY KNOW WHAT THAT WAIT TIME IS? NO, MA'AM.
UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON? YES.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE, THE COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THERE WERE DO DOGS IN THE SHELTER WITH, UM, ADOPTION APPLICATIONS ON THEM WHERE THE APPLICANT HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE SHELTER.
UH, AND THIS STATEMENT, AND I MAY HAVE THIS WRONG, SO I'M JUST GONNA REPEAT WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS,
[01:05:01]
WAS THAT, THAT THAT IS THE NORMAL POLICY, THAT ONE IS FIRST REQUIRED TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION, BUT THEN NOTHING IS DONE UNTIL THAT PERSON THEN ALSO GOES IN IN PERSON.SO I WANTED TO SEE IF THAT IS YOUR ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICY AND THAT SOMEONE, OR A DOG THAT HAS BEEN THERE MANY MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS, MIGHT HAVE ADOPTION APPLICATIONS FILLED OUT FOR THEM, BUT NO ONE FROM THE SHELTER HAS CONTACTED THE APPLICANT.
THE PROCEDURE, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME THAT QUESTION, THE PROCEDURE IS IF SOMEONE DOES ADOPT, I MEAN, FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, THEY, UH, AN EMAIL BACK THAT TELLS 'EM STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS WHAT THE NEXT PROCESSES ARE.
AND THAT IS TO COME IN, UH, AND, AND SPEAK WITH US AND MEET THE DOG.
UM, WITH THE STAFFING, THE WAY IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO FOLLOW UP ON ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COME IN JUST TO GO THROUGH ALL THE, THE APPLICATIONS TO SEE WHO, WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH, WHO DIDN'T CALL US AND COME IN.
UH, THE ADOPTION MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THAT NOW THAT THE STAFFING HAS GET BACK IN, IT'S STARTING TO BILL BACK UP.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL BE DOING WHEN THEY HAVE TIME, IS TO GO THROUGH AND FIND OUT WHO DIDN'T COME BACK IN AND CONTACT THEM, GET ANOTHER DOG FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN THIS? SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ON THEIR RADAR IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY STARTED DOING IT, BECAUSE I KNOW EACH WEEK THEY'VE BEEN, UH, ADDING SOME STAFF.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION MYSELF.
UM, ON THE REPORT, IT SAYS THAT, UH, YOU TOOK IN 20 WILD ANIMALS.
AND I'M WONDERING, DOES THAT COUNT, UH, DOES THAT COUNT ALL THE ANIMALS? LIKE LET'S SAY YOU FIND A, A WILD ANIMAL, AN A P O FINDS IT.
DO THEY SOMETIMES JUST TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO, UH, UH, AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE? I MEAN, IS THAT AN IN, IN OTHER WORDS, WHY? I'M TRYING TO, I GUESS THE NUMBER I WANT IS ABOUT HOW MANY ANIMALS END UP AT FROM THE SHELTER END UP AT AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE A MONTH.
IN, IN, IN, THEREFORE, IN, IN DECEMBER, UH, THE OFFICERS, UH, IMPOUNDED 99 AND 41 OF THOSE WERE TAKEN TO AUSTIN WILDLIFE.
UH, SO THAT THE DIFFERENCE, UH, WE'D HAVE TO JUST FIND OUT WHAT THEY WERE, WERE THEY, YOU KNOW, BATS THAT WERE SENT FOR OUR TESTING.
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WITHOUT LOOKING, BUT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
DO YOU EUTH YOU PROBABLY EUTHANIZE SOME OF THOSE THAT PEOPLE BRING IN IF A VET LOOKS AT IT AND IF, IF, IF IT, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
I CAN'T SAY THAT IT WAS OR WAS NOT.
UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE, IF ONE'S BROUGHT IN AFTER HOURS TO, UM, THE EMERGENCY CLINIC AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING AND THE WILDLIFE CENTER'S NOT OPEN, THEY WILL EUTHANIZE THAT.
WE STILL HAVE TO IMPOUND THAT AND COUNT THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, TO SAY ALONG WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'S CONTROVERSY THAT COMES UP HERE, UM, BUT THE SHELTER COULD NOT MAKE IT WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS.
IT COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS.
SO I WANNA THANK THE VOLUNTEERS FOR BEING THERE, AND I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO BE THERE.
[3. Presentation of the Monthly Report by Austin Pets Alive!]
NEXT ITEM, UH, PRESENTATION OF MONTHLY REPORT BY AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.AND THERE'S SOMEONE HERE FROM AUSTIN PETS LIVE.
UM, NEIL HAY FROM AUSTIN PETS LIVE.
I'M STEPHANIE
UM, OUR MONTHLY REPORTS TABLED AS PART OF THE PAPERS THAT WERE CIRCULATED PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
UM, JUST TO PICK OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS, UM, START WITH, BECAUSE IT WAS A TOPIC LAST MONTH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, WORK WITH THE CITY SHELTER TO SUCCESSFULLY PLACE ALL 31 OF THE ROOSTERS.
UM, IT WAS A MIX OF ADOPTERS, BUT PREDOMINANTLY SANCTUARY PLACEMENT
[01:10:01]
FOR THEM.UM, AND WE WERE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT.
UM, THE OBSERVATION I WOULD OFFER THERE, AND I, I APPRECIATE THIS DOES PRESENT DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CITY SHELTER AS IT COMMUNICATES, BUT, UM, THE DEADLINE THAT THEY HAD TO IMPOSE WAS ACTUALLY THE SPARK FOR THE URGENCY, WHICH GOT MANY PLACES TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US TO GET THOSE ANIMALS SAFELY PLACED.
UM, THERE'S NOT AN EASY ANSWER ON THAT, BUT, UM, THERE WAS A RESISTANCE TO PLACING A DEADLINE ON THEM, WHICH WAS MAKING IT MORE, SORRY, IT'S JUST AN OBSERVATION.
UM, WE HAD 20 PAR PASS INTAKES, WHICH IS OUR SINGLE HIGHEST, UM, INTAKE IN A MONTH, MONTH.
UM, WE HAD SIX TRANSFERRED FROM THE, THIS SHELTER.
OUR, I GUESS THE REASON FOR PICKING US OUT IS JUST THE, THE, TO MAKE THE COMMISSIONER AWARE OF THE, WHAT IT MIGHT INDICATE FOR THE LEVEL OF PARVO THAT'S OUT EXISTING IN THE COMMUNITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO IT'S JUST A DATA POINT, BUT AN OBSERVATION AGAIN.
UM, THERE WERE THREE PREGNANT DOGS TRANSFERRED TO US WHO GAVE BIRTH TO 36 PUPPIES.
MOTHERS GAVE BIRTH TO 11, 11 AND 14 PUPPIES, WHICH JUST OFFERING MY THANKS TO THOSE THREE POOR MOTHER DOGS.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING, JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A POINT OF INTEREST IN PREVIOUS MONTHS, IS WE COMPLETED 491 SPAY NES IN DECEMBER.
UM, WHICH WAS IMPACTED BECAUSE IT WAS A SHORT MONTH WITH HOLIDAYS FALLING ON ONE OF OUR DIFFICULT DAYS, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF THE COLD SNAP.
UM, I, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR, FOR FINDING PLACEMENT FOR ALL OF THOSE ROOSTERS.
UM, I WAS QUITE HAPPY TO WALK INTO AAC AFTER THEY WERE GONE AND NOT HEAR ALL THE SCREECHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS A CONSTANT
UM, SECONDLY, WE DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR REPORT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THERE WAS A GLITCH OF SOMETIMES.
SO I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT.
UM, SO I MAY SEND QUESTIONS AFTER THE MEETING ONCE I'M ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET INTO THE EMAIL AND LOOK AT THE REPORT.
IT MUST HAVE JUST BEEN A GLITCH.
SHOULD WE SUBMITTED AHEAD? YES.
YEAH, WE RECEIVED IT FROM, Y'ALL JUST DIDN'T GET POSTED.
IT'S POSTED NOW, AND I DID EMAIL IT, BUT I REALIZED PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TIME, SO PLEASE, I'M HAPPY TO FACILITATE QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR APA? UH, YES.
SO NEIL, THE, THE LACK INTAKE, UM, TRANSFER IN FROM AGENCY, UH, 583.
THAT'S FROM WHERE THAT'D BE ALL OF OUR PARTNER SHELTER TRANSFERS.
SO THAT'S HOW ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM ANOTHER SHELTER OR RESCUE ORGANIZATION IS COUNTED IN THAT NUMBER.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[4. Update from the Spay/Neuter Working Group regarding the Spay/Neuter Program Policy.]
UPDATE FROM THE SPAY NEUTER WORKING GROUP.UH, AND WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THAT GROUP? SO I AM, I, I WAS ELECTED TO SPEAK TO IT.
HOWEVER, UM, I MISSED THE MEETING.
UM, I HAD, I JUST HAD IT IN MY CALENDAR WRONG.
UM, SO I WAS NOT, WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE, UM, AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY PERSONNEL.
UM, AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
BRUCE WHO WAS, WHO WAS, WHO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, AND SHE CAN BRIEF YOU ON WHAT WE'VE GOT SO FAR.
SO WE HAD, UM, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GREAT MEETING OVER AT AHS AND ALL THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS WERE THERE, AS WELL AS THE TWO STAFF FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WHO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM.
AND SO WE MET WITH THE AHS STAFF THAT OVERSEES THE COMMUNITY CATS ON THEIR SIDE, UM, AND THEN THE AAC STAFF.
AND WE HAD A TOUR OF THE FACILITY AND DID A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMMING, BUT THEN TALKED ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAM THROUGH THE EYES OF AAC NOW THAT THEY HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO IT.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH IS FINDING WAYS TO INCREASE SPAY NEUTER CAPACITY ACROSS, UM, THE MULTIPLE FORMS OF SPAY NEUTER THAT WE CONTRACT WITH.
AND SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, UM, CAPACITY BUILDING AND, AND THE ABILITY OF AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY TO DO THAT.
AND THEN ALSO, AAC IS ACTUALLY VERY ACTIVELY CURRENTLY CATCHING UP ON A BACKLOG OF
[01:15:01]
CALLS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, REGARDING COMMUNITY CATS AND, UM, COLONIES OF CATS IN THE FIELD.AND SO I BELIEVE, AND I MAY HAVE THE NUMBERS OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY WERE CLOSE TO 400 ANIMALS ON THAT LIST WHEN THE NEWEST AAC STAFF MEMBER TOOK OVER, UM, A SHORT TIME AGO.
AND THAT IS DOWN, I THINK, AROUND THE 200 ISH MARK.
AND SO HE'S REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED, WORKING ON GETTING CATS TRAPPED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM AT A HS, AND LOOKING TO CLEAR CONTACTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE SO THAT THERE CAN BE SOME MORE PROACTIVE PROGRAMMING, UM, COMING FROM AAC IN REGARDS TO COMMUNITY CATS, UM, AUSTIN HUMANE, LIKE A LOT OF THE SPAY NEUTER AND VETERINARY CLINICS HAVE HAD SOME STAFFING TURNOVER DURING COVID, UM, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET THEIR STAFF, UM, KIND OF UP TO THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE VOLUME.
UM, WE CONTRACT WITH THEM TO DO APPROXIMATELY 1,800 COMMUNITY CATS A YEAR.
AND WITH THE CURRENT NUMBERS, WITH THE NEW AAC STAFF ON BOARD, UM, THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE TRACKING TO DO ABOUT 2000 CATS A YEAR.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS, UM, CAPACITY WITHIN THEIR SYSTEMS TO EXPAND THAT AND THAT THERE'S DEMAND FOR THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT THOSE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THERE ARE GREAT FOLKS INVOLVED AND A GOOD TRAJECTORY THERE AND A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTH GROUPS.
SO, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY JUST ENJOYED BEING IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER AND, UM, SEEING THE OPERATIONS FROM THE INSIDE.
OUR NEXT, UM, KIND OF PATH THAT WE ARE GONNA EXPLORE IS, UM, THE VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT AAC HAS.
UM, HOW THAT WORKS, HOW THAT'S BUDGETED.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING WITH EMANCIPATE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TO, UM, YOU KNOW, EXPLORE WHAT THAT CONTRACT LOOKS LIKE, HOW THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID, HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES KIND OF COMING OUT OF THIS POST COVID, UM, TIME PERIOD.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION, CUZ I READ RECENTLY ABOUT THIS.
IT'S WAS A REQUEST TO THE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DETERMINE WHETHER, UH, TRAP NEW TO RELEASE WAS IMPLIED THAT YOU OWNED THE ANIMAL AND THEN YOU RELEASE IT.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? UH, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DECIDE.
NO ONE KNOWS THAT OR HOW THIS'S GONNA, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT WOULD REALLY AFFECT ANY KIND OF, UH, SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY CATS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS RECENTLY, UM, SOME WEBINARS ON THAT, THAT I SAW WERE HAPPENING.
I HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF THOSE, SO I HONESTLY, I DON'T FEEL QUALIFIED TO WEIGH IN ON THAT TILL I HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT, SO THAT'S LIKE A DARK CLOUD ON THE HORIZON OVER, UH, IMPORTANT ASPECT OF POTENTIALLY YES.
JUST WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, WELL I, I'M FOR ONE, WE'LL BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A, A, A DIFFICULT ASPECT, PARTICULARLY IN TEXAS WHERE ANIMALS ARE OWNED, OUR PROPERTY AND THE WAY THAT AFFECTS, YOU KNOW, HOW QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY WE CAN DO SPAY NATER.
I THINK THAT KIND OF SOAKS INTO EVERYTHING A LITTLE BIT, SO, OKAY.
UH, ANY, UH, SO I GUESS THEN WHAT WE WOULD NEED IS AGENDA ITEMS. CUZ I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S ALL OUR AGENDA ITEMS. FUTURE AGENDA
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
ITEMS. SARAH? YES.CAN WE, CAN, CAN I MAKE A RECORD? CAN, CAN I SAY SOMETHING THAT I LOVE THE IDEA TO SEE ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM? YES, GO AHEAD.
WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? I LOVE THE IDEA TO INVITE A, AN ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER TO TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS DOG BECAUSE EXACTLY THOSE IN ANIMAL CENTER OR ANIMAL PROTECTION IS NOT THE PERSON WHO DECIDE WHICH IS A DANGEROUS OR NO, THAT IS A JUDGE.
THE OTHER ONE, UH, I SEEN THAT THE SERIOUS BITE INVESTIGATION IS GOING UP.
I LOVE THE IDEA TO HAVE A, A PRESENTATION FROM ANNUAL PROTECTION OFFICERS ABOUT THE DANGEROUS DOGS AND HOW WE CAN HELP WITH THESE SERIOUS INVESTIGATION.
BUT IT'S BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.
SO YOU SAY THE NUMBER OF DOG BITES ARE GOING UP,
[01:20:01]
DAVID? SERIOUS ONES.SO, SO WHAT THAT COULD BE, UH, THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE ONE ITEM C, COULDN'T IT? YES.
AND THEN I'LL JUST NEED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE IS STAFF THAT CAN COME AND PRESENT.
BUT YEAH, CUZ THAT'S, I'LL REACH OUT CUZ THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.
WE DID CHANGE THE, UM, THE ORDINANCE AND WE GOT THAT PASSED AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT'S WORKING.
BECAUSE ONE THING WE CAN ALWAYS DO, I MEAN, ONE THING THAT THE COMMISSION CAN DO IS GIMME RECOMMENDATIONS OF IF, IF THEY NEED ANY KIND OF CHANGE IN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
BECAUSE I THINK, CUZ THAT KIND OF GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE OFF-LEASH ISSUE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL GOT THE EMAIL, BUT THEY'RE HAVING, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE KICKING OFF THEIR, UH, UH, WHAT IS IT? PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN FEBRUARY.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT THAT? I GOT AN EMAIL.
I WILL, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT EMAIL GETS OUT TO EVERYBODY.
IT'S GONNA BE AT A PARK AND THEY'RE GONNA KICK YES.
UH, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA, WE WE GOT A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
CUZ THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT, THAT I WOULD BE NICE IF, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION COULD SUPPORT IF, IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO APPARENTLY ABOUT, UH, YEAH, IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL, EVEN IF, WELL, IF BUSINESS IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED, WHICH IT WOULDN'T, IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A CORN, WE HAVE TO POST A COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENT.
BUT YES, I DO REMEMBER BELINDA ASKING ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT REGISTERED THAT I NEEDED TO SEND THAT OUT.
SO LET ME FORWARD THAT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.
AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY JUST POST A COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE SAFE BECAUSE I THINK THE OFF-LEASH DOG AND THE DANGEROUS DOG THING IS AT LEAST SOMEWHAT RELATED AND, YOU KNOW, IF DOG BITES ARE GOING UP, YOU KNOW, SO ANYWAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER ITEMS? YES.
YEAH, I WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO ADD AN ITEM TO DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON ONGOING COMPLAINTS.
SO HOW WOULD THAT ACT, HOW WOULD THAT ITEM READ, DISCUSS, AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON ONGOING COMPLAINTS? OH, VOLUNTEER.
COULD WE, COULD WE SPEC SPECIFY, UH, ONGOING COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, UM, DURING C I GUESS ONGOING COMPLAINTS, UH, COMMUNICATED TO THE COMMISSION DURING GENERAL COMMUNICATION? CAN WE DO THAT? YEAH.
OR, OR, OR JUST COMMUNICATED TO US.
SOME OF IT'S COMING IN VIA EMAIL.
SOME OF IT'S COMING IN VIA PHONE CALL.
UH, UH, I WOULD, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WORTH DISCUSSING.
LET ME WORK ON SOME LANGUAGE AND I CAN GET WITH COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL THE SAME PAGE, BUT OKAY.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET SOMETHING ADDED.
DO WE NEED TO SECOND AND VOTE ON IT? UH, YES.
AND, AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER ITEM TOO.
I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD A STAFF BRIEFING ON THE CRITERIA OF WHEN THE SHELTER WILL BE FULLY OPEN FOR INTAKE AND INFORMATION ON WHEN WE LAST MET THAT CRITERIA.
UH, WE COULD, WE COULD JUST ASK THAT QUESTION AT THE STAFF, REPORT IT, WHAT WOULD BE GOOD IS TO SUBMIT IT TO THEM AHEAD OF TIME.
UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE YOU, ARE YOU WANTING TO ASK THIS QUESTION OR ARE YOU WANTING TO HAVE LIKE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT? I, WELL, I'D LIKE TO GET THE INFORMATION, BUT ALSO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
SO I'D LIKE TO, TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON WHAT EXACTLY THE CRITERIA IS WHEN WE'LL BE FULLY OPEN AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE FULLY OPEN AND FOR HOW LONG.
LET ME, LET ME, THIS CRITERIA, I'M ASSUMING THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THAT ITEM IF SOMEONE JUST WANTS TO YES.
SO LET ME JUST WORK ON WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND SINCE YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, I WILL REACH OUT TO YOU AND WE CAN WORK ON WHAT THAT LANGUAGE WILL BE AND WHAT WE CAN GET.
DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE FIRST ONE THAT I SECONDED AND THEN COME BACK? WE DON'T REALLY NEED A VOTE.
I JUST NEED TO KNOW SOMEONE SUPPORTS IT.
IF, IF IT'S FIRSTED AND SECONDED, THEN SUPPOSEDLY IT GOES ON THE AGENDA AS LONG AS IT PASSES US LEGAL AND ALL THAT STUFF.
YOU JUST, WE JUST NEED TO SEE THAT ANOTHER COMMISSIONER SUPPORTS HAVING THAT ITEM.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY FORMAL VOTE.
YEAH, THE ONE OTHER ITEM, AND I DON'T KNOW STEPHANIE ON, ON WHERE TO PLACE THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM WHERE WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.
[01:25:01]
THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE RECEIVED IS THAT IT'S BEEN KIND OF ONGOING.SO I'D LIKE TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON, ON THE PREVENTION TREATMENT AND THE MITIGATION OF IT, BUT ALSO HOW THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM OR WHERE IT'S NOT COMING FROM.
LIKE I CAN'T FOLLOW WHAT INFORMATION'S BEEN SHARED WITH US.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE THAT COULD EASILY BE A BRIEFING, UH, IF THAT'S INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE.
YES, THAT WOULD BE A BRIEFING, BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS THAT ALSO, UH, YEAH, BECAUSE WE, WE DIDN'T REALLY GET ENOUGH INFORMATION I FELT AT THIS MEETING FOR US TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND MAYBE THAT WA I, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE REPORT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A STANDARD THING ON THE MONTHLY REPORT.
SO MAYBE THAT JUST WASN'T PREPARED FOR ON THIS REPORT SO I CAN REACH OUT TO STAFF AND SEE IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BRING FORWARD ON THE NEXT MEETING.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? UM, IF WE'RE SUBMITTING QUESTIONS AROUND THE GI REPORT, GIARDIA REPORT, I GUESS I WOULD LIKE A FOLLOW UP FROM DON BLAND AS TO IF AN S O P, HE BELIEVED THERE WAS AN S O P FOR CLEANING KENNELS, WHICH INCLUDED DAILY FLUSHING OF THE DRAINS.
AND THERE WAS GOING TO BE A STAFF REVIEW OF THAT.
CAN WE JUST CONFIRM THAT IT'S BEEN REVIEWED AND SIGNED OFF THAT THE STAFF ARE AWARE OF HOW TO FLUSH THE DRAINS? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, GOOD QUESTION.
ANYTHING ELSE? THIS VIA TRUST? YES.
SO I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I, I KNOW DIRECTOR BLANK, UH, TOOK NOTE THAT AND ABOUT ADDING THE BEGINNING COUNT OF THE MONTH OF THE PETS AND THE END OF THE MONTH COUNT OF THE PETS THAT ARE WITH THE AUSTIN AMAL CENTER.
UH, I THINK I HAVE A LENGTHY LIST TO SEND TO STAFF AND I'LL JUST INCLUDE THAT AND I WILL TRY TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION CLARIFIED BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WHAT, IT WOULD BE GOOD IF STEPHANIE, IF HAVING A SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE THE LIST THAT YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER, MAYBE SHARE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.
YEAH, I HAVE NO SURE MISSED, I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT SUCH A QUESTION.
YEAH, NO, I HONESTLY, I HAVE TO GO LOOK UP SOME OF THESE WORDS, SO I WILL WRITE DOWN ON THE LIST FOR YOU AND SEND IT, THEN YOU CAN TELL ME AND WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE NEXT MONTH.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A FOLLOW UP REAL QUICK ON THE ITEM THAT I'VE, UM, BEEN LOOKING INTO FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS HERE AS FAR AS THE COLD WEATHER SHELTERS AND COMPANION ANIMALS.
AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ACCEPTING COMPANION ANIMALS INTO THE COLD WEATHER SHELTERS.
UM, PROVIDED THEY ARE NOT AGGRESSIVE, UM, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER ON WHAT IS CONSIDERED AGGRESSIVE.
UH, BUT THEY, BUT THEY ARE ACCEPTING THEM, WHICH, WHICH MAKES ME HAPPY.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY'VE DONE THAT.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THOSE UNHOUSED PEOPLE WITH PETS ARE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN THERE WITH THEM.
DIRECTOR BLAND, I, I JUST WANTED TO, TO THROW THIS OUT THERE.
I DON'T, I, I DON'T KNOW THE COUNT TODAY, BUT AS OF FRIDAY, OUR GIARDIA OUTBREAK CONSISTED OF THREE DOGS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT FRIDAY WHEN I LEFT IT WAS THREE DOGS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER NEMER
YEAH, I'M NOT, THAT MIGHT JUST BE LIKE AN EMAIL.
RE SOME OF THESE MIGHT JUST END UP BEING AN EMAIL.
THESE ARE THE FOLLOW UPS THAT I HAVE, OTHERWISE I'LL CAN LUMP THEM TOGETHER IN AN ITEM.
I, BUT DON ALSO HAS HIS HAND UP, SO MAYBE HE HAS A COMMENT.
[01:30:01]
UH, I, I CAN SAY THAT, UM, I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN ON VOLUNTEERS IS YOU CAN RELEASE ANY VOLUNTEER FOR ANY REASON WITH, WITH, WITH NO REASON, UH, THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.WE DO HAVE, UH, REASONS THAT IN THE VOLUNTEER MANUAL, THESE ARE THE REASONS, UH, AND OUR RELEASING OF VOLUNTEERS, UH, SINCE 2019, WE'VE RELEASED THREE.
WELL, WE HEARD FROM ONE TODAY.
CAN WE FIND OUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THAT WAS? SHE WASN'T A VOLUNTEER.
SHE WAS A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE AND THAT IS AN HR ISSUE THAT, UH, I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS.
OH, I, I I THOUGHT SHE SAID SHE WAS A VOLUNTEER.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER NEWHOUSE.
STEPHANIE, REAL QUICK, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT SOME OF THESE ITEMS MIGHT BE EMAILS.
THE THREE ITEMS THAT I PROPOSED, I WOULD LIKE ON THE AGENDA SO THAT CITIZENS CAN COMMUNICATE ON THEM AND THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THEM.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE MY GOAL.
IT'S JUST, I, I, I'M NOT TOTALLY POSITIVE THAT SOME OF THESE, THAT THERE ARE REPORTS, SO, BUT YES, I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN TO LUMP EVERYTHING TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE A STAFF ITEM THAT YOU CAN DISCUSS AT YOUR MEETING.
WELL, AND E THREE SEPARATE ONES FOR THE ITEMS THAT I BROUGHT UP.
I MEAN, IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY BE SPECIFIC ON OUR ITEM.
CAN WE NO LONGER DO THAT? N YES, I WE WILL DEFINITELY BE SPECIFIC.
I JUST AM NOT SURE IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THREE STAFF ITEMS, BUT I, WE CAN WORK, WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK THAT OUT.
UH, WE CAN, LET'S KEEP IN COMMUNICATION ON THAT VIA EMAIL.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO WORK IT OUT AT THIS POINT.
UH, ANY OTHER, UH, FUTURE ITEMS? OKAY, WELL, IF NOT THE, UH, ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IS ADJOURNED AT 7:30 PM THANK YOU, KEVIN.
AND MORE, I'M FORGETTING THE AND MORE.