Feb 09, 2026 Animal Advisory Commission

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM WE'RE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, ROOM 1101.

3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UM, I WILL START WITH ROLL CALL.

I AM CHAIR NELSON, AND I'M PRESENT.

UH, COMMISSIONER LINDER PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER AHMED PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER HOLT PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER CLINTON PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER HUDDLESTON.

PRESENT.

UH, COMMISSIONER ES NOT CURRENTLY HERE.

UH, COMMISSIONER LOMAN? NOT YET.

UH, COMMISSIONER DANIEL PRESENT.

UH, COMMISSIONER EMER.

WE DIDN'T QUITE I HEAR HER.

THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU.

UH, COMMISSIONER FERGUSON PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER NORTON PRESENT.

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

WE'LL START WITH THE, UM, GENERAL COMMENT.

UM, FIRST SPEAKER IS SARAH MIRAN.

SAY THAT RIGHT? YEP.

AND THEN MAKE SURE YOU PUSH THE BUTTON SO THAT THE LIGHT IS GREEN AROUND THE BUTTON.

AND DID I SAY YOUR NAME CORRECTLY? SARAH MIRAN.

THANK YOU.

UM, UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE MY, UH, WE, WE LOST A CAT, UH, IN, AT HIDDEN PARK.

WE LIVE IN FOREST HEIGHTS LANE.

AND, UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVELY IN OUR SEARCH AND WE HAVE BEEN, UH, POSTING OUR, OUR, UH, PROGRESS ON NEXTDOOR.

AND WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.

UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE HER.

HIDDEN PARK IS NOT A PART THAT IS LISTED IS PART OF THE LA LATA BRANCH GREENVALE, WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH DICK NICHOLS.

UM, AND, UM, OTHER THAN ASSUMING THAT SHE WAS EATEN BY A COYOTE, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, NO WAY OF KNOWING.

UM, WE DID CON I DID CONTACT, UH, ACTUALLY A NEIGHBOR ACTUALLY CONTACTED FOR ME, UM, THE, TO, TO FIND OUT IF OUR CAT HAD BEEN PICKED UP, UM, BY THE AUSTIN RECOVERY SERVICES.

YES, THEY HAVE A SERVICE FOR THAT.

UM, SHE HAD NOT BEEN RECOVERED THERE.

UH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE LEARNED THAT, UH, ANIMALS ARE NOT CHECKED FOR CHIP.

UM, AND APPARENTLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED IN THE PAST FOR, FOR YEARS NOW.

UM, I WAS INFORMED THAT, UH, CHIP READERS WERE PURCHASED AND WERE GIVEN, AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN USED.

UM, UH, WE KNOW THAT, OR I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN, UH, PEOPLE FROM PARKS, PARKS AND, AND WHATEVER THE DEPARTMENT'S NAME IS, THEY GO AND TRIM THE BRANCHES AND WHATNOT.

AND OF COURSE, OTHER THAN BEING THERE ACTIVELY ASKING, HAVE YOU SEEN A CAT? HAVE YOU SEEN A CAT DEAD, ALIVE? SOMETHING, WE DON'T KNOW WHO ALL HAS ACCESS TO THE PARK AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND MOW THE LAWN, UH, YOU KNOW, FIND PETS AND WHETHER THEY GO AND THEY GET REPORTED BACK.

SO IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL, UH, FOR US TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK.

UM, UH, IT WOULD BE IDEAL IF THE VENDORS THAT GO AND CUT BRANCHES AND, YOU KNOW, TRIM GRASS AND WHATNOT, REPORT BACK TO, UH, UM, THE AUSTIN, AUSTIN RECOVERY SERVICES AND, YOU KNOW, DELIVER THE ANIMALS THERE.

AND OBVIOUSLY, FOR ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE RECOVERED THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEIR CHIP IS, IS RED AND THAT THEY CAN NOTIFY THE CHIP COMPANY.

UM, I MEAN, IF THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THE SERVICE, IT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRE, UH, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVE EXPENSE.

BUT IT WOULD PROBABLY GIVE US, UH, PEACE OF MIND BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF LOST ANIMALS ON IN AUSTIN FOR SOME REASON.

UH, SOME FOR, YOU KNOW, LONGER THAN A MONTH.

SOME, SOME FOR YEARS.

AND WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHERE OUR PETS END UP.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, THEN IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER FOR US TO KNOW.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

I HOPE YOU HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS SOON.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ.

[00:05:12]

OH, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WHO ALSO TEACHES ANIMAL LAW, TWO LAW SCHOOLS AND A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHO'S HANDLED BOTH CRUELTY CASES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.

SO I'LL JUMP, JUST JUMP RIGHT IN OVER THE FREEZE.

A PD DID A GREAT JOB RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE, UH, FOR ANIMALS THAT WERE FREEZING.

BUT APOS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHORT STAFFED.

I THINK I HEARD THAT ONE OR TWO WERE ON CALL.

I MIGHT BE INCORRECT ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW THAT THEY WERE, UM, RESPONDING AS BEST THEY COULD, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESPOND TIMELY.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN, LIKE, WE CAN SOMEHOW BE BETTER PREPARED IN THE FUTURE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER BY STAFFING MORE APOS AND HAVING THEM READY TO GO SO THEY CAN ASSIST A PD FOR CALLS OUT.

AS FAR AS CHAIN DOGS AND DOGS LEFT ON THE BALCONIES AND PATIOS, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE FROM THE COUNTY, UM, A, A, A COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE.

UM, TCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND APOS IN GENERAL SHOULD REALLY UNDERSTAND THE LAWS REGARDING THIS LEAVING, LEAVING AN ANIMAL OUT ON A PATIO.

AND 18 DEGREE WEATHER IS NOT ADEQUATE SHELTER UNDER THE LAW.

AND THERE'S CASE LAW TO SHOW THAT AS WELL.

SO, AND BY THE WAY, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, GRAPHIC PICTURES TODAY.

THIS SITUATION THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SCREEN IS NOT RARE.

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE THREATEN TO RELEASE ANIMALS BECAUSE OF THE MANAGED INTAKE THAT WE HAVE.

I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT DOGS ON THE STREET ARE PILED HIGHEND CRATES FOR MONTHS OR YEARS IN SHELTERS, IS FAR LESS HUMANE THAN EUTHANASIA FOR SPACE, IN MY OPINION.

WE NEED OPEN INTAKE PERIOD.

FINALLY, PEOPLE SELLING PUPPIES AND DOGS OUT OF THEIR CAR IS ILLEGAL HERE IN AUSTIN UNDER THE CITY CODE THREE DASH TWO DASH THREE.

HOWEVER, WHEN PEOPLE CALL 3 1 1, THEY GIVE THEM A TIME, UH, RANGE OF 72 HOURS FOR SOMEBODY TO RESPOND, WHICH IS A BIT RIDICULOUS.

THE PEOPLE ARE GONE.

9 1 1 REFERS TO 3 1 1 AND BACK AND FORTH, NOBODY ENDS UP RESPONDING.

SO WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS CITY CODE IF IT'S NOT GETTING ENFORCED? 3 1 1 NEEDS EDUCATION ABOUT THIS.

I THINK AUSTIN ENERGY RUNS 3 1 1, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SPOKEN WITH AUSTIN ENERGY, UM, ABOUT THE SHORTCOMINGS OF 3 1 1 RELATED TO ANIMALS.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THAT, BUT I WOULD REQUEST THAT FINALLY, UM, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ADOPTERS.

UM, AND I'M WONDERING, I KNOW YOU CAN'T RESPOND IF ANYBODY HAS SPOKEN WITH CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS, I'M SURE THAT MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

THERE'S NO RIGHT TO HAVE A PET.

THERE'S NO RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT A PET.

AND I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BASED ON THE POSSESSION LAW.

THE POSSESSION BAN LAW THAT HAS TAKEN EFFECT SINCE LAST SESSION.

AND MY FINAL RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD HOPE IS APOS WOULD MOVE UNDER A PD.

IF APOS ARE RESPONDING TO CALLS, ENFORCING LAWS, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD MOVE THE APOS UNDER A PD, GET THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED FROM APDS, ANIMAL CRUELTY UNIT, THE TRAINING THEY NEED, THE EDUCATION THEY NEED, AND THE COVERAGE THEY NEED FROM PATROL OFFICERS AND OTHER OFFICERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'D WORK BETTER WITH A PD FOR ANIMAL WELFARE CALLS THAT WAY THAN BEING UNDER THE SHELTER.

UM, UMBRELLA.

I WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF SHOUT OUT TO ERIC MARQUETTE, WHO DOES WORK FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.

I WENT TO ANIMAL SERVICES TODAY.

HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB, UM, CALMING EVERYBODY DOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT AN ANIMAL GOT BACK TO ITS OWNER.

SO I DID WANNA SAY THAT, AND I DID WRITE TO ANIMAL SERVICES LETTING THEM KNOW THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, NEXT WILL BE CRAIG NASER.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG NASER.

I AM THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE STATE CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB, AND I'M FORMER CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION.

AND I'M HERE FOR TWO, UH, MAYBE, UH, CONTINUING ISSUES.

UH, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WHILE I WAS CHAIR, WE PASSED A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR BIRD FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION IN AUSTIN.

AND THEN IT WENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION.

AND I WENT, I, I WAS ON THE WORKING GROUP OVER THERE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND WE MADE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS, A LOT OF INPUT, UH, TO THE, UH, I THINK WATERSHED AND, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND EVERYTHING.

AND THEY CAME UP WITH A GREAT SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY GAVE TO THE, UH, TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS WATERED THEM DOWN.

AND I THINK THIS IS KIND OF DISAPPOINTING, BUT IF YOU WOULD PUT THIS ON YOUR AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MONTH, YOU COULD CALL SOME PEOPLE IN, GET A NICE DISCUSSION GOING ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE, UH, ENCOURAGE THE CITY MANAGER TO BE A LITTLE MORE FOR, UH, FARSIGHTED IN MAKING BIRD

[00:10:01]

AND THAT IT IS, IS IN YOUR VENUE.

'CAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT YEARS AGO.

THE OTHER THING AS A CONTINUING ISSUE, WHICH IS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION WE MADE UNANIMOUSLY, I BELIEVE, RIGHT AFTER I GOT OFF THE COMMISSION TO HIRE A BAT BIOLOGIST FOR AUSTIN AND I, THAT WAS PASSED AND IT WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY COULDN'T FIND AT THE TIME ANY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY THAT WANTED TO HOUSE A BAT BIOLOGIST WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN IS THEY'VE AGREED ON I 35.

AND IN THAT PROCESS, I WENT TO SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS WITH THE TXDOT.

THEY HAVE KILLED A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF BATS THAT WE'RE LIVING UNDER THE BRIDGES ALL BUT NOW, AND THEY'RE, THEY HAVEN'T TORN DOWN THE, THERE'S MILLIONS OF BATS THAT STILL LIVE UNDER THE, THE SECTION THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF TOWN, AND THEY HAVE A PLAN.

BUT IS THE PLAN WORKING? I DON'T THINK SO.

I'VE DONE SOME ON THE GROUND WORK, BUT THIS MIGHT BE ANOTHER THING TO TALK ABOUT.

AND SOMETHING, UH, THAT HAS BEEN FOUND OUT SINCE WE MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION IS THEY LOOKED AT AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE WHITE NOSE SYNDROME HAS WIPED OUT THE BATS, AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT IN THOSE AREAS, INFANT MORTALITY RATE WAS 7% HIGHER, VERY CONSISTENTLY.

WHY? BECAUSE BATS GO OVER, UH, FARMING AREAS AND EAT INSECTS.

AND WHEN THEY'RE DEAD, THEY USE MORE CHEMICAL SPRAYS.

AND BABIES ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO CHEMICAL SPRAYS.

YOU CAN LOOK THAT STUDY UP.

IT'S AMAZING.

IT BLEW ME AWAY.

SO I REALLY THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED.

THEY COULD PICK UP THE BATS THAT APOS NOT HAVE TO PICK UP.

AND YOU KNOW, WHENEVER AN A PO FINDS AN INJURED BAT DOWN, THEY KILL IT.

THAT'S THE POLICY.

UH, THAT'S BEEN THE POLICY FOR YEARS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RABIES.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.

ANOTHER ITEM YOU COULD PUT ON YOUR AGENDA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. CLARIFYING QUESTION? YES, CORRECT.

IF HE'S OKAY WITH THAT.

MR. NASER, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES.

UM, UH, REGARDING THE BAT BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS.

YES.

UM, MAYBE THREE MONTHS AGO, WE WERE ASKED TO SUPPORT A CITY DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT WAS, UM, PROPOSING THAT TO COUNCIL AND WE WERE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONS THAT VOTED TO SUPPORT IT.

YES.

IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? OR IS THAT KIND OF THE SAME? I, IS THAT OKAY? I AM NOT SURE BECAUSE I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.

BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THE PROPOSAL THAT STAFF MADE TO THE CITY WAS THEN CHANGED BY THE CITY MANAGER.

SO THE THING TO CHECK ON IS WHAT YOU APPROVED.

DID YOU APPROVE THE LAST TIME? YEAH, NO.

YEAH.

DID YOU APPROVE THE STAFF PROPOSAL RECENTLY? YEAH.

DID YOU APPROVE THE STAFF PROPOSAL OR, OR DID THE CITY MANAGER CHANGE IT SINCE YOU PROVED IT? OKAY.

THAT'D BE MY QUESTION.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER HOLT ALSO HAD A QUESTION MAYBE.

YEAH.

KIND OF RELATED TO THAT SAME QUESTION.

DO YOU KNOW IF THAT ISSUE, WHAT HAS BEEN TAKEN UP AT CITY COUNCIL OR IF IT IS, UM, PLANNED TO BE TAKEN UP AT CITY COUNCIL? I, I JUST, I ASKED BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID WAS TRYING TO RALLY CONVERSATION WITHIN THE COMMISSION, BUT, UM, WHERE THE REAL POWER IS, IS THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE AUDIENCE.

SO I'M JUST CURIOUS THE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THAT.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO APPROVE IT, SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL.

I WHAT I'VE HEARD IT HAS NOT GONE TO CITY COUNCIL YET.

I WOULD'VE HEARD THAT 'CAUSE I PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN THERE, BUT IT HASN'T GONE TO CITY COUNCIL YET.

SO THERE IS STILL TIME MAY, AND IF IT DOESN'T GO IN THE NEXT MONTH, I'M NOT SURE.

I KNOW THERE'S, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSION.

THERE MAY STILL BE TIME.

I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS ABOUT, UH, A WEEK AGO.

SO I'M JUST COMING HERE.

JUST MAYBE IF YOU CAN AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED, YOU COULD DO THAT.

YES.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.

HI, MY NAME IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.

UM, I CAME UP ON A CAR, UH, UH, ON THE 30TH OF THE, THIS MONTH.

AND, UH, OUT THERE OFF OF FALWELL LANE, ALONG THE RIVER THERE FROM I 30.

AND I CAUGHT SOME PEOPLE WITH THEIR CAR DOOR OPEN AND I STOPPED AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT DUMPING OUT HERE.

AND, UH, HE SAID, UH, OH, WE'RE NOT DUMPING.

WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH THESE DOGS.

WELL, I'M KICKING MY BACK HALF NOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THEIR LICENSE PLATE OF THEIR CAR.

AND THEN I COULD HAVE TURNED THEM IN BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS A SATURDAY, AND THIS IS WHEN IT WAS 19 DEGREES OUT THERE AT THE AIRPORT, WELL, ON THE RIVER IT WAS 16 DEGREES.

AND I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THESE DOGS, AND I'VE GOT PICTURES

[00:15:01]

AND I BROUGHT 'EM FOR JASON.

AND I KNEW CHIEF CAPTAIN, WHATEVER YOU ARE, DIRECTOR, WHATEVER YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THESE ARE BIG DOGS.

I'M NOT IN THE DOG BUSINESS.

I'M STILL IN THE CAT BUSINESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT BECAUSE I'VE RAISED FOUR ROT WALLERS, SO I'M USED TO BIG DOGS, BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR 'EM.

AND I'M FEEDING THEM TWICE A DAY AND I'M GOING THROUGH TWO GALLONS OF WATER.

'CAUSE I GIVE A GALLON IN THE MORNING GALLON, AND IT'S GONE BY THE ITS THING.

AND I'M JUST WANTING SOME HELP BECAUSE I CALLED 3 1 1 AND THE LADY SAID, WELL, IT COULD TAKE UP TO 10 DAYS.

WELL, I'M A TAURUS.

AND I GOT MAD AND HUNG UP AND I JUST, IT INFURIATED ME.

AND BECAUSE JASON ASKED ME DID I GET THE NUMBER, AND I SAID, NO, YOU KNOW, THE REFERENCE NUMBER.

NO.

BUT AFTER I TALKED TO HIM, I WENT BACK AND DID CALL AND, AND GET, GET A REFERENCE NUMBER.

AND I DROVE, UH, DREW A PICTURE, A MAP, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT THEY'RE BUILDING APARTMENTS AND THEY'RE FENCING AND THEY'RE DOING, POURING THE SLABS AND DOING EVERYTHING.

ANYWAY, I I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH 3 1 1 TELLING PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE PROBABLY GO AND DUMP.

'CAUSE THAT, OR THEY JUST LET IT GO.

AND THESE ARE NOT FERAL DOGS.

AND JASON JUST SAID SOMEBODY TOLD HIM MAYBE THEY'RE FROM A HOMELESS CAMP.

NO, I SAW 'EM WHEN THEY DID IT.

SO, AND I'M FEEDING THEM.

AND I'VE ALREADY ALMOST GONE THROUGH 36 POUNDS OF DOG FOOD WITH, BECAUSE THESE ARE BIG DOGS.

ONE'S OF DOBERMAN.

SO I'M ASKING FOR SOME HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP IT UP.

I CAN, I FEED 10 CATS OVER AT THE AIRPORT AND MY 10, AND NOW I'M ON THE DOG TRAIN , AND I'M ASKING FOR SOME HELP, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE, AND I CAN GET 'EM, THEY'LL COME, THEY COME TO ME BECAUSE THEY, THEY KNOW I'M THE FOOD BAG THERE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IF I FED 'EM BEFORE I CAME OVER HERE.

SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO PLEASE COME HELP ME.

I'LL HELP YOU GET HIM IF YOU'LL COME HELP ME.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ROCHELLE, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

NO.

OKAY.

UM, NEXT SPEAKER IS PAT RE UH, THANK YOU CHAIR AND MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND, UM, I ALSO WANT TO FIRST INTRODUCE MYSELF.

UM, I AM A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.

I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT, BUT WE, UM, HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT VERY MUCH.

UM, I AM ALSO A FORMER MEMBER OF A NUMBER OF SPAY NEUTER WORKING GROUPS.

UH, TWO OF THEM VERY RECENTLY, BUT GOING BACK A LONG TIME, EVEN MORE, UH, WORKED ON SPAY NEUTER FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, BOTH WITH WORKING GROUPS AND ALSO, UM, AT TIMES ON MY OWN.

AND JUST, UM, SPOKEN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UH, THROUGH MY INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY.

UH, ALSO A FORMER MEMBER OF THE CITY ORGANIZED STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP, WHICH DELIVERED ITS REPORT IN MARCH OF 2025 TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

I HAVE, UM, COME AND SPOKEN ABOUT THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE FINISHED.

I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE MISSING MEASURES.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY A STRATEGIC PLAN IF YOU ONLY HAVE WORDS AND YOU DON'T HAVE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BY A CERTAIN DATE.

AND THEN I AM STILL A MEMBER OF THE NEW, UH, STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKING GROUP, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF MANY OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS.

YOU'VE ALL BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, HARDER THAN I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

BUT I FEEL THAT, UM, I ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT I WANNA SAY WHEN IT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT.

UM, SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO OUR NEW DIRECTOR, AND I WANNA THANK HER FOR BEING HERE.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO, BUT .

UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY WELCOME TO AUSTIN.

AND I KNOW YOU BACK FROM HAVING BEEN HERE BEFORE.

UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING, MOVING FORWARD ON MANY OF THE THINGS WE'VE GOTTEN STARTED WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE.

AND NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON THOSE THINGS.

I AM HERE ALSO TO SUPPORT ROCHELLE IN, IN, IN HER COMING HERE EVERY MONTH AND MAKING REQUESTS AND ASKING FOR HELP.

AND I'VE OFFERED TO HER TO DO IT WITH HER FROM NOW ON IN THE PAST.

I'VE COME AND I'VE HAD ALL THESE OTHER THINGS ON MY AGENDA THAT I WANNA SPEAK TO.

AND RIGHT NOW I WANNA HELP HER.

'CAUSE SHE'S OUT THERE ALL THE TIME WORKING HARD.

SHE SEES A LOT OF THINGS.

SHE COMES AND

[00:20:01]

AND WHAT I WAS SAYING TO DIRECTOR, DANGLER, DANGLER , UM, IS THAT, UM, I LIKE US TO, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING, LET HER KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING UP, THEN WORK WITH HER, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING MONTH FOLLOW UP AND, AND, AND GIVE A STATUS REPORT.

SO THAT'S WHAT I, I'M GONNA TRY TO DO WORKING WITH ROCHELLE.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE SHELLY LEAVE THEM.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS SHELLEY LEVI, I'M A CAT VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

UH, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR AND TO WORK WITH YOU.

UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT, A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT GREATER GOOD CHARITIES AND AUSTIN AM CENTER IS HOSTING ANOTHER FREE SPAY NEUTER CLINIC RUNNING FROM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH THROUGH MONDAY, MARCH TO 12TH.

THE SAME LOCATION AS THE LAST ONE IN NOVEMBER 11, 5 11 5 80 STONE HOLLOW DRIVE.

IT'S NEAR METRIC AND BREAKER LANE.

I BROUGHT FLYERS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, BUT I SEE THAT THEY'RE BACK THERE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, JASON.

MELISSA, THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE I HAVE MORE, UH, FLYERS TO GIVE IF PEOPLE WANT THEM.

WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD.

UM, THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT BEHIND THE EFFORT FROM THE LAST ONE ON NOVEMBER, WE REACHED AN AMAZING MILESTONE OVER 1200 ANIMAL SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

THAT'S 1200 LIVES CHANGE, FAMILIES HELP, AND FUTURE LITTERS PREVENTED.

WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE THAT SAME IMPACT AGAIN WITH THIS UP UPCOMING CLINIC.

I VOLUNTEERED AT THE PAST CLINICS, AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S INSPIRING.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE HELPING HANDS, WHETHER IT'S DATA ENTRY, CLEANING, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, ESCORTING ANIMALS TO THEIR KENNELS, TO INDUCTION, MONITORING THEM DURING RECOVERY, OR RETURNING THEM TO THEIR FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHICH IS SUPER REWARDING.

EVERY ROLE MATTERS AND EX THE EXPERIENCES INCREDIBLY REWARDING.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS, DANIEL NORTON, FERGUSON, NIELSEN, AND HOLT FOR ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES AND VOLUNTEERING AT PAST CLINICS AND VOLUNTEERING TO SPREAD THE WORD.

I ENCOURAGE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO JOIN IN, OR AT LEAST STOP BY.

YOU'VE GOTTA SEE FIRSTHAND THIS HOW POWERFUL THE WORK THIS COMMISSION HELPED BRING TO LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE ANIMALS AND PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANKS.

AND JUST TO, THAT WAS FEBRUARY 26TH THROUGH MARCH 2ND.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

THAT DOES IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

EVERYBODY AGREE? THAT'S ALL

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

OKAY.

THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S REGULAR MEETING ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026.

UM, COMMISSIONER NE NEER, ARE YOU MOVING TO APPROVE? NO, ACTUALLY, I WAS JUST GONNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME COMPLAINTS I'M GETTING SEVERAL FROM ON MY, ON MY TEXT MESSAGES THAT PEOPLE CANNOT HEAR THE MEETING AS IT'S BEING BROADCAST.

OKAY, THANKS.

JUST, JUST TO LET Y'ALL, THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE KNOW.

YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE OUR IT PERSON ON THE BROADCAST.

ON THE BROADCAST.

THERE'S NO SOUND IS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING FROM PEOPLE FROM THAT ARE TEXTING ME THAT ARE WATCHING IT.

OKAY.

I BELIEVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

UM, DO WE HAVE ANYONE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY MEETING? UM, COMMISSIONER LINDER MOVES.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER NORTON, ANY COMMENT ON, UM, THE DRAFT OF LAST MONTH'S MINUTES? I DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUE WITH IT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

AND, UM, COMMISSIONER ES HAS JOINED SINCE, SINCE ROLL CALL.

[2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services.]

UM, SO MOVING ON TO STAFF BRIEFINGS.

THIS WILL BE OUR, UM, FIRST STEP BRIEFING FROM DIRECTOR DANGLER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE ON YOUR NINTH DAY ON THE JOB.

I BELIEVE IS IT SIXTH, SIXTH DAY ON THE JOB.

ALRIGHT, .

AND SO WE'LL DO THE START WITH A STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE MONTHLY REPORTS PRESENTED BY, UM, DIRECTOR DANGLER AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GARZA.

HI.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER.

SO WE'RE GONNA, FOR THIS ITEM, I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH JUST SOME UPDATES AND EVENTS FOR UPCOMING, AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OFF TO DIRECTOR FOR, FOR, UM, HER, HER COUPLE SLIDES SHE'S GONNA DO.

AND THEN I'LL GO BACK INTO SORT OF THE OVER OVERVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY REGARDING ADOPTIONS, WHATNOT.

SO, UM, SO JUST SOME UPDATES, UM, YOU KNOW, TO FOLLOW IN, IN SHELLY'S FOOTSTEPS.

SEE US, UH, WE HAVE OUR FREE SPAY NEUTER EVENT COMING UP FROM FEBRUARY 26TH, DO MARCH 2ND.

UM, WE HAVE

[00:25:01]

THAT'D BE GREAT.

SPREAD THE WORD AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN ORDER TO GET THIS.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING AN ADOPTION EVENT THIS WEEKEND, OUR BE MY ENTINE EVENT, WHERE WE'LL HAVE $14 ADOPTION THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

UM, SO, AND ONE THING THAT WE ALSO WANNA DO, AS YOU KNOW, IS EVERYONE DID STRUGGLE.

WE DID HAVE OUR, SORRY, IT'S NOT CATCHING.

OH, THERE IT GOES.

WE DID HAVE OUR ICE STORM.

SO WE WANT TO USE THIS PLATFORM TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND FOSTERS FOR HELPING US, UH, GET THROUGH THE, THE, THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.

UM, WE HAD SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS THAT, THAT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND.

WE HAD STAFF MEMBERS THAT STAYED THE NIGHT IN ORDER TO, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, AVOID WEATHER ISSUES AND THEN, AND THEN HELP WITH CLEANING PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IN.

THEY WERE, WE DO HAVE, UH, STAFF OR EXPERT DRIVE AROUND ICE, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO SORT OF ACT AS UBERS FOR STAFF MEMBERS WHO WERE WILLING TO COME IN AS WELL.

UM, AND WE, UH, WITH OUR FOSTERERS IN PREPARATION OF THE EVENT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET 90 DOGS AND CATS INTO HOMES.

UM, SO THAT THEY WAITED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO ENDURE IT AT THE SHELTER.

UM, WE DID, UH, ALSO GO THROUGH A, WE DID RECEIVE 112 FOSTERS THROUGH THAT, AND 50 ADOPTIONS TOOK PLACE.

SO HUGE THANKS TO OUR AUSTIN AND OUR COMMUNITY, EVERYONE STEPPING UP TO REALLY HELP US GET THROUGH IT.

UM, ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENED IN, UH, JANUARY IS WE MOVE, UH, FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ENDURING SERVICE PROGRAM.

THIS IS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE LAUNCHED, UM, WITH THE REHABILITATION REENTRY DIVISION AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY STATE, UM, PRISON.

UM, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, THE WAY THE PROGRAM WORKS IS WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE HANDLERS, UM, WHO ARE ON SITE, WHO CAN FOSTER DOGS FOR US.

UH, WE SENT AN INITIAL, UH, UM, SIX DOGS WENT, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THREE MORE DOGS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO ANOTHER THREE DOGS THIS, UH, THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK.

AND SO BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED, WE WERE TRAINING WITH THEM, SHOWING THEM, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW TO HANDLE, WHAT TO DO, YOU KNOW, REALLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWING THEM POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, WITH WITH THE FACILITY, THEY ARE, THEY, UM, THEY'RE BUILDING LIKE OUTDOOR KENNELS AS WELL FOR THEM.

SO THAT WAY THAT WE CAN DO SOME OUT RETURN.

THEY HAVE A HUGE YARD FOR THEM TO PLAY IN.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S M MODELED IN ANOTHER, UH, FACILITY UP IN BRENT BRENTON.

I, I MAY HAVE TO, BUT IT'S UP NORTH, NORTH AUSTIN.

THERE WE GO.

UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, THEY, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

THEY'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A 12 WEEK PROGRAM, ABOUT SEVEN WEEKS.

WE'RE GONNA START PROMOTING THESE DOGS FOR ADOPTION.

SO GET THEM INTO THEIR HOME IN THE END, IN TIME, THEY'RE CREATING JOURNALS, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE DOGS, WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT 'EM.

SO THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE PREPARE, UH, THEIR NEXT HOME TO BE FULLY EQUIPPED OF WHO, WHO THE DOGS ARE.

[3. Staff briefing on the Austin Animal Services Department 30-60-90-day horizon plan. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services.]

HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME'S MONICA DANGLER.

I'M THE NEW DIRECTOR.

THIS IS MY FIRST, SECOND WEEK, UH, ON THE JOB.

UH, LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK I'M REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF MY TIME MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, UM, STAFF MEMBERS JUST TO GET A LAY OF THE LAND, WHAT IS, WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, AND PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FINDING OUT A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING THINGS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN LAY OUT A PLAN FOR EVERYONE, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE COMMISSION, BUT THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT ACTIONS WE'RE GONNA START TAKING AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE.

AND THEN BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK ON THAT MONTHLY AT THE COMMISSION MEETINGS TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES THAT MAY MAYBE HAVE HELD THINGS UP.

UM, SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

UM, WE'RE DOING SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS AT THE SHELTER, LIKE, UH, THE PROGRAM JASON JUST DESCRIBED, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SHELTER, AND WE ALL REALIZE THAT.

UM, SO WE'RE PULLING THIS, THE HORIZON PLAN.

IT'S BASICALLY A 30, 60, 90 DAY, UH, PLAN.

THAT'LL BE A ROLLING PLAN, UM, INDEFINITELY.

UM, AND WE WANTED TO SH SHARE JUST THE FIRST 30 DAYS.

WE HAD TO PUT THIS TOGETHER ON MY THIRD DAY.

SO WE WERE, UH, LOOKING THROUGH THESE THINGS, BUT RIGHT.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL AREAS, UM, OF OPPORTUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST BEING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

UM, DO, DOES THE COMMUNITY, DOES OUR STAKEHOLDERS, DOES OUR STAFF KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING? UM, AND WHY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO START EXPANDING THAT INFORMATION OUT SO EVERYONE ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THEIR COMMUNITY SHELTER.

UM, NEW PROGRAMMING, UH, ONE, UH, TWO NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO GET LAUNCHED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

UM, KIND OF GO TOGETHER, DOGS DAY OUT, RIGHT? IT'S A DAY TRIP.

OUR CURRENTLY OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WE WANNA EXPAND THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TAKE DOGS OUT ON THE TOWN FOR THE AFTERNOON.

UM, IT'S GREAT EXPOSURE FOR THE PETS, IT'S GREAT EXPOSURE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND THEN THE PAJAMA PARTIES, WHICH ARE JUST OVERNIGHTS OR WEEKEND GETAWAYS FOR THE

[00:30:01]

UM, SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

UM, UH, ENHANCING STAFFING.

UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, SEVERAL, UH, RECRUITMENTS OUT, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO RECRUIT AND ONBOARD.

UM, CURRENTLY SIX VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, UM, ARE OUT.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO, UH, WORKING ON STARTING A KENNEL CLEANING TIME STUDY.

SO HOW ARE WE USING OUR TIME? HOW CAN WE CREATE EFFICIENCIES IN KENNEL CLEANING, UM, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF, UM, THE PETS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

UM, AND THEN, RIGHT, THIS IS GONNA BE THE BIG ONE FOR EVERYBODY.

DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR REOPENING INTAKE.

UM, WE KNOW THAT'S A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND PETS IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT, UM, IN A THOUGHTFUL, MINDFUL WAY, UM, AND NOT JUST START TAKING MASS AMOUNTS OF ANIMALS IN AND NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM.

SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT PLAN.

AND MY, MY HOPES ARE TO EVEN START IMPLEMENTING PIECES OF THAT PLAN, UM, THE FIRST 30 DAYS, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE, UM, STRAY DOGS.

UM, SO WE CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY.

UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SHELTER DATABASE, UH, RIGHT, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, GOSH, I THINK IT WAS MAY.

MM-HMM .

WE CONVERTED FROM CHAMELEON TO, UM, SHELTER BUDDY.

MIGRATING 20 YEARS OF DATA IS NEVER AN EASY TASK ASK.

UM, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT.

WE'RE HAVING WEEKLY CONVERSATIONS WITH SHELTER BUDDY, UM, TO WORK OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT REPORTING THINGS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WORKS THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE IT TO WORK AND THE WAY THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO WORK.

UM, AND ONE OF THE BIG ONES WAS, UM, THE VOLUNTEERS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SHELTER BASE SHELTER DATABASE, UM, BOTH TO LOOK UP INFORMATION AND THEN REPORT INFORMATION.

UM, AND WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO, UM, FINALIZING, UM, THAT PIECE.

UM, SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE DONE HERE SHORTLY.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONERS ALL GOT A MEMO REGARDING THAT TODAY.

UM, AND THEN, UH, JUST GATHERING FEEDBACK, UM, RIGHT, DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN WITH BOTH THE STAFF AND THE STAKEHOLDERS.

HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? WE KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.

SO LET'S START MAKING SOME OF THOSE ACTION PLANS.

UM, AND THEN IMP UH, PROCESS, IMPROVE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, WE NOW HAVE A PATHWAY, UM, PLANNING POSITION AND, UM, WORKING WITH THAT PERSON AS WELL AS THE BEHAVIOR, UM, SPECIALIST THAT WAS RECENTLY HIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ANIMALS ARE GETTING THROUGH THE SHELTER SYSTEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND, UM, WE'RE NOT, UH, STARTING PLANNING, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS INTO THEM BEING IN THE SHELTER, BUT LET'S START FROM DAY ONE AND HOW TO MOVE THEM THROUGH THE SHELTER, UM, TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, UM, THE BEST AND TO, UH, INCREASE LIVE OUTCOMES.

UM, ALSO, RIGHT, WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT ESTABLISHING SOME GUIDELINES FOR KITTENS, FOR LARGE DOGS, UM, FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS OF LARGE DOGS, UM, AND HOW THEY MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND HOW WE GET THEM, UM, INTO PARTNERS, IF THAT'S THE PROPER, UH, PLACEMENT OPTION FOR THEM.

UM, SO THOSE ARE THE, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR 30 DAYS.

THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL HAVE A FULL 30, 60, 90 DAY FOR YOU GUYS, AND WE CAN REPORT ON THAT, UM, EACH MONTH.

SO THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

AND SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO INTO THE MONTHLY REPORTING.

SO FOR JANUARY, WE HAD, UH, 723 ANIMALS THAT WERE IMPOUNDED.

UM, UH, AND THESE ARE TOTAL ANIMALS, SO THIS INCLUDES COMPANION ANIMALS OUT AND, AND ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.

UM, SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE FROM FROM DECEMBER.

BUT, UM, YEAH, UH, AND WITH, WITH, UH, INSTANCES THAT OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ICE STORM, WE SAW INCREASED INTAKE WITH THAT.

AND SO WE, WE MANAGED, UH, TWO, UH, MANAGE THE POPULATION AS BEST WE COULD IN ORDER TO, TO ACCOMMODATE OUR FACILITY.

UM, SECOND, UH, WE HAD 36 ANIMALS, UH, ALTOGETHER THAT WERE EUTHANIZED.

UM, THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE FOR SUFFERING WITH EIGHT BEING RABIES RISK.

UM, FOR THE MONTH WE HAD A, UH, LIVE OUTCOME RATE OF 95.29%.

AND, UM, WHICH WAS, WHICH IS A, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR, UH, OUR MANDATE AND, AND HIT OUR GOAL.

UM, DURING THE MONTH, WE HAD 383 ADOPTIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE, THOUGH, THAT WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE REPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, WE NOTICED SOME DISCREPANCIES BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE HAD MORE ADOPTIONS THAT WERE COMING UP.

AND THEN WE LOOKED AND WE SAW THAT THERE WERE SOME FILTERS THAT WERE UNCHECKED.

AND SO WE CHECKED

[00:35:01]

SO, YES, WE, UH, IT WAS A, UM, THAT REPORT THAT WAS BUILT OUT WAS, WASN'T CORRECT, BUT NOW WE'VE CORRECTED.

AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE NOW SEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR OVERALL, UH, ADOPTIONS FOR, FOR, SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED SHELTER BUDDY.

SO, YAY, WE GOT MORE ADOPTIONS, WHICH IS ALWAYS A NICE LITTLE PROBLEM TO HAVE.

UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, JUST WANTED TO, TO PUT THAT FOREFRONT.

UM, OH, EXCUSE ME.

UH, FOR ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE FOR THE MONTH, WE HAD 339 DIFFERENT FAMILIES THAT DID FOSTER FOR US.

UM, AS OF THE THIRD, THERE WERE 252 ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE.

UM, 49 ANIMALS WERE DIRECTLY ADOPTED FROM OUR, OUR FOSTER FAMILIES.

AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UH, 1,427 MEMBERS IN OUR GIFT POLL SYSTEM, OR OUR APPROVED FOSTERS.

UM, AS FAR AS ANIMALS THAT WERE RETURNED TO OWNER, UM, WE HAD 85 ANIMALS RECLAIMED AND, UH, APOS WERE ABLE TO RETURN ONE ANIMAL INTO THE FIELD.

UM, WE DO HAVE TWO ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED INTACT, BUT BOTH OF THOSE ADOPTERS SIGNED, UH, UH, SPAY NEUTER AGREEMENTS.

SO WE'LL HOPEFULLY GET THEM SCHEDULED ON TO GET THOSE ANIMALS IZED AND WE CAN, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

UM, NO ANIMALS WERE REPORTED LOSS OR STOLEN.

UH, WE DID HAVE 15 ANIMALS, UH, THAT FORTUNATELY DIED AT THE SHELTER.

EIGHT WERE DOMESTICATED WITH, UH, FIVE CATS, 2001 PUPPY.

THEY REMAIN DEATHS FOR WILDLIFE.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, ADMINISTER 1,760 VACCINATIONS IN THE SHELTER, AND WE, UH, WERE ABLE TO SPAY A NEU OR NEUTERED 300 N AND 29 ANIMALS.

UM, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE, UH, EMERGENCY TREATMENT, UH, FROM, FROM OUR CLINIC JUST TO VERIFY HOW MUCH WE SPENT FOR THE MONTH.

THEY'RE USUALLY MONTH BEHIND.

SO ONCE WE GET THAT, WE CAN, UH, SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

UM, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AND WE READY FOR QUESTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, INCREASING THE DIGESTIBILITY AND THE, THE APPEAL OF THESE REPORTS AND REALLY HIGHLIGHTING, UM, SOME OF THE IMPORTANT STUFF AND HIGHLIGHTING THINGS YOU WANNA FOCUS ON.

AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPCOMING EVENTS HIGHLIGHTING THAT.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, COMMISSIONER ES THANK YOU, UH, UH, CHIEF MONICA, THEY VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOUR BOARD.

UH, SO, UH, QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE MYTH AND ANIMALS AND THE, I HATE TO CALL IT, BUT INVENTORY REPORT.

WHAT, CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT IT? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHAT ARE THEY ON THE, ON, ON MISSING ANIMALS? YES.

YOU HAVE THE INVENTORY REPORT AND IT SHOWS MISSING ANIMALS BETWEEN DOCS AND CATS.

UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MISSING ANIMAL.

WELL, THERE'S A SECTION FOR CAT OUTCOMES.

YOU HAVE TWO MISSING, AND FOR DOCS YOU HAVE ALSO TWO.

AND THAT'S IN THE OUTCOMES.

OH, THE OUTCOME REPORT.

UH, I'D HAVE TO FIND OUT WHICH MONTH THAT WAS.

THOSE TWO WERE MISSING FROM, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MISSING FOR JANUARY, BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEE THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS SHOWING THE TOTALS FOR WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING FROM THE ENTIRE FISCAL YEAR.

SO I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHICH, WHEN THAT, THAT CAT WAS MISSING AND IF IT WAS RESOLVED.

'CAUSE USUALLY WHEN WE DO HAVE AN UNRESOLVED CASE OR IT'S A MISSING, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH RECORDS.

AND SOMETIMES SOMEONE DOESN'T OUTCOME SOMETHING WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT DID GO TO A PA, LIKE IF IT'S A MEDICAL CASE, DID GO TO APA, BUT SOMEBODY DIDN'T OUTCOME IT.

BUT THE NOTES SHOW THAT NO, IT WAS OUTCOME.

SO I'LL, UM, I, TOMORROW MORNING OR THIS WEEK, I CAN GO LOOK AT THOSE TO SEE WHAT THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES WERE.

AND IT WILL BE GOOD IF, OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEND TO THE COMMISSIONER'S EMAIL, BUT IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THE NEXT MEETING WITH THE, TO THE PUBLIC TO GET BACK SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU IS THE INTAKE SOURCE.

AND, UH, I LOVE THAT IT GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THE INTAKE COMES FROM MM-HMM .

AND, UH, IN , UM, A PO, WHAT'S NUMBER ONE? IS THAT TYPICAL? IT'S USUALLY A PO AND THEN I SAW NUMBER TWO IS COMMUNITY ANIMAL.

IS THAT THE TYPICAL BREAKDOWN? SO, SO, YES.

I MEAN, UM, WELL, A PL WILL USUALLY WON'T DO THAT AS MUCH, BUT AGAIN, WITH THE ICE STORM, THEY WERE PICKING UP MORE ANIMALS, SO THAT WE PROBABLY SAW AN UPTICK.

UM, IT'S USUALLY WE, WE, AND

[00:40:01]

AND SO, UM, CUMULATIVELY THOSE WILL BE HIGHER THAN THE A PO TOTAL, BUT THEY'RE JUST SOURCED OUT DIFFERENTLY.

SO YOU MAY HAVE A LOT OF STRAY, YOU MAY HAVE A LOT OF OWNERS OR, UH, OWNER SURRENDERS WHATNOT.

UM, TYPICALLY THE AP, SO MM-HMM .

SO I NOTICED WE HAVE, UH, OKAY.

COMMUNITY ANIMAL STRAYS AND PEOPLE RING.

SO IT, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ALL MEAN, BECAUSE THAT, TO ME, I'M THINKING COMMUNITY ANIMAL, PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY, THEY SAW THIS ANIMAL AND BROUGHT IT IN.

SO WHAT IS A STRAY, STRAY SIGN THAT YOU GO OUT THERE, THEY POS AND FIND THIS ANIMAL? SO YEAH.

SO ASTRAY IS A, SOMEONE WHO BRINGS US AN ANIMAL THAT'S A LOST PET.

A COMMUNITY ANIMAL IS TEND TO BE MORE LIKE A, A COMMUNITY CAT.

UM, AN ANIMAL THAT, THAT, UM, HAS SOME SORT OF CAREGIVER OUT THERE IN, IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THEY'LL BRING THEM TO, TO US AND WE WILL, OR, AND WE'LL MAY DECIDE TO PUT 'EM IN OUR SNR PROGRAM, UM, OR EVALUATE THEM TO SEE IF THEY'RE, THEY MAY JUST GO THROUGH OUR INVENTORY.

AND, AND ACTUALLY IT, IT IS GOOD TO SEE THE INTAKE SOURCE, AND THIS IS NOT TO GIVE YOU MORE WORK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S, IT IS ALSO TO HELP TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE ANIMALS COME FROM.

AND I'M SURE IT HELPS YOU ALSO HOW TO MANAGE.

THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO ASK IS THEIR REHABILITATION REENTRY DIVISION.

MM-HMM .

UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM.

I HEARD THAT AFTER SEVEN WEEKS, THERE ARE FOR ADOPTION BY ANIMALS.

AND HOW DO YOU TRACK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING WHERE, WELL, AND WHAT IS DOT OUTCOME OF ADOPTIONS? UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE PROGRAMS, BUT WHAT IS THAT OUTCOME? THAT'S WHAT'S WORKING.

SO REALLY THE, WE WANNA PAY MORE TIME ON THAT OR NOT, OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO, SO THE OUTCOME THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS HOPING FOR IS AN ADOPTION THAT GOES INTO A HOME.

AND THEN THE SUCCESS IS WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANIMAL RETURN BACK TO US.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE, BUT YOU KNOW, INCREASING THE ANIMAL'S ADOPTABILITY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE TEACHING, UM, THE HANDLERS, UH, TRAINING METHODS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE, ARE, ARE GOOD, UH, CARETAKERS AND FOSTERS OF THE ANIMALS.

SO THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO TRANSITION FROM, ALBEIT IT'S NOT THE SAME AS A HOME ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT GOES INTO A, SOMETHING SIMILAR.

UM, AND, UH, SO, AND, AND JASON, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, UH, REALLY YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE OUTCOME? IS IT WORTH SPENDING THAT MUCH TIME? AND MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SPENDING MUCH TIME ON THAT, UH, PROGRAM, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SCARCE, AND IT'S NOT RELATED TO YOU, JASON, I'M JUST TALKING IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU HAVE SCARCE RESOURCES, YOU WANNA SPEND YOUR TIME, MONEY ON WHAT IS GONNA BRING OUT AN ACCOUNT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ADOPTION OR OPEN SPACES FOR INTAKE.

THAT THAT'S ALL, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.

SO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WITH THE PROGRAM THOUGH, IS, UM, SO WE, WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT DO CHECK IN WITH, WITH THE FACILITY.

THEY'RE ABLE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE TEACHING THE HANDLERS, UM, GIVING THEM TIPS ON WHAT TO DO.

WE DO PROVIDE THEM SUPPLIES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ANIMAL FOOD, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, LIKE UNLESS THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, THE HANDLERS ARE HANDLING THEMSELVES, ARE, ARE HANDLING THE ANIMALS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, IT DOES BUILD UP SPACE FOR US.

'CAUSE NORMALLY THESE ARE 12 ANIMALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE TAKEN UP, UH, UH, KENNEL AT, AT, AT AUSTIN ANIMALS CENTER.