Oct 09, 2023 Animal Advisory Commission

COMMISSIONER HOLT? PRESENT.

UH, COMMISSIONER ZAES.

REVMAN.

COMMISSIONER LINDER.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER NIELSEN.

LITERALLY PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER HERRERA.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER HASSEN.

COMMISSIONER HUDDLESTON PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER BRUCE.

PRESENT.

ALRIGHT.

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER.

GO TO CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS.

ALSO, ALSO, UM, CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

UM, AND THE FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.

UH, MY NAME IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.

AND, UM, I'M A T N R.

AND, UH, UH, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY, MR. CLINTON.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE .

UH, I, I GOT A CALL FROM, UH, FRONTIER VA, UH, NO, JOHNNY MORRIS, WHICH HAS A PECAN MOBILE HOME PARK AND TO DO SOME MAMA CAT AND KITTENS.

AND I CHECKED IN AT THE OFFICE AND, UH, THEN THEY ASKED ME IF I COULD HELP THEM AND I SAID, HELP THEM AT WHAT? AND THEY SAID, UH, THEY GET DOGS DUMPED THERE.

I'VE ALREADY SPOKE TO MR. BLAND ABOUT IT A FEW MINUTES AGO.

AND, UH, I SAID, WELL, JUST TAKE 'EM, YOU TAKE 'EM OVER THERE TO THE, TO THE CITY.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE DID.

BUT THEY TOLD HER THEY HAD THE, AND HAD TO HOLD ONTO IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THIS IS A BUSINESS, IT'S A MOBILE HOME PARK.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT ANIMALS.

AND THEY, EVERY ONE OF THEM IN THAT PARK THAT HAS A DOG, THE MANAGEMENT HAS A SCANNER.

SO THEY KNOW THEIR, THEIR, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A, A MICROCHIP IN THEM.

THEY HAVE THE RABIES PICTURES AND THEY HAVE PICTURES OF THEIR DOGS.

THEY DON'T DO THAT WITH THE CATS, BUT THEY DO.

EVERY DOG THAT'S THERE, THEY HAVE THAT.

THEY HAD TO HANG ON TO THOSE DOGS FOR TWO WEEKS.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? THEY WAS TETHERED.

IT'S ILLEGAL TO TETHER, TETHER A DOG.

AND, BUT THEY DID THAT.

AND THEY, NOW THEY TELL THEIR WORKERS, THEIR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE PARK, AND THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

'CAUSE IT'S OVER 300 MOBILE HOME PARKS THERE, UH, TRAILERS THERE.

UH, THEY JUST TELL THE PEOPLE TO GET RID OF THE DOGS.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING? THEY'RE DUMPING 'EM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S VERY SAD FOR THE DOGS AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

AND I, I JUST DON'T, THAT'S, I I DON'T, HE, HE TOLD ME IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CITY ORDINANCE.

WELL, WE GOTTA CHANGE THAT.

IT'S A BUSINESS.

THEY'VE GOT, THEY, THEY CAN'T HANG ON TO THE DOGS.

AND IT, I KNOW YOU EXPECT THE PEOPLE TO HANG ON TO THE DOGS.

THERE'S THAT TWO WEEK THING YOU HAVE, I THINK, BECAUSE YOU THINK, OH, THEY'LL, THEY'LL KEEP THE DOG, THEY'LL FIND A HOME FOR THE DOG, OR THEY'LL GIVE IT AWAY OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND, AND, AND I THINK IF IT, YOU'VE GIVEN THEM A TWO WEEK NOTICE, I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE MICROCHIPS IN THEM.

THEN Y'ALL CAN CALL AND VERIFY WHERE THE DOG IS IF THEY DON'T COME THERE BACK IN TWO WEEKS.

AND, AND, UH, WHEN JEN, WHICH RUNS OUR, OUR CAP PROGRAM THERE, WE WERE SITTING AND TALKING LAST WEEK.

A MAN CAME UP.

HE HAD A GORGEOUS, I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS LITTLE PIT BULL, ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS OLD.

HE HAD FOUND IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE COULDN'T FIND OUT WHO IT BELONGED TO, PUT IT ON WHATEVER Y'ALL PUT EVERYTHING ON, ON THE, ON YOUR DEVICES AND COULDN'T FIND IT.

IT WAS A LITTLE BRINDLE.

[00:05:01]

HE, THEY GAVE HIM A TWO WEEKS HOLD.

NOW, I, TO ME, I THINK SHE HAVE, SHOULD HAVE HAD A MICROCHIP PUT IN HER RIGHT THEN.

AND MAYBE A RABIES SHOP, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE'LL PROBABLY GIVE HER AWAY IF HE CAN'T.

IF, BECAUSE HE WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN AND HE WAS GONNA GET SOMEBODY TO HANG ON HER.

AND I'M JUST ASKING Y'ALL TO PLEASE, WE, WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR ANIMALS.

UM, MY NAME IS SANDRA MUELLER.

I AM A FORMER A P A VOLUNTEER AND A A C VOLUNTEER MOSTLY WITH LARGE DOGS, THE SCARED ONES OR THE OLD ONES.

SO, UH, FIRST I WANTED TO SAY HI TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN NICE TO SEE SOME THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION GOING ON AROUND HERE.

IT'S BEEN LOVELY.

AND I'M JUST KIND OF HERE TO REITERATE THE AUDIT REPORT THAT Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT, 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS.

UM, THEY FOUND THAT A A C HAS TOO MANY ANIMALS FOR ITS CURRENT LEVEL OF STAFFING.

IT ALSO FOUND THAT A A C IS NOT ABLE TO SERVE AS AN OPEN INTAKE SHELTER FOR THE COMMUNITY WHILE PROVIDING HUMANE CARE FOR ITS ANIMALS AND MAINTAINING THE LIVE RELEASE RATE.

THAT THIS WAS CODIFIED BY ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL.

UM, THE MAIN REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE THE AUDITORS, THERE'S A LOT OF BAD STUFF IN THERE, BUT THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF.

THEY FOUND THAT AACS ENTIRE VETERINARY SERVICES TEAM SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE EXEMPLARY HUMANE CARE AND TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, ALL WHILE HANDLING A HEAVY WORKLOAD.

THEY SAID IT'S THE SMOOTHEST RUNNING DEPARTMENT WITHIN A C AND THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PROVIDING NECESSARY VETERINARY CARE TO ANIMALS AND PROVIDE HUMANE TREATMENT.

THEY NOT ONLY MEET THE STANDARDS OF MUNICIPAL CARE FOR ANIMALS, THEY OFTEN EXCEED THAT STANDARD.

AND THAT'S A LOT FOR MUNICIPAL SHELTER.

THE REPORT ALSO SAID AACS POLICIES REGARDING EUTHANASIA ARE IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES AND ARE PERHAPS THE BEST POLICY THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN ALL THEIR EVALUATIONS.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

THE AUDITORS CONSIDER AAC C'S PROCESS TO BE AN INDUSTRY LEADING APPROACH.

IT'S TEAM-BASED WITH SEVERAL LAYERS OF REVIEW AND INVOLVES NUMEROUS CHECKS AND BALANCES.

SO I ASK THAT YOU KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND THAT THE AUDITORS HAVE SAID BEFORE YOU QUESTION AND SECOND GUESS, A A C VETERINARIANS DIFFICULT DECISIONS AS THIS COMMISSION HAS IN THE PAST AND MOST RECENTLY REGARDING THE SPAY NEUTER WORK GROUP.

AND I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU, THERE'S A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS AND EVERYONE HERE IS AWARE THAT SHELTER WORKERS ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR COMPASSION FATIGUE, BURNOUT, AND SUICIDE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT A A C CANNOT ACHIEVE ITS MISSION WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT INCLUDES THIS COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU REPORT TO.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, NOW LET'S MOVE.

THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS.

RIGHT? OKAY.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

MINUTES.

APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? A MOTION? UH, COMMISSIONER HUDDLESTON AND COMMISSIONER HERRERA.

SECOND SECONDS.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MR. CHAIR.

UH, THANK YOU, UH, ON THE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

UM, I DID NOT VOTE AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

DID YOU GET THAT? OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

BRIEFINGS, OVERVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORT PROVIDED BY ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE STAFF.

ANY OTHER CHANGES OR DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED, THERE ARE NONE.

SO, MOTION PASSES.

UH, NUMBER TWO, STAFF

[2. Overview of monthly report provided by Animal Services Office Staff]

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

DON BLAND, ANIMAL CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER.

UH, IN YOUR PACKET, THERE WAS THE TRADITIONAL ANIMAL SERVICE, UH, NARRATIVE REPORT THAT WE DID THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME, IT DIDN'T UPLOAD CORRECTLY, BUT THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER ONE IN THERE THAT, UH, IT HAD A ANIMAL ON THE FRONT OF IT.

UH, THAT ONE DID LOAD, UH, WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

UH, THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE IF WE COULD MAKE IT EASIER TO READ.

MAYBE SOME MORE DESCRIP, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BETTER THAN THE NARRATIVE.

SO I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL'S

[00:10:01]

FEEDBACK.

SO IF Y'ALL WILL JUST EMAIL ME ON, ON WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.

UH, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT, UH, ON THE ONE THAT HAD THE DOG ON IT, THE, THE DRAFT MODEL THAT, UH, IT HAD SUBTOTALS BUT NO TOTALS ON SOME OF THE THINGS.

BUT IT DID HAVE, UH, THE BEGINNING AND ENDING INVENTORY FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH IN THERE.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ADDED.

UM, SO JUST GIMME YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, YOU LIKE IT, YOU DON'T LIKE IT.

WE LIKE PARTS OF IT.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND, AND BE MORE, UH, I GUESS SELF-EXPLANATORY THAN, UH, TRYING TO, TO READ IT.

SO JUST, IF Y'ALL WILL GIVE SOME FEEDBACK, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.

UH, THE LIVE OUTCOME RATE FOR SEPTEMBER WAS 97.5.

WE, WE TOOK IN 933 ANIMALS AND WE ADOPTED OUT 588.

UH, 65 DOGS AND CATS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS FROM THE SHELTER.

AND 22 WERE RETURNED IN THE FIELD.

WE HAD 491, UH, REGULAR VOLUNTEERS THAT DONATED A SIX 1000, 6,163 HOURS.

AND WE HAD, UM, 61 INDIVIDUALS THAT, UH, CAME AS VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT DONATED ANOTHER 122 HOURS.

AND WE HAD 15 COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS THAT DONATED ANOTHER 167 HOURS FOR A TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS OF 6,452.

WE HAD FIVE NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS, UM, FOR THE MONTH, INTRODUCING 112 NEW PEOPLE TO THE SHELTER.

AND 125 NEW VOLUNTEERS ACTUALLY STARTED THEIR MENTORING, OR THEIR FIRST TRAINING SHIFTS LAST MONTH.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE ONLY TWO DISTEMPER POSITIVE CASES.

UH, WE HAD THOSE THAT WERE TESTED POSITIVE PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN GETTING HEALTHY AND BEING CARED FOR.

SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PUT UP FOR, UH, ADOPTION AND GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND THERE'S SEVERAL MORE THAT ARE, UH, JUST WAITING FOR PUBLIC KENNELS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC.

THEY, UH, ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

SO WE'RE MAKING SOME GREAT PROGRESS IN TREATING THOSE CASES AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.

LAST MONTH, UH, COMMISSIONER ULA, SHE REQUESTED A REPORT ON THE SHELTER PILOT PROJECT WHERE WE WERE, UH, OPENING LATE ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.

AND I WANT TO REPORT THAT THAT PILOT PROJECT AT THE VERY BEGINNING, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE BOOKING APPOINTMENTS.

AND, UH, AS, AS WE WENT ON, WE HAD LESS PEOPLE OF BOOKING APPOINTMENTS.

UH, WE HAD LESS SUCCESS ON MAKING CALLS AND GETTING RETURNED TO OWNERS.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE WERE STILL ACCOMPLISHING WAS IT, IT WAS GIVING THEM AMPLE TIME TO ANSWER EMAILS.

SO WE HAVE ENDED THAT PROJECT, PILOT PROJECT, UH, THIS WEEK.

UH, WE WILL TAKE, WE WILL OPEN OUR NORMAL HOURS ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, BUT WE WILL STILL ASK PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON A WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY IN THAT EARLY HOURS WHILE WE'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR WALK-INS.

BUT THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME IN TO GET THAT CONCIERGE SERVICE IF THEY CARE TO HAVE THAT.

WE, WE DID FIND THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN, WE WERE HAVING, UH, MORE SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS FROM THAT, UH, THAT WERE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH, WITH SOMEONE.

UM, THEY, THERE WAS LESS RETURNS FROM THAT AND MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO, SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THE MATCHMAKING AND SEE HOW THAT GOES.

ON STAFFING, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 17 TOTAL POSITIONS THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE FILLED.

UH, 15 OF THOSE ARE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND TWO ARE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

THERE ARE SEVEN FULL-TIME THAT ARE IN PROCESS OF BEING FILLED CURRENTLY.

AND THERE'S, UM, EIGHT PREPARING TO POST.

AND THE TWO PART-TIME ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FILLED AS WELL.

I JUST THOUGHT I'D TAKE AN EXTRA MINUTE AND GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN.

UH, WE HAVE AN HR COORDINATOR, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PROGRAM MANAGER.

WE HAVE A FOSTER RESCUE POSITION, TWO ANIMAL SERVICE CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITIONS, ONE A P O, SENIOR, ONE A P O SUPERVISOR, FIVE A P O OFFICERS, A VETERINARIAN, AND AN ANIMAL CARE WORKER.

SO THOSE ARE THE AN, THE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? COMMISSIONER CLINTON? YES.

I WANTED TO CHECK IN ON, UM, COMPLIANCE WITH THE REPORTING MECHANISM

[00:15:01]

ON, UH, IN, UH, VACCINATIONS UPON INTAKE.

AND WHETHER THAT'S GONNA BE REPORTED CORRECTLY FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE IT, UH, GENTLEMEN, THE GENTLEMAN THAT DOES OUR IT WORK HAS REWRITTEN THAT PROGRAM AND THAT IT IS OUT ON THE DASHBOARD REPORTING CORRECTLY AT THIS TIME.

CAN WE GET THAT IN? CAN WE GET THAT AND ANY OTHER METRIC THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN OUR REPORT, CAN WE GET THOSE METRICS INCLUDED IN OUR REPORT? THE ONES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED? UH, SO OKAY.

THE 16 REPORTS THAT ARE REQUIRED ARE OUT ON THE DASHBOARD, SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR THAT TO ACTUALLY BE PUT IN THE NARRATIVE AS WELL.

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, UH, I I, MAYBE YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED, UH, BY THE STATUTE, I WOULD THINK THAT IT COULD BE PART OF OUR REPORTS.

UH, AND SO, UH, WHETHER IT'S IN THE NARRATIVE FORM OR IN ANY OTHER FORM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD GET THAT.

PRESENT, UH, OR SORRY, PRESENTATION OF THE SEPTEMBER, 2023 REPORT BY AUSTIN PETZ ALIVE.

OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

UH, LET'S SEE HERE.

THANK YOU CHIEF BLAND.

UH, DISCUSSION ITEMS

[3. Presentation of the September 2023 Report by Austin Pets Alive!]

HI THERE.

UH, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BOROUGH.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SHELTER OPERATIONS AT A P A.

UM, WE ARE, JUST TO CLARIFY WHY WE WERE NOT HERE LAST MONTH, UM, GOING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING QUARTERLY.

THAT'S WHAT THE LICENSE AGREEMENT STATES.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ALL LIKE THESE MEETINGS TO MOVE ALONG QUICKER.

SO ANYTIME THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING UP, UM, WE FIGURED UNLESS WE'RE REQUESTED TO BE HERE, THAT'S OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD IS JUST END OF QUARTER.

SO, UM, THIS REPORT REFLECTS THE END OF THE QUARTER AS WELL AS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, UM, FOR SOME OF OUR NUMBERS HERE.

SO, UM, THE FIRST PAGE HERE, AS PER USUAL, JUST SHOWS OUR SEPTEMBER OVERALL NUMBERS.

UM, SECOND PAGE BREAKS DOWN, UM, ADOPTIONS, INTAKE, ET CETERA.

UM, THIS ALSO SHOWS OUR END OF FISCAL YEAR FINAL POLL NUMBER, WHICH WAS WELL OVER THE 12% THAT IS REQUIRED IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT.

UM, AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE HAS OUR FULL INTAKE AND OUTCOME DATA FOR SEPTEMBER OF 2023.

AND THEN PAGE FOUR IS IN ADDITION.

THAT'S A FISCAL END OF YEAR SUMMARY.

SO THAT SHOWS OUR ENTIRE A P A OR A A C TRANSFERS, UM, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN SOME SUMMARY ITEMS THERE.

AND THEN THE LAST TWO PAGES JUST SHOW OUR 12 MONTH ROLLING BREAKDOWN, UM, AS WELL AS THE DEATH AND CARE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED.

SO, UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS.

UH, COMMISSIONER ZAES.

STEPHANIE, THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN INTRODUCTION OF THE REPORT.

AND MAYBE I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS BEFORE IN THE PAGE NUMBER ONE WHERE IT SAYS A P N TAKES TRANSFER FOR AN A, A C MM-HMM.

SO, UH, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, IT W WHICH IT TALKS ABOUT THE 46 ANIMALS BORN IN A P'S CARE TO PREGNANT ANIMALS SENT FROM AAC MM-HMM.

AND THEN THERE'S 52 PETS DIRECTLY FROM OWNERS WITHIN THE TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND SO THAT WHEN YOU ADD THOSE TWO NUMBERS, 98 INTAKE DIVERTED FROM A A C EFFECTIVELY AT 9.7% INTAKE REDUCTION.

I'M, I'M NOT SURE, UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT, WHAT IS THIS 9.7% REDUCTION INTAKE REDUCTION? SURE.

SO THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BORN IN CARE, UM, PRESUMABLY IF WE DID NOT PULL THOSE PREGNANT ANIMALS, THEY WOULD'VE BEEN BORN AT A A C INSTEAD.

UM, AND THEN THE ANIMALS THAT WE TOOK IN, FOR EXAMPLE, PARVO OWNER SURRENDERS, THOSE CASES ARE SOMETIMES DIVERTED DIRECTLY TO OUR CLINIC INSTEAD OF GOING TO A A C FIRST.

UM, 'CAUSE IT SAVES PEOPLE A TRIP.

UM, AND SO THIS IS ALL, UH, ASSUMING THAT THOSE ANIMALS WOULD HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE GONE TO A, A C INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY TO A P A.

SO THEY SKIPPED A STEP ESSENTIALLY, INSTEAD OF GOING FROM A C TO US,

[00:20:01]

THEY JUST CAME STRAIGHT TO US.

SO THEY DID NOT GET AN A, A C A NUMBER AND THEY WERE NOT COUNTED AS TRANSFERS, BUT THEY'RE STILL ANIMALS THAT WERE FROM TRAVIS COUNTY THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO A A C.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO, YEAH.

SO, UH, SO IF YOU GO TO PATIENT NUMBER TWO, WHAT I'M HEARING THAT IS THAT THOSE 98 INTAKE DIVERTED, IF YOU WERE THAT NINE NINE, I'M SORRY IF I , THIS IS THE WAY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S, SO IF YOU WERE TO TAKE TO THOSE 98 FROM PAGE ONE DIVERTED AND YOU, AND YOU GO TO PAGE TWO, A A C HAS A TOTAL INTAKE OF 909 IN SEPTEMBER.

SO IF YOU ADDED THOSE 98 TO THE 909, THAT WOULD BE 1007 INTAKES.

RIGHT.

AND I SEE, SO THE 9.7% IS THOSE THAT ARE NOT RIGHT COUNTED.

YEAH.

AND WE DON'T COUNT THOSE AS DIRECT TRANSFERS AND THEY DON'T COUNT AS TRANSFERS, UM, FOR PURPOSES OF THE LICENSE AGREEMENT EITHER.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE PULLED DIRECTLY FOR THE LICENSE AGREEMENT IS IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THOSE DIRECT OWNER SURRENDERS.

IS PRESENTING, AND THAT'S NOT ALLOWED IN THIS PORTION.

SO IT'S HELPING THE COMMUNITY, THE, THE PATHS.

, OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.

OR BRUCE, I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE QUESTION ON YOUR DISTEMPER PROTOCOL.

MM-HMM.

, UM, IF I CAN ANSWER IT.

? YEAH.

SO YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TREATING DISTEMPER, YOU WERE TREATING WITH, UM, HIGH DOSE VITAMIN C MM-HMM.

AND, UM, I WAS GIVEN A PAPER AT THAT TIME FROM THE EARLY SEVENTIES, UM, TO JUSTIFY THAT.

AND I'VE CHECKED WITH A LOT OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS AND THAT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ACCEPTED PROTOCOL.

AND SO I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN COMMENT, AND THIS GOES A BIT TO, UM, THE ASSESSMENT THAT WAS DONE THAT SAYS SOMETIMES THERE'S PRESSURE FOR THE VETERINARIANS AND THE MEDICAL STAFF AT A A C TO DO THINGS THAT MAYBE ARE OUTSIDE THE REALM OF WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.

AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU CAN COMMENT ON WHY AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS GIVING VITAMIN C INJECTIONS AT THE BEQUEST OF A P A WHEN THERE'S REALLY NOT RESEARCH OR BACKING FOR THAT, WHY THAT'S DONE IN THAT FACILITY VERSUS IF THAT'S AN A P A PROTOCOL, WHY IT'S NOT BEING DONE THERE? BECAUSE I THINK, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, A A C IS ACTUALLY BEING CHARGED FOR THAT PROCESS.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

SO, AND IF, IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO COMMENT, THAT'S FINE, BUT IF YOU COULD FORWARD TO THE COMMISSIONERS THE VALIDITY OF WHY THAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING THING, DESPITE THERE NOT BEING ANY RESEARCH ON ITS EFFECTIVENESS, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

YEAH.

I CAN TALK TO DR.

JEFFERSON.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AGREEMENT, I WAS NOT PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS OR THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF TREATING THE DISTEMPER DOGS EITHER AT A A C OR AT A P A.

BUT, UM, I CAN MAKE A NOTE AND HAVE DR.

, OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

UM, I MUST SAID LENDER, UH, SORRY, NELSON.

UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU WERE ASSUMING THAT ALL THE, LET'S SEE, 352 ANIMALS THAT WERE BORN AT A P A FROM PREGNANT ANIMALS THAT YOU TOOK FROM A A C, WHY YOU WERE ASSUMING THAT ALL OF THOSE WOULD'VE BEEN BORN AT A A C IF A P A HADN'T TAKEN THOSE PREGNANT ANIMALS? UH, TWO REASONS.

ONE, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT A A C DOES NOT SPAY PREGNANT ANIMALS, VISIBLY PREGNANT ANIMALS.

WE DON'T DO IT WITHOUT GIVING YOU WARNING FIRST, AND YOU TAKE ALL OF THEM.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF WE DIDN'T TAKE THEM, THEY WOULD BE SPAYED? THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN.

RIGHT.

AND ANY, EVERY PERSON FROM THE PUBLIC THAT I TALKED TO ABOUT THAT ISSUE IS SHOCKED THAT THE SHELTER IS NOT ALLOWED TO DECIDE TO TERMINATE PREGNANCIES IN CATS AND DOGS.

AND THIS IS, HOW MUCH DID I JUST SAY? POINT OF ORDER.

NO, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PONTIFICATE, CAN YOU? I'M GONNA KEEP TALKING BECAUSE I, I FEEL, I DEEPLY FEEL, HOLD ON.

IS APPROPRIATE MINUTE IF RELEVANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE COULD JUST STOP CONVERSATION FOR A MOMENT AND, UH, LET ME TALK TO THE PAR PARLIAMENTARIAN.

UH, COULD YOU RESTATE THAT? YES.

UH, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER NIELSON IS STARTING TO ARGUE WITH THE, UH, PERSON WHO

[00:25:01]

SHE'S NOT ALLOWED TO SIT THERE AND ARGUE AND PONTIFICATE HER, HER, HER PRO, HER, HER PROPOSALS OR HER BELIEFS OR ANY OF THAT IS NOT, IS NOT WITHIN THE REALM OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THIS TIME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I, MY ROLE IS TO, OTHER THAN THE, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN TO RULE, CORRECT? I DON'T, THAT IS CORRECT.

ALRIGHT, THEN WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

SO, UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I, WE REALLY NOT QUESTION WE REALLY NEED TO STOP.

UM, COULD YOU ANSWER IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, PLEASE? YEAH, I WAS JUST WONDERING.

ASK YOUR QUESTION.

THANKS.

YEAH.

WHAT YOU WERE BASING THAT ASSERTION ON, BECAUSE EVERYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC I TALKED TO ABOUT THIS POLICY OF A P A TAKING ALL THE VISIBLY PREGNANT ANIMALS FROM THE SHELTER AND ALLOWING THEM TO GIVE BIRTH INSTEAD OF TERMINATE, LETTING THE VETERINARIANS AT THE SHELTER DECIDE IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE ANIMAL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TERMINATE THAT PREGNANCY.

THE SHELTER IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

CAN I ASK, WE HAVE TO GET A ASK A QUESTION NOTICE FIRST.

SO WHAT EVERYBODY I TALKED TO ABOUT THAT COMMISSIONER, ABOUT THAT COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD PLEASE INTERRUPT.

I'D APPRECIATE IT AS THE CHAIR.

SO I'M CURIOUS, SO WHAT I'M, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES APAS DIS, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC'S OPINION? WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH APA A? SO, A WHERE DOES, DON'T I DON'T THAT IT RELEVANT.

WHY DOES A P A, WHY IS A P A ASSERTING THAT ALL OF THOSE ANIMALS ARE BEING, WHAT DOES, DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC OPINION? THAT'S AN ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY TRUE.

SHE, IT'S NOT THE ORDINANCE.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS RELEVANT.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU SAYING THE ORDINANCE PREVENTS THE SHELTER FROM STAYING PREGNANT ANIMALS? I'M JUST SAYING IT'S AN ORDINANCE.

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH A P A? WELL, LISTEN TO MY QUESTION.

WELL, I'M, I'M, WHY I'M TRYING, BUT IT'S NOT MAKING SENSE.

WHY, WHY IS A P A ASSERTING THAT ALL OF THOSE ANIMALS WOULD'VE BEEN BORN AT THE SHELTER IF THEY HADN'T TAKEN THEM FROM A A C I GO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.

WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC OPINION? I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.

I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION WHY SHE ASSERTED THAT IN HER STATEMENT.

I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.

POINT OF ORDER BY COMMISSIONER CLINTON, I, I, THE, THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED.

I THINK IF NO, SHE, I HAVEN'T HEARD WHY SHE'S ASSERTING.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON, I'VE HEARD, HEARD IT AND I'VE HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER ER WAIT, WHAT THE ANSWER? PLEASE REITERATE IT.

COULD, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PLEASE REITERATE WHAT THE ANSWER WAS.

COMMISSIONER CLINTON AND COMMISSIONER NIELSEN, PLEASE YIELD.

THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, IT WASN'T ANSWERED ANY QUESTION SHE ANSWERED.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. CAN I, UH, SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

COMMISSIONER BRUCE, I, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF WE CAN NARROW DOWN THE, THE FOCUS A LITTLE HERE TO JUST SAY, WHAT IS APAS POSITION ON ABORTIVE SPACE? A P N DOES NOT SPAY VISIBLY PREGNANT ANIMALS OR ANIMALS THAT WE KNOW TO BE PREGNANT.

AND I'LL FOLLOW THAT UP WITH, THEY WERE HIRING FOR A POSITION IN LAREDO FOR A VETERINARIAN WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD PERFORM A BOARD OF SPACE.

SO THERE IS SOME CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY.

IS YOUR, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE PRESENTER.

AND I AM ASKING QUESTION.

SHE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER ASKING AND SHE ANSWERED IT, THAT THEY DON'T PERFORM AB BOARD OF SPACE.

AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE SEEN A POSTING THAT SAYS OTHERWISE.

UNDER DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. DISCUSS DISCUSSION ON POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE CITY CODE NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT A FINDER TO FOSTER PROGRAM WITHIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND POTENTIAL CREATION OF A COMMISSION WORKING GROUP TO RESEARCH THE FINDER TO FOSTER PROGRAM.

I FOLLOW YOU NOW.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

UM, OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO FOUR

[4. Discussion on potential changes to the City Code needed to implement a Finder to Foster Program within Animal Services and potential creation of a commission working group to research the Finder to Foster program.]

DO WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THAT? IS THAT STAFF OR IS THAT A COMMISSIONER? RECOMMENDATION? I OKAY.

UH, COMMISSIONER NIELSEN OR RYAN HAD HIS HAND UP, OR COMMISSIONER CLINTON HAD HIS HAND UP.

COMMISSIONER CLINTON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THIS WAS COMMISSIONER LOAN'S ITEM ORIGINALLY, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY.

UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT COMMISSIONER SULA ASKED ME SPECIFICALLY THAT IF WE DID, UH, PUT TOGETHER A WORK GROUP TODAY THAT SHE PLEASE BE ALLOWED TO BE ON IT.

UM, COMMISSIONER O NIELSEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT THIS ISSUE? UM, I JUST THINK IT, IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT WE LOOK INTO ORDINANCE ISSUES THAT ARE PREVENTING THE SHELTER FROM CREATING A FINDER TO FOSTER PROGRAM AND THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP ON IT AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAD IT UP.

[00:30:01]

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

IS THIS A SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PIECE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTE.

NO.

CAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN? SURE.

? YEAH.

YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE AN ON THE SPOT DECISION UNLESS YOU'RE READY TO COMMIT.

UH, AND THEN MR. CHAIR? YES.

I JUST WANNA MENTION ALSO THAT, THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE REACH OUT AS WELL.

SO, UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON, COULD YOU RESTATE, UH, THE, UM, DID COMMISSIONER SMLA, DID YOU STATE THAT SHE WANTED TO BE ON THE WORKING GROUP? YES.

COMMISSIONER MULA ASKED TO BE TO PLEASE BE ON THE WORKING GROUP.

ALRIGHT, SO, SO FAR WE HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER NELSON AND COMMISSIONER MULA ON THE WORKING GROUP.

IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO, UM, I GUESS THE COMMISSION TO VOLUNTEER THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS?

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

I, YES, SIR.

COMMISSIONER HERRERA.

UH, I LOVE THE IDEA IT'S FEW MONTHS OR MAYBE FEW YEARS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, UH, THE TOPIC ABOUT THE STOP PREGNANCIES AND MAYBE CAN BE A, A GOOD POINT TO RE-TALK AND SEE WHAT'S THE BEST FOR THE PETS AND WHAT'S THE BEST FOR OR SHELTER.

WHAT IS THE BEST FOR COMMISSIONER HERE? I JUST WANNA SAY WE'RE INTO PRESENTING RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION, WE CAN DISCUSS IT THE NEXT, WE HAVE TO BY LAW GIVE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IN CASE THEY WANNA PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

SO IF YOU COULD MAKE A, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION YOU COULD MAKE? YES.

COMMISSIONER HUDDLESTON SECONDS.

UH, LET'S GO TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP FOR TO TALK ABOUT STOP PREGNANCIES.

THE ORDINANCE ABOUT STOP PREGNANCIES.

IS THERE A SECOND? ONE SECOND.

YEP.

UH, OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I'M, I'M SORRY.

DID WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE FORMATION OF THE WORKING GROUP OR IT'S JUST OUT THERE AND WE, WE JUST FORMED IT.

UM, BECAUSE IT IS ON THE AGENDA ITEM THIS TIME FOR POTENTIAL LOCATION, WE CAN, AS A FORMALITY TO COVER OUR BASES.

WE'RE, WE CAN CALL FOR A VOTE.

LET'S BACK UP IF EVERYBODY AGREES TO THAT.

EVERYBODY'S GOOD.

I ASSUME.

LET'S VOTE.

UM, ON THOSE IN FAVOR OF FORMING THE WORKING GROUP, LET ME RESTATE WHAT THAT WORKING GROUP IS CALLED, THE FINDER TO FOSTER PROGRAM WORKING GROUP.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? OKAY.

EVERYBODY IN FAVOR? AYE.

YES.

OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.