Aug 10, 2026 Animal Advisory Commission

[CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:05]

EVERYONE WELCOME. I'M CALLING THE AUGUST 10TH, 2026, MEETING OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION TO ORDER, AND THE TIME IS 6:00 PM. AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO FIRST IS.

TO INTRODUCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, ATTENDANCE.

YES, WE'RE DOING ATTENDANCE. WE ARE DOING ROLL CALL.

DON'T WORRY GUYS, I'LL GET THIS DOWN AT SOME POINT.

SO LET'S SEE, JULES VERNE. THAT WOULD BE ME. I'M HERE SOMEWHAT.

COMMISSIONER NORTON HERE. COMMISSIONER DANIEL HERE.

COMMISSIONER AHMED. NOT HERE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER DULZAIDES.

NOT HERE. COMMISSIONER FERGUSON. IS PRESENT. COMMISSIONER HOLT, I KNOW IS NOT HERE.

COMMISSIONER HUDDLESTON. HERE. I ALWAYS MESS UP HIS NAME.

COMMISSIONER. SEEING NONE. I'M SO SORRY. DID I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY? OKAY. COMMISSIONER. NEMER. COMMISSIONER. NELSON.

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK. COMMISSIONER VAN LANDINGHAM HERE.

I REMEMBERED THE VAN THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, AND NOW WE WILL

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL ]

OKAY. DO WE COME BACK LATER OR. OKAY, OKAY. GOTCHA, GOTCHA. DO WE HAVE A. OH, NO. HERE COME THE LIGHTS.

IT HURTS. MAX. OLIVER. WELCOME.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MAX OLIVER AND I VOLUNTEERED AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE A RECENT SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT AAS LEADERSHIP ARE NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING LONG STAYS INTO HOMES.

FIRSTLY, VOLUNTEER ADVOCACY FOR LONG STAYS HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED.

A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I PUT UP MY OWN FLIERS THAT I HAD MADE FOR THE LONGEST STAY ON CAMPUS.

BRUCE. AS OF TODAY, BRUCE HAS BEEN AT THE SHELTER FOR 657 DAYS AND COUNTING, AND I CAN TELL YOU WITH CONFIDENCE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS KNOWN HIM FOR LITERALLY 85% OF THAT TIME, BRUCE IS A HIGHLY ADOPTABLE DOG, AND THERE IS NO REASON THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY TO GET BRUCE AND DOGS LIKE HIM ADOPTED OUT.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE MY DISMAY WHEN MY FLIERS WERE TAKEN DOWN BY CUSTOMER SERVICE WITHOUT ASKING ME OR PROVIDING ANY JUSTIFICATION.

DIRECTOR DANGLER HERSELF WITNESSED ME IN THE ACT OF PUTTING UP FLIERS AND DID NOT ASK ME TO STOP.

THIS UNNECESSARILY UNDERMINES EFFORTS TO GET A LONG STAY ADOPTED.

THIS BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS AND SOME BEHAVIOR TEAM MEMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN RECOGNIZING APPROPRIATE PLACEMENTS FOR LONG STAYS. JUST YESTERDAY, A FAMILY CAME IN AND BASED ON THEIR HOUSEHOLD, WERE RECOMMENDED A DOG NAMED EMMITT, WHO HAS BEEN AT THE SHELTER FOR 432 DAYS.

INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING A POTENTIAL APPROPRIATE HOME FOR ONE OF THE LONGEST DAYS ON CAMPUS, CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF DISCOURAGED THEM FROM EVEN MEETING EMMITT, SAYING THAT HE WOULD NEED A MULTI-STAGE BEHAVIORAL CONSULT DUE TO HIS WIDE VARIETY OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

THIS IS A DOG THAT GOES ON OUTINGS TO EXTREMELY CROWDED PLACES AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

THIS HOUSE TRAINED, AND I'VE PERSONALLY WITNESSED HIM HAVING POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS ZENA, A LOW ENERGY, QUIET, NON-REACTIVE BUT MASSIVE BOXER MIX WHO HAS ALSO BEEN AT THE SHELTER FOR OVER A YEAR.

THIS PAST WEEK, AN EXPERIENCED FAMILY WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER HER DUE TO THE SOLE FACT THAT THEY LIVED IN AN APARTMENT. A FEW MONTHS BACK, A BEHAVIOR TEAM MEMBER DENIED SOMEONE FROM TAKING ANOTHER LONG STAY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET ALONG WITH KIDS.

THIS WAS A SINGLE WOMAN WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY KIDS IN HER LIFE AT ALL.

I HOPE YOU SEE BY NOW THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IF WE EVER WANT TO GET ANY ANIMAL ADOPTED OUT, MUCH LESS ONE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SHELTER FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. FINALLY, THERE'S THE ISSUE WITH ADA PET SORTING.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WENT OUT TO ADA PETS AND WAS DISMAYED TO SEE THAT THE PLATFORM, INSTEAD OF SORTING BY LONGEST STAYS FIRST.

[00:05:02]

I'M AWARE THAT GETTING ANY ANIMAL OUT IS A GOOD THING, BUT ALL THIS REALLY DOES IS MAKE IT HARDER FOR CUSTOMERS TO FIND OUR LONG STAYS, WHICH ARE, FOR THE MOST PART, THE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN THE MOST NEED. WHEN I EMAILED THE SHELTER ABOUT IT, THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE FIRST PAGE WAS FROM HERE ON OUT, GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ANIMALS EVERY TIME. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT GOAL IS NOT THE REALITY.

INSTEAD, THE DEFAULT IS NOW ONLY THE MOST RECENT ARRIVALS FIRST.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS MEAN LONG STAYS WILL HAVE LESS VISIBILITY, IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE FIRST ANIMALS CUSTOMERS ARE SEEING ARE ANIMALS WITH LOW QUALITY INTAKE PHOTOS WITH BAD LIGHTING, AND OBSTRUCTED VIEWS.

IF AA'S TRULY WANTS TO LABEL ITSELF AS A HUMANE ETHICAL SHELTER, IT MUST PRIORITIZE GETTING THE LONGEST STAY ANIMALS INTO APPROPRIATE HOMES.

THANK YOU. MAX. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING SO SINCE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US ALL THE DETAILS ON THIS SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, SINCE YOU KNOW THESE ANIMALS SO WELL, DO YOU PUT DETAILED NOTES INTO ADIPEX ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND HAVE YOU MADE SURE THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE THERE ARE CORRECT? I DON'T HAVE ACCESS DIRECTLY TO ADIPEX, BUT I DO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL FORMS THAT I CAN SUBMIT.

AND THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS THERE'S LIKE A QUESTION THAT ASKS WHAT CHARACTERISTICS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDED TO ADIPEX.

AND I DO MY BEST TO OKAY, SO IF I GO LOOK THEM UP, THEY'LL BE.

OR I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF CUSTOMER SERVICE WANTS TO LOOK AT THE NOTES ON A PET, THEY WILL SEE ALL THESE POSITIVE ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT YOU TALK TO US ABOUT. THEY'LL SEE THAT, THAT, THAT EMIT GOES ON OR BRUCE GOES ON OUTINGS AND THEY'LL SEE ALL THE NOTES ON THAT.

THEY'LL SEE THAT NO CHILDREN, BUT A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS FINE.

SO THEY WILL SEE ALL THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE OLIVER.

WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A PROBLEM. ALSO THE SAME ONE THAT MAX TOUCHED ON.

THAT THE LONG STAY DOGS ARE FREQUENTLY DISCOURAGED BY CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM GOING INTO HOMES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE QUITE ADOPTABLE DOGS. I'M GOING TO PUT A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT AROUND EMMETT, BECAUSE I HADN'T BEEN AT THE SHELTER IN A LONG TIME AND I WENT, I ACCOMPANIED MAX YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS WALKING DOGS, AND THAT'S WHEN A LITTLE GIRL CAME IN WITH HER MOM INTO ONE OF THE KENNEL RUNS.

AND THE LITTLE GIRL ASKED ME, SHE'S LIKE, ARE YOU ADOPTING A DOG TODAY? I SAID, I'M NOT, BUT ARE YOU ADOPTING A DOG TODAY? AND HAVE YOU FOUND ONE? AND SHE GOES, YES. AND HER MOM SAID, WELL, WE'RE TRYING.

I SAID, THERE'S A GREAT DOG NAMED EMMITT WHO DOES GO OUT FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY WITH ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAS A SMALL CHILD, A SEVEN YEAR OLD, AND I THINK SHE'S BEEN TAKING HIM OUT SINCE THE HER SEVEN YEAR OLD WAS SIX.

I SAID YOU SHOULD SEE EMMITT. HE'S GREAT WITH KIDS.

HE'S GOT REALLY GOOD KID NOTES. AND SHE'S LIKE, OH, I THINK I SAW THAT VOLUNTEER.

WHAT DOES SHE LOOK LIKE? AND WE DESCRIBED WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE. ANYWAYS, I'LL JUST SAY THAT VOLUNTEER.

HE'S A VOLUNTEER FAVORITE. REALLY GOOD WITH KIDS.

HE DOES HAVE STRONG NOTES THERE. THERE SHOULD BE BECAUSE THERE ARE OBS AND THEN THERE, AFTER YOU DO AN OUTING, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SUBMIT MORE OBS THAT SHOULD ALL BE IN THE IN THE SOFTWARE.

THE MOM TOLD ME SHE'S LIKE, OH, WE WENT IN TO ASK ABOUT EMMITT AND WHEN THEY ASKED THE FRONT DESK STAFF ABOUT, THEY WERE REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT HE HAS A LENGTHY BEHAVIOR LIST, WHICH IS NOT ON THE UPL.

HE IS ON URGENT PLACEMENT. THE ONLY THING THAT COMES UP IS THAT HE WAS IN ONE DOGFIGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN PLAYGROUP, BUT NOTHING ELSE. IT ACTUALLY SAYS ON THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST THAT HE IS GOOD WITH CHILDREN.

AND THAT THEY, AND THAT THIS FAMILY, THIS IS THE FRONT DESK STAFF TELLING THEM THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT THIS DOG AND THAT BRINGING HIM HOME WOULD INVOLVE SO MANY STEPS THAT IT WAS ESSENTIALLY DISCOURAGING TO THIS FAMILY.

OF COURSE, ADOPTERS DESERVE HONEST AND COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT A DOG'S HISTORY AND NEEDS, AND NO ONE IS ASKING THE SHELTER TO HIDE CONCERNS OR RUSH AN INAPPROPRIATE DECISION OR ADOPTION.

BUT THERE IS A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TRANSPARENT IN YOUR COUNSELING AROUND AN ANIMAL AND STEERING A WILLING FAMILY AWAY FROM A DOG BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM, ASK QUESTIONS, REVIEW THE ACTUAL INFORMATION, SPEAK WITH THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM BEST.

WHEN A FAMILY WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR READY TO ADOPT, THE SHELTER'S POSTURE SHOULD ALWAYS BE. LET'S. LET US HELP YOU MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, NOT. HERE'S WHY YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITHOUT A DOG AND I WANT TO AT LEAST COMMEND.

MONICA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING. I EMAILED MONICA AS SOON AS I GOT HOME.

I WANTED TO HAVE CONTEMPORANEOUS NOTES. SHE RESPONDED.

SHE'S LIKE, OH, I WISH YOU HAD GOTTEN THAT INFORMATION. I WOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM PERSONALLY AND THAT THERE ARE QR CODES AND WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE.

THERE ARE QR CODES TO ASK ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE PUT THOSE QR CODES IN ALL THE KENNEL RUNS, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING UP TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT'S DESK, CLICKING THE QR CODE TO THEN PUT IN INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.

[00:10:01]

IT WAS A VERY GRACIOUS EMAIL AND THAT'S MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE SUSIE CHASE.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS SUSIE CHASE. I'M A DISTRICT TEN CONSTITUENT.

I FORMERLY WORKED FOR TWO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND DIRECTLY WITH ANIMAL ADVOCATES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

SO I'M HERE JUST QUICKLY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT SOME PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE BETWEEN AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD COMMUNICATION SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE DOGS THAT ARE ENTERING OUR BEHAVIOR DOG PROGRAM.

TO DATE IN 2026, 51% OF THE DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE A RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST OR ONE OF THE ATTENTION LISTS HAVE GONE TO AUSTIN PETS ALIVE. ADDITIONALLY, 60% OF THE DOGS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES TO AUSTIN PETS ALIVE TO BE PART OF THE BEHAVIOR DOG PROGRAM ARE EITHER ADOPTED OR THEY'RE IN FOSTER HOMES.

AND ONE MORE THING THAT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE, I THINK, IS THAT OUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR DOGS IN 2026 THAT CAME FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES INTO OUR BEHAVIOR DOG PROGRAM IS 60 DAYS.

SO THAT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT BASICALLY DUE TO THE DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE TEAM AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, WHO ARE GIVING MORE NOTICE TO AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.

WHENEVER THERE'S A DOG THAT IS EXHIBITING BEHAVIORS THAT MIGHT NEED SOME ATTENTION FROM OUR BEHAVIOR DOG TEAM AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS.

THANK YOU. WE ALWAYS LOVE GOOD NEWS. ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE PAT. OH. OH.

I'M SORRY. OH, YES. SO I SEE COMMISSIONER AHMED AND LET'S SEE.

AND COMMISSIONER DULZAIDES, HE'S GOT A HE'S GOT TO TURN ON HIS CAMERA WHILE I'M HERE.

BUT. YOU CAN KEEP THE CAMERA OFF, BUT YOU CAN'T VOTE.

OH, HELLO. WELCOME.

OH. BEVERLY'S ONLINE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. AHMED, WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE MY EMAIL JUST NOW? OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO BEVERLY LUNA, WHO IS CALLING IN REMOTELY.

BEVERLY, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. HI. SORRY. ANYWAY, I THINK I'LL PASS ON THIS AND JUST SPEAK ON THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. GOTCHA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO PROVIDED PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR POSTED. OH SORRY PAT.

YES YOU ARE. SORRY I GOT DISTRACTED. THAT'S WHY I MOVED.

THANK YOU. COMMISSION MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ONCE AGAIN.

AND MY NAME IS PAT. YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE.

I'VE TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF, AND I ALWAYS REPEAT SOME THINGS BECAUSE IN CASE SOMEBODY LISTENING OUT THERE I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IN THE PAST FOR 16 YEARS AND SINCE 2007 OR 2008, I HAVE NOT BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, BUT I HAVE BEEN ON VARIOUS WORKING GROUPS AND ADVOCATED FOR DIFFERENT CAUSES.

TODAY, I AM HERE TO SPEAK PRIMARILY ABOUT THE ANIMAL SERVICES DONATIONS FUND.

[00:15:05]

IT IS, I BELIEVE, GOING TO BE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE SAYING ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT UNTIL AFTER THE BUDGET BRIEFING, BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE A WHILE BACK THAT I CAN SPEAK AFTER DIRECTOR DANGLER GIVES HER BRIEFING. IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU. OKAY. SO I'LL JUST MENTION THAT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT IN THE ANIMAL SERVICES DONATIONS FUND, YOU HEARD A BRIEFING A FEW MONTHS AGO, I THINK TWO MONTHS AGO, THAT THERE WAS $1 MILLION IN THE DONATIONS FUND.

APPARENTLY $500,000 OF THAT HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR A PUPPY PLAYGROUND OR PUPPY KENNELS.

HOWEVER, I THINK THE $3 MILLION FOR THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE USED TO DESIGN AND DO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS AND ENGINEERING DESIGNS FOR A FUTURE SHELTER WILL MAKE THAT NOT NECESSARY.

PLUS, APPARENTLY IT WASN'T ENOUGH ANYWAY. SO THAT LEAVES $500,000 IN THE DONATIONS FUND THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED. SO MY REQUEST IS TO HAVE THAT BE AN AGENDA ITEM NEXT MONTH FOR DISCUSSION, AND THEN AN AGENDA ITEM AGAIN IN A FUTURE MEETING FOR A RECOMMENDATION.

I THINK MY TIME IS UP. RIGHT? YEAH. YOU HAD ABOUT FIVE SECONDS LEFT LAST TIME.

I HAD THAT TOO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE POSTED AGENDA.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

SO DID ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE MINUTES OR WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 13TH MEETING. ANIMAL ADVISORY MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER NORTON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTION TO APPROVE.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? GOT A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER DANIEL.

THANK YOU. THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 13TH, 2026 MEETING ARE APPROVED.

WE HAVE TO VOTE. OH, SORRY. VOTE. WE HAVE TO.

GOD. ALL RIGHT. ANY ANY ANY ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? YEAH. HEARING NONE. NOW WE VOTE TO APPROVE THE JULY 13TH, 2026 MINUTES.

ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTAINING? GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT PASSES. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT. OUR SECOND ITEM NOW WE WILL BEGIN WITH STAFF BRIEFINGS.

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

SHE SIGNED UP FOR A LOT OF STUFF. ARE WE SPEAKING AFTER? YEAH, WE SPEAK AFTER. YES, YES. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE MONTHLY REPORTS AND BUDGET BREAKDOWN WITH THE PRESENTATION BY DIRECTOR DANGLER AND AND JASON GARZA. SO GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF THIS. I KNOW I HAD A COUPLE THINGS I OWED YOU GUYS, SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE OVER TO THE ACTUAL MONTHLY REPORTING.

THE FIRST ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS OUR SPAY NEUTER NUMBERS.

I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SPENDING THE MONEY AND HOW MANY SPAY NEUTER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR THE YEAR.

[00:20:01]

SO FAR, YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE DONE 8230 AND THAT'S AS OF JUNE 2026.

WE RUN A LITTLE BIT BEHIND WITH THE INVOICING ON SPAY NEUTER.

SO WE'VE DONE 8230 FOR A COST OF JUST A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION, ALMOST 1,000,003.

OUR BUDGETS JUST A LITTLE UNDER A MILLION. NINE I BELIEVE, I THINK IT'S 189 AND SOME CHANGE WHICH WE'RE ANTICIPATING ON SPENDING THOSE MONEY. AND INCREASING, CONTINUING TO INCREASE.

AS YOU GUYS KNOW, FOR JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER EMANCIPATES DOING ADDITIONAL SURGERIES IN THE COMMUNITY BOTH AT THEIR MOBILES AS WELL AS AT THEIR BRICK AND MORTAR FACILITIES AS WELL.

SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING ON AVERAGE DOING AN ADDITIONAL HOLD ON.

LET ME MAKE SURE I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY. WE'RE YEAH, WE'RE ANTICIPATING DOING 2700 SURGERIES FOR JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AT A MINIMUM. ON AVERAGE, WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT 913 SURGERIES A MONTH.

AND THAT'S THROUGH EMANCIPATE, GOOD FIX, AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER. OF COURSE, IF WE CAN DO MORE FOR THAT, FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY DO MORE. BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING OF DOING AT LEAST ANOTHER 2000.

SO CLOSE TO 11,000 SURGERIES FOR THE YEAR. THAT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, LAST YEAR WE DID A LITTLE OVER 13,000 SURGERIES. THE REASON WHY THAT NUMBER WAS HIGHER IS WE HAD A GOOD FIXED CLINIC.

HAPPENED RIGHT AT THE END OF THAT FISCAL YEAR WHICH PUT US OVER BUDGET FOR THAT LINE ITEM BY ABOUT $200,000. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THE ADDITIONAL SURGERIES WAS BECAUSE OF THAT GOOD FIX.

OTHERWISE WE'LL BE RIGHT ABOUT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, WHAT WE DID IN 2024.

I BELIEVE WE DID AROUND 10,800, SO CLOSE TO ABOUT 11,000 SURGERIES IN 2024 AS WELL.

AND THIS WILL BE KEEPING US IN LINE WITH OUR BUDGET WHILE ALSO MAXIMIZING SURGERIES.

SO THERE WAS THAT PIECE THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE GET INTO MONTHLY REPORTING WAS ON THE BUDGET.

AND PAT SPOKE ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT. SO OUR BUDGET HEARINGS ARE THIS WEEK.

NO, TODAY IS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A FINALIZED BUDGET BY FRIDAY.

BUT ONE OF THE BIG PIECES WAS THE BOND, THE $3 MILLION BOND, WHERE ORIGINALLY WE HAD ASKED FOR A $40 MILLION BOND TO DO SOME EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS. THAT WAS DECREASED TO $3 MILLION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING SHOVEL READY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE DESIGNS OR ANYTHING IN THE WORKS.

WE JUST HAD CONCEPTS. SO THAT $3 MILLION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR THE DESIGN WORK AND THEN FOR ANY IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED, LIKE WASHING MACHINES THAT ARE BREAKING UP AND DISHWASHERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO IN THE IMMEDIATE, THAT MONEY WAS TO BE USED FOR THAT.

ULTIMATELY CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT BOND ELECTION.

THEY'LL HAVE A SPECIAL BOND ELECTION POTENTIALLY FOR LIBRARIES AND PARKS.

I PARKS. I BELIEVE THEY STILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT, BUT WE WILL NOT BE PART OF THAT BOND.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OTHER AVENUES FOR AND OTHER SOURCES FOR FUNDING SO THAT WHEN IF WE HAVE A POTENTIAL BOND ELECTION IN 2028, WE'LL HAVE WILL BE DESIGN READY, READY TO GO.

SO WE CAN DO ANY TYPE OF CAMPUS EXPANSION THAT WE POSSIBLY NEED.

AND IF THERE'S ANY MINOR SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AS WELL SO THAT WE'RE STILL EXPLORING HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGETING PIECE, SPECIFICALLY THE BOND.

[00:25:04]

OKAY. THANK YOU. FOR THE $3 MILLION, WILL 100% OF THE MONEY GO TOWARD THE LAVENDER LUBE FACILITY? WILL ANY OF IT BE USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE LAVENDER LUBE FACILITY? SO WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO, RIGHT. AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO GET THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THIS IS TO DO A SHELTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE, RIGHT, BASED ON THE KENNEL SIZE, BASED ON THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN, ALL OF THAT, WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND MEET THE NEEDS? AND THEN BASED ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS LOOK AT THE DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES.

SO POTENTIALLY THE RECOMMENDATION MAY BE TO EXPAND THE CAMPUS.

AND IF THERE'S PLACES ON THE CURRENT CAMPUS TO EXPAND, GREAT.

IT MAY BE A RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A SECONDARY SATELLITE ADOPTION CENTER.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT DEPENDING ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE HOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD.

DID THAT ANSWER THAT? I THINK SO. SO ALL THE MONEY.

BUT IT'LL BE ALL FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, ANIMAL SERVICES.

ALL FOR THAT FACILITY. MAYBE LOOKING AT A SATELLITE, BUT NONE OF IT WILL GO TO ANY RESCUE PARTNER OR ANY OTHER FACILITY FOR THAT.

CORRECT. OKAY. CORRECT. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. GARZA. GOOD EVENING.

COMMISSIONERS JASON GARZA. SERVICES. OH, SORRY.

THANKS. THERE'S A LITTLE ASTERISK ON THE MANSA PET BUBBLE THAT SAYS PREVENTATIVE SERVICES.

IS THAT BEING INCLUDED INTO YOUR SPAY NEUTER NUMBERS? WHAT ARE THE PER LIKE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME? FOR SURE. SO WITH OUR PET CONTRACT AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, I THINK SINCE WE'VE PROBABLY HAD THE CONTRACT AT THE MOBILE UNITS WE'RE PAYING FOR SPAY NEUTER OF THE ANIMALS COMING ON, AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO OPEN FOR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES DURING THAT DAY WHILE THEY'RE DOING SPAY NEUTER.

SO WE PAY FOR THOSE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS OR TRAVIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.

SO ARE YOU COUNTING THOSE SERVICES? IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY'RE LIKE, MY DOG'S ALREADY NEUTERED BY ONE MICROCHIP, ARE YOU COUNTING THAT AS A NUMBER FOR THESE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES? THAT MONEY HAS ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE SPAY NEUTER BUCKET.

YES. SO YOU'RE. THIS ISN'T JUST SPAY NEUTER NUMBERS, IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME.

YES. CAN WE HAVE IT PRESENTED WHERE IT'S JUST SPAY NEUTER NUMBERS? BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR.

ACCORDING TO FOCUS AREA SPAY NEUTER GOAL ONE STRATEGY A, IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PREVENTATIVE SERVICES.

IT TALKS ABOUT SPAY NEUTER AND THAT'S IT. ARE SHELTER ANIMALS BEING INCLUDED IN THIS? ARE WE TAKING SHELTER ANIMALS TO EMANCIPATE OR IS THIS AGAIN, BACK TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMMUNITY ANIMALS.

WE ARE TAKING SHELTER, ANIMALS TO EMANCIPATE, TO CATCH UP ON SURGERIES THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER.

OKAY. YEAH. HOW'S THAT GOING? IT'S GOOD. WE'RE GETTING A FEW ANIMALS EACH DAY TO HELP KIND OF SPEED THEM OUT.

GOOD. A GOOD NEWS. I SHOULD GIVE GOOD NEWS. RIGHT? LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS JULY WAS THE FIRST MONTH WE GOT MORE ANIMALS OUT THAN IN FOR THE ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR.

AND THAT WAS BOTH DOGS AND CATS. WE GOT MORE OUT THAN IN.

SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. YEAH. OKAY, SO JUST TO RECAP, YES, THE SHELTER ANIMALS THAT YOU'RE SENDING TO PET.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES AND YOU DO HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THESE SURGERIES, BUT WE'RE USING MONEY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR COMMUNITY OWNED ANIMALS.

YOU'RE SENDING SHELTER ANIMALS THAT WE COULD BE FIXING AT THE SHELTER.

WE'RE SENDING SHELTER ANIMALS DUE TO ONE OF OUR VETERINARIANS IS OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

SO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH SURGERIES DONE.

AND SO THOSE ANIMALS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THESE NUMBERS, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE USING THE MONEY FOR IT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE BEEN INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE SERVICES, WHICH AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS, THIS MONEY, YOU'RE INCLUDING THOSE WITH THE SURGERIES, THIS, THESE NUMBERS ARE SURGERIES, SURGERIES, AND THE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES THAT HAPPEN AT PET.

AND SO WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING JUST THE SURGERY NUMBERS.

YEP. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD JASON.

SO AGAIN, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS JASON GARZA WITH AND I'LL BE GOING OVER THE MONTHLY NUMBERS MAYBE.

[00:30:03]

SO FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, WE IMPOUNDED 1100 ANIMALS.

THE BREAKDOWN BELOW. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS STILL KITTEN SEASON.

SO THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ANIMALS WAS KITTENS AND CATS.

DID HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF DOGS COME IN. BUT, AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT, WE ARE SHOWING SORT OF WHAT OUR FIVE YEAR AVERAGE.

SO WE'RE SORT OF PRETTY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO FOR JULY AND THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS THAT COME IN.

AS WAS MENTIONED BY MONICA. YES. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT 12 BUT WE'LL TAKE IT MORE DOMESTIC ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER THAN, THAN COMING IN. AND THIS INCLUDES ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS THAT ARE A LITTLE EXOTICS THAT WE ALSO GET.

BUT YES, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GOOD MONTH FOR US INTO GETTING ANIMALS OUT.

FOR THE MONTH, WE WERE AT 96.53% LIVE OUTCOME RATE.

AND SO, THE BREAKDOWN OF IT OBVIOUSLY IS GOES TO ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED, BUT THEN ALSO THOSE THAT WERE TRANSFERRED, WE HAD A GOOD NUMBER OF PARTNERS, WHICH I'LL GET INTO LATER. AND THEN THOSE RETURNED TO OWNERS.

OBVIOUSLY MOST OF THOSE GO TO FOR DOG OWNERS.

WE HAD OVER JUST A SHY OVER 600 ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED.

SO WE ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN FROM LAST YEAR.

BUT YEAH, WE ARE STILL TRYING TO, TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM GOING, ESPECIALLY ENDING SUMMER OUT WHERE WE CAN GET SOME MORE ANIMALS OUT.

AUGUST. JUST, I'LL PUT THE PLUG IN RIGHT NOW IS CLEAR THE SHELTERS MONTH, BUT WE WILL HAVE A MAJOR EVENT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

SO YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER, HELP OUT, DO SOME MATCHMAKING.

IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK TYPE THING. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY ANIMALS OUT AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

42 ANIMALS WERE EUTHANIZED THIS MONTH. THAT'S ALL ANIMALS THAT WE, WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE, ARE THOSE THAT WERE DEEMED SUFFERING OR INJURED BY OUR VET TEAM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THOSE THAT WERE CONSIDERED RABIES RISK AND THEN THOSE THAT ARE COURT ORDERED.

ANIMALS AND FOSTER, WE HAD JUST A SHY UNDER 400 DIFFERENT FAMILIES THAT FOSTERED FOR US.

WE AS OF AUGUST 4TH, WE HAD 326 ANIMALS THAT ARE STILL CURRENTLY IN FOSTER.

112 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED DIRECTLY FROM OUR FOSTER.

SO AGAIN, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF UNSUNG HEROES FOR US, YOU KNOW, IN THE EXTENT OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM. WE CURRENTLY STILL HAVE 1000/1000 MEMBERS.

AND IN OUR GIVE POLE SYSTEM, WE'VE ALSO HAD 333 DOMESTIC ANIMALS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED TO OUR DIFFERENT PARTNERS.

THIS INCLUDES THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE KITTENS AND CATS, 160 KITTENS AND 76 CATS, BUT ALSO A GOOD NUMBER OF DOGS IN THERE AND PUPPIES AS WELL.

WE HAD 64 ANIMALS, EXCUSE ME THAT WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNER.

WE DID HAVE 19 ANIMALS THAT UNFORTUNATELY DID PASS IN THE SHELTER.

BUT, AND FIVE OF THEM WERE IN FOSTER CARE AND ONE DIED ON THE WAY TO ANIMAL CENTER.

AS FAR AS WE HAD OVER 2700 VACCINATIONS THAT WERE ADMINISTERED DURING JULY, WE HAD 483 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES THAT WERE CONDUCTED ON SITE.

WE ARE STILL A LITTLE BEHIND, BUT THE TOTAL INVOICES THAT HAVE BEEN AMOUNTED TO OVER $52,000 FROM OUR EMERGENCY CLINIC PARTNER. AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO OUR VOLUNTEERS. THEY PROVIDED OVER 7400 HOURS OF SERVICE TO US.

SO THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER TO US. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO US FTE WISE.

BUT THAT'S A, IT'S LIKE ABOUT THREE FTES FOR US, BUT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF YEAR, IT ENDS UP BEING LIKE CLOSE TO 30 FTES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT WE GOT IN SERVICE HOURS. WE HAD 174 NEW INDIVIDUALS ATTEND.

NEW EMPLOYEE. NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION. SO HOPEFULLY WE GET KEEP GETTING FOLKS PROVIDING SERVICES TO US AND HELP US OUT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT TASKS THAT WE DO HAVE.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY.

AND ACTUALLY, FIRST, I THINK WE'RE. YES. SO FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THIS ITEM TO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE COMMISSION BEGINS THEIR DISCUSSION OF IT. SO WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

AND SO WE HAVE A FIRST STEP. AS FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO HERE IS BEVERLY LUNA WHO'S CALLING IN REMOTELY.

HI, THIS IS BEVERLY MALONE WITH AUSTIN LOST AND FOUND.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT I'M SEEING ON THE INTAKE.

SO SO FAR, WE WERE FIRST IN JULY 31ST WITH THE NINE MONTH PERIOD.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOGS TAKEN IN IS 3822. WHICH IS YOU TAKING IN THAT SAME AMOUNT FOR THE REMAINING THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR? YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT TAKING IN A LITTLE BIT OVER $5,000 FOR ADS.

[00:35:02]

AND I THINK THINGS ARE JUST GETTING WORSE. EVEN THOUGH THE CITY IS GROWING AND THE BUDGET IS GETTING BIGGER AND EXTREMELY CONCERNED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NEXT UP WE HAVE PAT. PAT.

THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN. I AM GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ANIMAL SERVICES DONATIONS FUND.

AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO REPEAT MY REQUEST TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM NEXT MONTH THAT REVIEWS THE DONATIONS FUND. AND INSTEAD OF LIKE LAST TIME YOU HAD A REVIEW OF THE DONATIONS FUND, WHERE IT WAS A BIG OVERVIEW AND IT HAD LOTS OF NUMBERS GOING BACK TO MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. AND THEN IT HAD ALL THE BUDGETED NUMBERS AND ALL THE EXPENDED NUMBERS AND ALL.

AND I NONE OF YOU ASKED QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T BLAME YOU BECAUSE IT WAS VERY CONFUSING.

YOU HAD SO MANY NUMBERS. NOW IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO REFER BACK TO.

BUT FOR NEXT MONTH, WHAT I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA IS FOR ANOTHER PRESENTATION BY MONICA THAT SAYS, THIS IS HOW MUCH WAS IN THE CASH BALANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THIS IS HOW MUCH WE BUDGETED FOR THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS. THIS IS HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT ON THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND THIS IS HOW MUCH WE PROJECT TO BE LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

MY GUESS IS THERE'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST 500,000 LEFT OVER THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO CASH BALANCE, AND YOU CAN START TALKING ABOUT THE FY 27 BUDGET FOR THE DONATIONS FUND TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE PRIORITIES.

AND NOW I'M GOING TO TIE IT BACK TO THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION THAT IS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE PASSED.

NOT DEFINITE, BUT POSSIBLY GOING TO BE PASSED BY THIS THIS CITY COUNCIL WHEN THEY MEET ON THE BUDGET IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

IF THEY TAKE THAT MONEY THAT WASN'T APPROVED FOR A BOND AND THEY PUT IT INTO A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BOND, THEN I THINK IF I UNDERSTOOD THE PRESENTATION EARLIER, THE MONEY FOR THE DISHWASHER AND THE MONEY FOR THE WASHING MACHINES WILL BE THERE.

IF THAT DOESN'T PASS, THEN I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION.

HOW MUCH OF THE DONATIONS FUND COULD BE USED FOR SOME OF THAT? HOW MUCH WOULD THE COMMUNITY NEED TO RAISE TO ADD TO THAT? SO AGAIN, MY PREFERENCE IS THE COUNCIL PUT THE MONEY INTO A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

THAT IS CITY MONEY AND IT SHOULD BE CITY MONEY.

BUT IF WE DON'T GET IT, I WOULD LIKE US TO DISCUSS HAVING SOME KIND OF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND SO THAT IS THE DISCUSSION I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE IN SEPTEMBER AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER ABOUT THE NEEDS.

AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE SPAY AND NEUTER NUMBERS, I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR AND HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO WORK TOGETHER, BECAUSE I ALSO THINK THAT WE CAN GET MORE MONEY FROM THE DONATIONS FUND FOR SPAY NEUTER IF WE NEED IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. TWO SECONDS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IS NOW CLOSED.

AND I'LL BRING THE ITEM BACK TO THE COMMISSION IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION OR.

OH THERE'S SOMEONE ONLINE. I'M SORRY. OH, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. BACK TO THE COMMISSION. SO, COMMISSIONER NELSON.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY YOU MENTIONED THAT THE RABIES RISKS OTHER THAN EUTHANASIA. THOSE ARE ENTIRELY, IF NOT ENTIRELY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES, COMMISSIONER NORTON. JUST THANK YOU, JASON.

YOU ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB. AND I NO LONGER HAVE MY FOSTER KITTEN.

IT'S WITH THE NEW FOSTER, AND I'M GOING BACK TO DOGS FOR THE FOR THE -51. TAKING LESS DOGS. DOES THAT MEAN WE NO LONGER HAVE MEDIUM LARGE DOGS AND CRATES?

[00:40:07]

2024 WAS, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. 2025 WAS REALLY GOOD.

WHY SO LOW? RIGHT? JUST SPECULATION OF COURSE.

SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION THAT WE HAD EARLY, EARLY THIS YEAR, LATE LAST YEAR. AND IT WAS SO HIGHLY PUBLICIZED WITH THE SHELTER BEING CLOSED FOR A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO I THINK THAT HAD A REALLY PRETTY BIG IMPACT ON THE SHELTER.

RIGHT. AND THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT WE AS A SHELTER CAN DO BETTER TOO, RIGHT? MAKING SURE WE'RE REMOVING ROADBLOCKS INCREASING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CREATING A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHY, RIGHT. WE'VE STARTED IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SOPS.

WE JUST RECENTLY DID THE NEW ADOPTION SOP AND THE DO NOT ADOPT AND DO NOT FOSTER SOP.

NEXT WILL BE THE FOSTER SOP ALONG WITH THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE SURVEY AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING ANY UNINTENDED, UNINTENDED BARRIERS THAT WE MAY BE PUTTING IN PLACE.

SO THAT WE CAN GET THE ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO HOMES.

WELL, THAT INCLUDES AN SOP ON HOW TO RESPOND TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT LONG STAY DOGS WHEN THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

YES, THAT'S THAT WAS PART OF THE RIGHT. NOT NOT SPECIFIC TO LONG STAY DOGS, BUT PART OF THE ADOPTION SOP WAS REMOVING THOSE BARRIERS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO TRAININGS AND HAVE IMPROVEMENT ON, ON THOSE THINGS.

SO WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT. THANK YOU MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT. ONLINE. OH YES, COMMISSIONER FERGUSON.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT JENNIFER, THAT COMMISSIONER DANIEL MENTIONED THE ASTERISK WAS ONLY BY THE TOTAL COST ABOUT THE THE SLIDE.

SO THE NUMBER THE TOTAL NUMBER 8230. IS THAT ACTUAL OR IS THAT JUST ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN SEEN FOR OTHER THINGS AS WELL? CORRECT. THE 8000 ARE SPAY NEUTER NUMBERS.

IT'S JUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WILL CHANGE.

THAT INCLUDES PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR CLARIFYING. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? YES, COMMISSIONER. NELSON. COMMISSIONER. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND TIME. NO SHE HASN'T. SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND UP, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. DOCTOR NELSON.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT DATA SUGGEST THAT DENTAL CENTER USES THREE CAMERAS. I KNOW, I THINK THAT THE CENTER CHANGED THEIR THEIR WHATEVER THEY USED TO BE FOR 2 MILLION. AND NOW SOMETHING ELSE. AND THERE HAS BEEN DISCREPANCY ON WHAT IS REPORTED.

ARE WE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES OR APPLES TO APPLES? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. SO YEAH, WHEN WE MOVE OVER TO SHELTER BUDDY.

YES. WE'RE THE POWER BI REPORTS THAT COME IN.

THE GRAY BACKGROUND IS INTAKES OF WHAT? ANIMALS WE HAVE.

WITH SHELTER BUDDY, THOUGH, YOU'LL SEE LIKE WITH WITH THE JULY 24TH NUMBERS, THOSE ARE FOR CHAMELEON.

AND SO THAT WAS JUST A BASIC POOL OF CATS, DOGS AND OTHER, WHICH IS CONSIDERED WILDLIFE, BUT ALL TYPES OF THINGS WITH THE WITH THE SHELTER REPORTS, WE'RE ABLE TO GO A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH WITH LIKE WHAT TYPE OF WILDLIFE, MAMMALS, BIRDS, LIZARDS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO BREAK DOWN THE COUNT BY JUST CATS AND KITTENS OR DOGS AND PUPPIES.

SO YES, YOU'LL SEE A BIT OF A DISCREPANCY. SO IT'S AT ONE POINT IT'S COUNTING CATS, DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, WHEREAS THE SHELTER WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AND GIVE THE OVERALL OR TRY TO GIVE AN OVERALL BREAKDOWN INTO THAT.

[00:45:05]

I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN TELL, BUT WHAT IS THE THE DELTA MAYBE PERCENT VARIANCE FOR FOR JUST BETWEEN JUST ANY OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? YES.

YEAH. WE'RE LOOKING AT YEAR OVER YEAR DATA WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO GIVE THREE YEARS OF DATA WORTH SO WE CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

SO FOR INSTANCE, LIKE WITH INTAKE, YOU KNOW, IN 2024, WE HAD 933 ANIMALS FROM THE TOTAL COUNT.

BUT HERE WE THIS YEAR WE HAVE 1100. SO WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE DID SEE A OVERALL GENERAL INCREASE IN INTAKE.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT FROM LIKE, YOU KNOW, 2019, WE COULD SEE THAT AND WE DO KEEP THIS DATA AS WELL WITH ALL THE PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S LESSENED FROM WHAT 2019 NUMBERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

SO YES, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT INFORMATION.

WHEN DISCUSSING THE NUMBER IS NOT 100%. YOU'RE NOT IT'S NOT APPLES TO APPLES AS, AS WELL AS WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE SYSTEMS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THEN BACK. SORRY, I'M GONNA HAVE TO USE THIS TV.

THERE'S SO MUCH LIGHT COMING DOWN HERE. THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SEE WHAT ANYBODY'S DOING ON THERE.

OH, YES. COMMISSIONER. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. CHAIR.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION. WHEN LOOKING AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS EUTHANIZED YEAR TO DATE.

WE'RE AT 99 DOGS, I BELIEVE, AND EVEN MORE. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THAT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO CATEGORIES LIKE BEHAVIOR OR SUFFERING? YEAH, I, I CAN, I CAN PULL, I CAN PULL THOSE.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I'M SURE WE'VE GOT THE NEW.

NO, I WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WE'RE USING AS FAR AS NUMBERS SO THAT WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE NO TILL COMMITTEE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO REASSESS ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS.

OKAY. AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, DOES THAT INCLUDE ANY OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE EUTHANIZED BY CENTRAL TEXAS WHEN PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEM THERE? SO NO, THESE ARE ONLY EUTHANASIA THAT ARE PERFORMED AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.

DO WE HAVE ANY WAY OF GETTING ANYTHING FROM CENTRAL TEXAS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S OUTSIDE OF YOUR PURVIEW? I MEAN, OTHER THAN THE INVOICES? YEAH, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO CHECK WITH DOCTOR ELLIOTT. I'M JUST CURIOUS.

I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE BEING TURNED AWAY FROM CENTRAL TEXAS.

AND SO IF WE COULD GET YOU COULD GET THOSE NUMBERS.

IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER NELSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.

I'M SURPRISED THAT THAT LAST ANSWER, BECAUSE I THOUGHT ANY ANIMAL THAT GOT AN A NUMBER THAT WAS EUTHANIZED AND THE NUMBERS WERE TAKEN TO CENTRAL TEXAS. RIGHT. AND IF THEY UTILIZE THEM, IT'LL SHOW UP IN OUR NUMBERS, IN OUR EUTHANASIA NUMBERS, IF THEY RECEIVED AN A NUMBER. SO YEAH, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD HAVE IMPOUNDED IT.

AND THEN AYE IT GETS TAKEN TO CENTRAL TEXAS IS AREN'T THEY DON'T THEY DON'T IF IN DON'T THEY SOMETIMES GET A NUMBERS BEFORE THEY'RE EVER IN THIS SHELTER? WELL, THAT THAT'S IF THE IF WE'VE IMPOUNDED THEM BY AN A P O AND THEN THE APO WILL RECORD THE THE ACTIVITY AND JOB AND GIVE ASSIGN AN A NUMBER.

BUT IF, IF SOMEONE TAKES AN ANIMAL AND THEN YOU KNOW, THEY ELECT TO EUTHANIZE AN ANIMAL, WE WILL, WE WILL THEN TAKE THAT, WE WILL PICK IT UP AND HOLD IT FOR STRAY, BUT WE DON'T COUNT THAT AS EUTHANASIA BECAUSE IT WASN'T ACTUALLY PERFORMED BY US.

BUT IT STILL GETS AN A NUMBER EVEN WELL, YEAH, WE IMPOUND IT AFTER DECEASED, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DEAD ON ARRIVAL SORT OF STATUS THAT WE DO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T ACTUALLY COME INTO THE SYSTEM, BUT WE WILL HOLD THEM IN INTAKE THEM SO THAT ANY PET OWNER CAN HOLD BASICALLY SEARCH FOR THEIR PET DURING THAT WHOLE PERIOD.

ABSOLUTELY. I'D BE CURIOUS HOW THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING ENTERED BY, BY THE STAFF WHO ENTERS THOSE, BECAUSE I, I SUSPECT MANY OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY BEING COUNTED AS LOSING AGES.

[00:50:03]

WE STILL HAVE DOGS IN CRATES. AND I NOTICED THAT ON THE REPORTS AND I GOT THIS FROM A REPORT THAT THERE WERE ZERO DOGS TRANSFERRED FOR SPACE. AND WHEREAS IN JULY OF 2019, 65 DOGS WERE TRANSFERRED TO A THEATER SPACE.

AND, AND IF YOU JUST LOOK AT TOTAL TRANSFERS FROM TO APA FROM JULY OF 2026, WE GET 295 COMPARED TO 355 IN JULY OF 2019. AND I JUST WONDER, I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THIS IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AAS AND APA.

AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY ANY POSSIBILITY IF THERE'S ANY WORK TO BE DONE TO GET SOME OF THOSE LARGE TRANSFERS. FIRST PLACE AND I THINK RIGHT. I KNOW LATER ON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HEAR FROM AUSTIN PETS ALIVE FOR THEIR QUARTERLY REPORT.

SO I THINK THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT BETTER THAN WE COULD.

IT MAY BE JUST A CHANGE IN REPORTING AND HOW THEY'RE REPORTING THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

I DO NOT KNOW. SO I THINK THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT BETTER.

AND IF NOT, WE CAN LOOK INTO IT AND TALK ABOUT IT NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS? THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE. SO AT THIS POINT THEN I THINK WE WILL CLOSE OUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO HERE.

AND THEN MISS WATSON, I JUST WANTED TO ASK. IT WOULD NOW BE WHERE I COULD TRY TO SWITCH THE AGENDA AROUND A LITTLE.

OR DO WE NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT STAFF BRIEFING FIRST? OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL TRY. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS REGARDING THE DANGEROUS VICIOUS DOG PROCESS

[3. Staff briefing regarding Dangerous and Vicious Dog classification, declaration, and processing out of shelters. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Rebekha Montie, Program Manager II, Austin Animal Services. ]

SO WE JUST WANTED TO REALLY QUICK GO THROUGH OUR DANGEROUS DOG PROCESS.

AND TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION. I KNOW I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN I, WHEN I CAME ON NOT KNOWING A LOT OF THINGS. SO WE WANTED TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH THAT AND HOPEFULLY ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND PUT SOME CLARIFICATION AROUND DANGEROUS DOGS, SPIES, VICIOUS DOGS, ALL THE DOGS.

SO EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER IDEA. SO BASICALLY, RIGHT FIRST, WHAT IS A DANGEROUS DOG? RIGHT. THIS IS A TEXAS STATE LAW. SO TEXAS, TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 822.

IF YOU WANT SOME LIGHT READING. AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT IS AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON A PERSON. IT CAUSES BODILY INJURY OR AND, AND IT, IT OCCURS OUTSIDE A SECURED AREA OR IT DISPLAYS THREATENING BEHAVIOR. SO IT COMMITS AN UNPROVOKED ACT OUTSIDE OF AN ENCLOSURE.

SO OUTSIDE OF YOUR FENCE LINE, OFF LEASH OR, OR CAUSES A PERSON TO REASONABLY BELIEVE THE DOG WILL ATTACK AND CAUSE BODILY INJURY. SO THE, THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DANGEROUS DOG, A VICIOUS DOG, AND A SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IS DANGEROUS. DOG IS A TEXAS CODE VICIOUS. DOG IS A CITY ORDINANCE, AND THEN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IS A STATE CODE THAT INVOLVES SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO A PERSON WHERE DANGEROUS DOG MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.

IF THAT ALL MAKES SENSE. RIGHT. AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, RIGHT.

IS PHYSICAL PAIN, BODILY INJURIES, PHYSICAL PAIN, ILLNESS IMPAIRMENT.

RIGHT. AND UNPROVOKED ATTACK, JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE IS THE PERSON DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE THAT ATTACK.

THEY DIDN'T WALK INTO A PERSON'S YARD. THEY DIDN'T THROW ROCKS AT THE DOG.

THEY WEREN'T RUNNING FROM IT. IT WAS THE DOG HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHOICE AND IT CHOSE TO THREATEN AND OR INJURE A PERSON.

[00:55:07]

THE WOUNDS CAUSE A REASONABLE PERSON TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT AND REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION, WHETHER OR NOT HOSPITALIZATION ACTUALLY OCCURS.

SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS MIGHT BE DEEP MULTIPLE DEEP BITE WOUNDS ALL OVER TORN MUSCLE OR TISSUE EXTENSIVE RIPPING INJURIES, INJURIES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION OR LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

SO THAT WOULD BE A SEVERE BODILY INJURY. BODILY INJURY VERSUS SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, RIGHT? SOUNDS KIND OF THE SAME, BUT IT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

BODILY INJURY MIGHT BE MINOR BITE WOUNDS OR PUNCTURE WOUNDS WHERE SERIOUS BODILY WOULD BE MULTIPLE DEEP BITE WOUNDS.

BODILY INJURY MIGHT BE BRUISING SCRATCHING WHERE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IS TORN MUSCLES AND TISSUE EXTENSIVE RIPPING BODILY INJURY. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME PAIN. THERE MIGHT BE SMALL LACERATIONS WHERE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION OR LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF HOW WE DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.

SO ONCE NOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT PROCESS ARE WE GOING THROUGH.

DOES IT QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THESE? SO FOR A DANGEROUS DOG.

RIGHT. THAT'S. YEAH. OKAY. FOR THE DANGEROUS DOG ANIMAL PROTECTION GETS A CALL.

SOMEBODY WAS BIT. SOMEBODY IS AFRAID. WHATEVER HAPPENED, WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT.

WE COLLECT EVIDENCE FROM THE WITNESSES. WE TAKE STATEMENTS FROM THE OWNER, FROM THE VICTIM.

LOOK AT THOSE STATEMENTS, REVIEW THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE EVENT.

WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID IT HAPPEN? THEN ASSUMING WE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR IT TO MOVE FORWARD IT WOULD GO TO A THIRD PARTY HEARING OFFICER. SO WE DON'T HEAR IT.

WE IT'S A HEARING OFFICER ONLY. THE CASE IS PRESENTED TO THEM.

AND THEY REVIEW THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE COLLECTED.

ANY. THEY LOOK AT WITNESS TESTIMONY. THEY LOOK AT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WE'VE COLLECTED.

THEY TALK WITH THE VICTIM AND OR THE WITNESS, AND THEN THEY MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION IF IT'S A DANGEROUS DOG OR NOT.

YEAH. SO THAT'S THEY'RE GOING TO DETERMINE THAT.

ONCE THEY DETERMINE YES. IT'S A DANGEROUS DOG.

NO IT'S NOT. IF IT IS THEN WE'RE GOING TO NOTIFY THE DOG OWNER IN WRITING THIS, THAT THIS DOG HAS BEEN DETERMINED, DETERMINED, DANGEROUS. AND WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW BEING DEEMED DANGEROUS.

AGAIN, THE DOG DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE BITTEN ANYONE.

THE THE VICTIM JUST NEEDS TO HAVE A REASONABLE BELIEVE REASONABLY THAT THE DOG WAS GOING TO INJURE THEM.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THEIR INFORMATION, HOW TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DANGEROUS DOG REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE. THEN THE OWNER HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL THAT SHOULD THE OWNER DECIDE TO PURSUE AN APPEAL.

THERE'S A TIME FRAME. IT'S 15 DAYS. THAT WILL THEN GO TO EITHER MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY COURT DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY LIVE IN. SO IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT'LL BE A MUNICIPAL COURT.

IF YOU LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THAT WILL BE A COUNTY COURT.

AND THAT'S WHO WE'LL HEAR THE APPEAL FOR THAT DANGEROUS DOG HEARING.

ONCE ALL THE APPEAL PROCESS AND ALL THAT IS OVER, THEN THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO COME IN COMPLIANCE.

AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE GOT A CHECKLIST OF THE THINGS TO BECOME THAT THEY NEED TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

IF THEY HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG, THEY NEED TO REGISTER THE DOG.

EVERY YEAR WITH US. THEY NEED TO PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS $50.

[01:00:09]

MAINTAIN $100,000 LIABILITY INSURANCE OR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

KEEP THE DOG PROPERLY RESTRAINED. SO KEEPING IT ON LEASH WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN PUBLIC KEEPING THEIR GATES SHUT, THINGS LIKE THAT, NOT LETTING THEM BE OFF LEASH.

AND ENSURING THE DANGEROUS DOG TAG IS WORN. THERE'S A TAG THAT COMES WITH THEM.

SO ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THAT AS WELL. AND THEN BECAUSE THIS IS A STATE LAW, ANY TIME THAT DOG WOULD EXCHANGE HANDS, SO MOVE FROM OWNER TO OWNER. IF THEY, IF THEY STILL LIVE IN STATE, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO NOTIFY US AND LET US KNOW THAT THE DOG, THEY NO LONGER HAVE IT WHERE THE NEW DOG IS ANY OWNERSHIP INFORMATION SO THAT THAT CAN BE TRACKED.

THAT BEING SAID, IF A DOG IS DEEMED DANGEROUS HERE AND MOVES TO OKLAHOMA, THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN BECAUSE IT'S A STATE LAW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. RIGHT. AND THEN THE REQUIRE THE OTHER RESTRAINT REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED.

IF YOU HAVE A DANGEROUS DOG, THEY MUST ALWAYS BE ON LEASH.

THEY MUST BE UNDER THE IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THEIR PERSON.

OR THEY NEED TO BE IN A SECURE ENCLOSURE THAT'S LOCKED, PREVENTS IT PREVENTS PUBLIC FROM ACCESSING IT.

SO LIKE YOUR BACKYARD SHOULD HAVE A LOCK ON IT OR IF THERE'S A AN OUTDOOR RUN TYPE AREA THAT IT'S NOT EASILY ESCAPED. MARKINGS CONTAINING THERE'S A DANGEROUS DOG THAT LIVES THERE.

SO ON YOUR FENCE, THERE'S A SIGN TO PUT UP. AND THAT IT'S INSPECTED.

SO PART OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS IS OUR OFFICERS WILL GO OUT.

ENSURE THAT YOUR FENCE IS SECURE. RIGHT. THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT DOG CONTAINED AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

IF THERE ARE A VIOLATION OR PENALTY. SO IF THEY AREN'T ABLE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH US WITHIN THE 30 DAYS THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO SURRENDER THE ANIMAL TO THE SHELTER. IF THE DOG, IF THE DANGEROUS DOG ATTACKS OR CAUSES INJURY WHILE BEING DECLARED, THEN THAT CAN BE A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR CLASS C, CLASS A MISDEMEANOR FOR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS. POSSIBLE COURT ORDERED DESTRUCTION OF THE DOG.

IN A CIVIL PENALTY UP TO $10,000 SHOULD A DANGEROUS DOG COME INTO THE SHELTER.

IT'S SURRENDERED. IT SHOWS UP AS A STRAY. HOWEVER IT COMES IN WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT DOG AND WHY THEY WERE DEEMED DANGEROUS AND PUT THEM THROUGH OUR PATHWAY PROCESS. SO IF THE DOG WAS DEEMED DANGEROUS FOR A BITE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT BITE.

WHAT LEVEL OF BITE WAS THAT. AND DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT IS, MOVE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS THE WAY IT WOULD NORMALLY MOVE THROUGH IF IT WAS DEEMED DANGEROUS. BECAUSE IT MET THE THRESHOLD OF SOMEBODY BEING REASONABLY AFRAID OF THAT DOG.

AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE THE DOG. WHAT TYPE OF RISK WE THINK IT POSES TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN MOVE THAT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND EITHER WE COULD PUT IT UP FOR ADOPTION. WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT, BUT DO WE APPLY IT TO A RESCUE PARTNER OR DO WE EUTHANIZE THAT DOG? SO THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT THOSE THAT A DOG WOULD GO THROUGH IF THEY COME INTO THE SHELTER.

THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR A DANGEROUS DOG.

SO ONCE YOU'RE DEEMED DANGEROUS, YOU'RE DEEMED DANGEROUS DOG FOR YOUR LIFE.

I'M SORRY. THAT'S NOT WHAT THAT MEANS. THERE'S NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

SO SHOULD YOU BE BIT BY A DOG OR FEEL THREATENED BY A DOG? THERE'S NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR YOU REPORTING THAT IF A PERSON REPORTS AN INCIDENT DESCRIBED THEN WE WOULD INVESTIGATE THE SAME. WE WOULD WHETHER IT WAS THE SAME DAY OR THREE MONTHS LATER OR THREE YEARS LATER, BUT WE WOULD NEED THAT EVIDENCE. SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T SEE THINGS LIKE THAT REPORTED FOR A LONG TIME, A LONG PERIOD AFTER IT HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE FOR IT.

YEAH. SO SOME PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHY THERE'S NO STATUTORY REPORTING DEADLINE.

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE ANY REPORTS IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE WE DO COLLECT WITNESS STATEMENTS, COLLECT EVIDENCE, LOOK AT INJURIES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY, LOOK AT ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL RECORDS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

[01:05:02]

I WILL STOP RIGHT THERE BEFORE I OR FOR DANGEROUS DOG BEFORE WE GO INTO VICIOUS DOG.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DANGEROUS DOGS.

I HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE THE PRESENTER SPEAK FIRST? OKAY. I MEAN, SORRY, NOT THE PRESENTER. THE PUBLIC SPEAK FIRST, SO MAYBE WE NEED TO DO THE WHOLE THING.

GO TO THE WHOLE THING. OKAY, PERFECT. SO NEXT SECTION.

VICIOUS DOG. LIKE I SAID, VICIOUS DOG IS A CITY ORDINANCE, NOT A STATE ORDINANCE.

SO IT ONLY APPLIES WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO YOU COULD HAVE A DOG DEEMED VICIOUS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT MOVES TO THE COUNTY THAT'S NO LONGER DEEMED VICIOUS.

A VICIOUS DOG CAN BE A DOG. THAT WHILE RUNNING AT LARGE.

RIGHT. SO THESE ARE ALL DOGS THAT HAVE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF BEING AT LARGE OR OUT OF THEIR PROPERTY OR IN LEASHED AREAS.

BUT WHILE AT LARGE, THE DOG KILLS ANOTHER DOG, A CAT, A DOMESTIC PET FOWL OR LIVESTOCK OR.

CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY TO ANOTHER ANIMAL THAT A VETERINARIAN CERTIFIES THAT THE ANIMAL'S LIFE WAS SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED.

THE ANIMAL SUFFERED PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT OR THE INJURY WAS SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE MOBILITY OR BODILY FUNCTIONS OF THAT ANIMAL THAT WAS ATTACKED. SO UNLIKE A DANGEROUS DOG DESIGNATION, VICIOUS DOG FOCUSES ON ATTACKS AGAINST ANIMALS, NOT PEOPLE. AND THERE'S A LITTLE SLIDE RIGHT THERE.

VICIOUS VERSUS DANGEROUS. RIGHT. AND THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE ANIMALS VERSUS PEOPLE.

AND ONE'S A CITY ORDINANCE. ONE'S A STATE ORDINANCE.

AND I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING. AND I'VE GOT REBECCA MONTY HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT.

AND SO WE AGAIN HAVE BEVERLY LUNA WHO'S CALLING IN REMOTELY.

HI. I MADE A MISSTATEMENT IN MY PRIOR COMMENT ABOUT THE 18,000 418,400 DOGS AND CATS, WHICH ACTUALLY MEANS THAT THAT, THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT IS RUNNING ALONG THE SAME LINES AS THEY WERE ON THE LAND, WHICH IS ABOUT HALF THE NUMBER OF DOGS TAKEN IN THE CAR.

SHE ALSO WOULD ASK, IF SOMEONE ASKS, WHERE DO THEY KEEP RECORDS OF THE NUMBER OF DANGEROUS DOG CASES AND VICIOUS DOG CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT, AND IF SO, WHERE COULD WE ACCESS THAT INFORMATION? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, BEVERLY? I DO NOT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE DANGEROUS DOG INFORMATION IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC VERSUS, SAY, AN FBI HEARING. THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY GO AND ATTEND.

GOTCHA. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN ALSO FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE, HERE WE HAVE PAT.

SO I WAS GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF OF HISTORY, BUT I THINK I'VE CHANGED WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY TO JUST SAY THAT I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CASES.

AND I WONDER IF MAYBE THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA FOR FOLLOW UP.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THAT CLOSES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

AND SO NOW I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSION.

AND SO I'LL JUST START. OH, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER NORTON.

THANK YOU CHAIR. FIRST I WANTED TO SAY SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT THE HEARING OFFICER REFERENCED IN THIS IS CURRENTLY MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOT ABSTAINED FROM THIS TOPIC BECAUSE THERE IS NO VOTING.

IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION AND IT DOESN'T MATTER.

[01:10:01]

AND SO I HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD BE HELPFUL.

SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HEARINGS FOR BODILY INJURY GO TO THE HEARING OFFICER AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY GO TO MUNICIPAL COURT. AND THE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY THAT THE COURT CAN THEN DEEM THE DOG DANGEROUS OR CAN ORDER THE, THE DOG EUTHANIZED, THAT CANNOT BE DONE BY THE HEARING OFFICER.

AND THAT WASN'T REALLY COVERED HERE. SO IS THAT STILL HOW IT WORKS? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S STILL HOW IT WORKS. OKAY. AND FOR THE PUNCTURE WOUNDS IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS A VOLUNTEER AND ALSO IN THE INVESTIGATIONS I DID FOR THE VICIOUS DOG THAT THE WOUNDS WERE FIRST LOOKED AT.

UNLESS THERE'S A MEDICAL RECORD THAT COMES FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY COME FROM THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER MAKES THE CALL AND DOES IT USING THE DUNBAR BITE SCALE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO FOR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND FOR MOST IN SOME OF OUR DANGEROUS DOG CASES, WE TRY TO GET MEDICAL RECORDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

BUT IN REGARDS TO WITH THE WOUNDS FOR EITHER CASE, WE ASKED FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.

AND ALSO IF WE CAN SEE THE WOUND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE OFFICER WILL, THE OFFICER WILL THEN GIVE AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE DUNBAR SCALE, AND THEN IT GOES THROUGH A DUNBAR COMMITTEE WEEKLY THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF EVERY GROUP WITHIN THE SHELTER.

OKAY. AND WHEN AAS HAS POTENTIAL ADOPTERS FOR DANGEROUS DOGS, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM ABOUT MOVING TO DIFFERENT CITIES AND THE ADDITIONAL LAWS THEY HAVE REGARDING THOSE DANGEROUS DOGS? SO I WILL SAY IT'S EXTREMELY RARE THAT WE'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN.

I CAN COUNT MAYBE ON MY HAND, MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT'S HAPPENED. SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO OVER WHAT THE LAW MEANS AND WHAT EVERYTHING IN REGARDS TO THAT CASE AND WHY THAT ANIMAL WAS DEEMED DANGEROUS. USUALLY WHAT WE'VE HAD HAPPEN IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT HAVE MOVED OUT OF STATE, WE DO TRY TO EVEN REACH OUT TO THE OTHER STATE AND LET THEM KNOW OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE MOVING IN THAT TYPE OF THING.

ONE TO MAKE ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE ANIMAL MADE IT TO THAT STATE.

AND TWO, JUST TO NOTIFY THE ANIMAL CONTROL IN THEIR AREA.

THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I'M AWARE THAT THERE'S NO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THAT, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT TEXAS.

AND WHEN I DID VICIOUS DOGS, I HAD A LIST OF.

MOST CITIES COMBINE IT WITH DANGEROUS DOGS. SO IT'S KIND OF ONE THING.

AUSTIN HAS TWO, BUT LOCALLY. SO ALL OF YOU KNOW LET'S SAY SOMEONE DECIDES THEY WANT TO MOVE OR THEY LIVE IN, IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. IF THEY LIVE IN GEORGETOWN, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DANGEROUS DOG AND FOLLOW THE RULES.

ROUND ROCK. NO, THE DOG EITHER HAS TO BE EUTHANIZED OR LEAVE THE CITY.

AND THAT KIND OF THING HAPPENS ALL OVER TEXAS, BUT CLOSE TO HERE.

SAN ANTONIO HAS REALLY STRICT RULES. DALLAS GENERALLY THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY.

SO I HOPE THAT WHEN SOMEONE WOULD ADOPT A DOG LIKE THIS, THAT THAT WOULD KIND OF BE EXPLAINED LIKE, HEY, BY THE WAY, IF YOU'RE THINKING TO MOVE INTO ROUND ROCK, YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF HAVE A PROBLEM. AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR THEM.

REGARDING VICIOUS DOG. JUST SO THE COMMISSION KNOWS, WE CHANGED THIS IN, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE 2021.

I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST WORKING GROUP I ASKED TO DO PRIOR TO WHAT THE COMMISSION DID.

THE A DOG DEEMED VICIOUS HAD TO LEAVE THE CITY LIMITS AND THAT WAS IT.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY AN ERROR. THAT WAS A CODIFICATION ERROR BY THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY DID THEY WANTED TO MAKE THE LAW, THE ORDINANCE SOUND A LITTLE MORE ENGLISHY TO TO THE CITIZENS, BUT THEY ACCIDENTALLY MADE THAT MAJOR CHANGE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE. SO WE DID AS A COMMISSION CHANGE IT.

SO YAY FOR US. AND SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED WITH THE VICIOUS DOG RESTRAINING THE DOG OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, LETTING THE BOARDING FACILITY KNOW MYSELF.

AND AT THE TIME, RYAN CLINTON, WHO WAS A COMMISSIONER, WENT THROUGH DANGEROUS DOG AND VICIOUS DOG RULES THROUGHOUT TEXAS, AND KIND OF CAME UP WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS FAIR BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DO NOTHING, BUT WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

SO SO JUST LIKE THE SLIDE HERE SHOWED THAT THERE WERE CONSIDERATIONS FOR A DANGEROUS DOG, IT DIDN'T SHOW WHAT WAS THERE FOR A VICIOUS DOG. BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WITH THE VICIOUS DOG SHOULD DO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT THAT BAD. I MEAN, WE, BUT NOW AT LEAST WE CAN KEEP THE DOGS.

[01:15:01]

THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER VAN, THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

MY FIRST ONE IS ARE THERE ANY CHECK INS BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE HEARING? FOR THE FOR BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED? NO, REALLY.

PROBABLY JUST THE DOG AND THE DOG OWNER, THE DOG AND THE DOG OWNER. SO THERE CAN BE IF WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON HOW TO CHECK IN WITH THEM, THEY RECEIVE EVERYTHING VIA MAIL. IF WE'RE NOT, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR THE DOG OWNER, SUCH AS THEIR PHONE NUMBER. SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THEIR ADDRESS AND SEND IT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL FOR THEM.

AND WITH THAT INFORMATION, IT HAS THE INVESTIGATOR'S NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL ADDRESS AS WELL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT AND GET ANY INFORMATION. BUT WHAT THEIR SIN IS A PACKET THAT GOES OVER EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST EXPLAINED IN HERE IN GREAT DETAIL, SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING. OKAY. THANK YOU.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN A DANGEROUS DOG THAT'S BEEN DEEMED DANGEROUS HAS DIED? YES. SO WE ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE PROOF SUCH AS THEY TOOK IT TO, YOU KNOW, BE HUMANELY EUTHANIZED DUE TO AGE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST DETERMINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE DOG AND THEN TAKING THEM AT THEIR WORD ON THAT PER SE. AND THEN IF WE HAVE THE DOG SHOW UP SOMEWHERE, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN VIOLATION.

BUT USUALLY WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THAT HAPPENING SINCE WE'VE BEEN WITH THE DOG SINCE THE TIME OF IT BEING DEEMED DANGEROUS TO THE END OF ITS LIFE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER. NEIGHBOR. I WAS WONDERING, BASED ON WHAT BEVERLY LUNA AND JUST I'M CURIOUS HOW MANY DANGEROUS DOG CASES DO YOU NORMALLY TAKE PER YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON GETTING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S ENOUGH WHERE WE HAVE TO HIRE ONE OFFICER JUST TO DO THOSE CASES YEARLY, AND THAT'S ALL THEY DO. SO WE HAVE ONE THAT DOES ONLY SERIOUS BODILY INJURY CASES AS AN INVESTIGATOR.

AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER OFFICER THAT ONLY DOES DANGEROUS DOG AND VICIOUS DOG CASES.

ARE THE PEACE OFFICERS KNOW THEIR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS.

OKAY. AND YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THEY MAKE THE CALL AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO GO FORWARD.

IS THAT CORRECT? IF I THOUGHT I COULD BE VERY MISTAKEN, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A COMMISSION OR A COMMITTEE DECISION AS TO WHO TO PUT ON A DANGEROUS DOG DESIGNATION. NO. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE THE INITIAL CALL THAT COMES IN FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBER OR FROM THE VICTIM, AND MAYBE MOST OF THESE CASES THAT CALLS US IN, USUALLY A BITE TAKES PLACE AND THAT'S HOW THE CALL NORMALLY STARTS.

WE HAVE AN OFFICER GO OUT AND LOOK INTO JUST AN ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER OR FIELD OFFICER, GO OUT AND TO LOOK INTO THAT CASE, IF THE VICTIM IS TALKING MORE IN REGARDS TO THINGS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA OF DANGEROUS DOG, WE DO TELL THEM ABOUT THE LAW. IT IS UP TO THE VICTIM IF THEY'RE WANTING TO GO FORWARD IN REGARDS TO GOING AFTER A DANGEROUS DOG DESIGNATION, AND THEN WE THEN HAVE THAT CASE PASSED ON TO THE INVESTIGATOR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT OVER AND GO INTO MORE DEPTH AND DETAIL WITH THAT VICTIM.

I GUESS IT'S JUST THAT THE LAWYER IN ME KIND OF HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT, THAT YOU'VE GOT YOU'VE GOT AN UN LICENSED INVESTIGATOR DEALING WITH LAW. YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH LAW BECAUSE YOU'RE THE SUPERVISOR.

AND I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNINTENTIONAL PRACTICE OF THE LAW BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, MAILING IS NOT PROPER DUE PROCESS. SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH HOW THIS WHOLE AREA OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IS BEING RUN, BECAUSE THE HAIRS ON THE BACK OF MY NECK ARE JUST PRICKLING AT THE THINGS THAT I'M SEEING THAT AREN'T BEING DONE ACCORDING TO A LOT OF THE LAWS THAT I AS I KNOW THEM, I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE ADMINISTRATION HEARINGS, SO IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL HEARING. SECONDLY, THAT'S WHY WE ALSO HAVE THE THIRD PARTY HEARING OFFICER.

SO IT'S GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CHECKS AND MAKING SURE.

AND THEN WE'RE NOT DETERMINING IF THE DOG IS DEEMED DANGEROUS. THAT'S UP TO OUR THIRD PARTY HEARING OFFICER, WHICH THEN THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL IF THEY DON'T LIKE THAT DECISION AND THEN GO THROUGH FORWARD WITH ANOTHER ADMIN HEARING THROUGH EITHER MUNICIPAL, MUNICIPAL COURT OR THE COUNTY COURT.

BUT DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY YOU CONTACTED THE INDIVIDUALS? IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SENDING IF YOU'RE SENDING NOTICE THROUGH MAIL, YOU'RE NOT GETTING DUE PROCESS.

IT'S AGAIN, CRIMINAL OR CIVIL. I GUESS WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT THEN.

YEAH, THAT'S A LOT. YOU'RE NOT GETTING PEOPLE TO PROCESS.

YOU MAY BE DESTROYING DOGS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.

[01:20:02]

AT THE VERY END OF THAT. THAT'S ONLY WHEN THE OWNER DOESN'T COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND THAT'S DEEMED BY A JUDGE, NO ONE ELSE.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE FINAL PROCESS. THEY'RE GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THIS, THIS LAW, IN REGARDS TO THE THINGS THAT MISS DANGLER JUST WENT OVER TO THAT.

SO IT IS VERY RARE TO HAVE A DOG EUTHANIZED DUE TO THIS PROCESS.

OKAY. WELL, I WOULD, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT. ALSO THE INFORMATION, LIKE I SAID ABOUT, ABOUT THE DANGEROUS DOGS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING IT PER YEAR? AND IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS WITH YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, PLEASE, BECAUSE I'M JUST AFRAID THAT DUE PROCESS IS NOT BEING MET FOR THESE HEARINGS. THANK YOU. YES. WOULDN'T IT BE THE CASE THAT IF A HEARING TAKES PLACE AND THE JUDGE OR THE HEARING OFFICER SEES THAT THE DOCUMENTATION WASN'T RECEIVED BY ONE OF THE PARTIES, THAT THE HEARING WOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS GIVEN TO IS PROVIDED TO THAT PARTY AND THEN HAVE IT RESCHEDULED. CORRECT. WE DO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND ALSO WITH IT BEING SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL, IT GIVES THAT INDIVIDUAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO THEY HAVE TO SIGN FOR THOSE DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT IT WAS RECEIVED AS WELL.

AND IS THERE STILL A DATABASE ONLINE OF WHERE DANGEROUS DOGS ARE LIKE WHERE THEY LIVE? WE KEEP A MAINTAIN THE LIST FOR COUNTY AND FOR THE CITY.

IT'S NO LONGER PUBLISHED ON OUR ON OUR PAGE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP ACCURATELY WITH US.

OKAY. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS.

CORRECT. IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM BEING PUBLIC? IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS LOOKED INTO THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED BY THE LAW.

SO IT'S NOT STATED THAT IT HAS TO BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IT WAS MODIFIED AT THAT TIME. YES. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. SO ANYWAY, IF ALL THIS ACTION ABOUT THE DISHES AGAINST DANGEROUS DOGS.

SO THANKS FOR THAT. AND I EVEN I AGREE TO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY DOGS IS. IS DANGEROUS. I GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS THE CITY AS VICIOUS.

SINCE THAT'S SO. DANGEROUS IS FOR THE STATE. SO WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO BOTH? HOW MANY OF EACH DID THEY DO? THEY OVERLAP. ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING IS WHEN TALKING ABOUT DANGEROUS, I KEPT HEARING ABOUT THE TALKING TO THE VICTIM.

SO THAT TELLS ME ALREADY THAT WE'RE ASSUMING THAT THERE'S NO THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.

THAT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING WRONG. SO, I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE JUST BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S ALL. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, YES, WE WE DO HAVE THE DATA FOR DANGEROUS DOGS. AND WE ALSO KEEP THE VICIOUS DOG DATA AS WELL.

AND THEY POTENTIALLY COULD OVERLAP. YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE VICIOUS AND DANGEROUS I GUESS.

RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE THE WE DO HAVE ALL OF THAT DATA THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

RIGHT. AND, AND THE REASON WHY WE TALK ABOUT THE VICTIM REGULARLY IS BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.

IT'S, IT'S VICTIM INITIATED. AND BECAUSE A DOG IS DEEMED DANGEROUS DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT HAS.

WELL, IT'S DONE SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH FOR IT FOR SOMEBODY TO BE AFRAID OF IT.

BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT A DOG HAS BITTEN SOMEONE.

RIGHT. AND WITH THE TEXAS LAW MY DOG, IF HE'S OFF LEASH IN MY FRONT YARD, BARKING AT YOU WHILE YOU WALK BY, MAYBE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE AND THINK THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN AND CAN TAKE THAT TO COURT.

WELL, TO A HEARING OFFICER. RIGHT. AND IT'S UP TO THE HEARING OFFICER TO DETERMINE.

YES. WHATEVER. MY DOG WAS IN VIOLATION. SO IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, RIGHT. THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DANGEROUS DOG LAW AS OPPOSED TO SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. YES. THAT DOG.

[01:25:03]

SO TO A HIGHER COURT. SO WE THOUGHT THAT WAS FAIR TO PEOPLE.

SO THAT WAS ADDED IN BY THE COMMISSION. SO YES.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER.

I SAW YOU THAT TIME. OH, I THINK YOU'RE ON MUTE.

YES. OKAY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THE COMMISSION WAS FOUNDED OR CREATED TO ADVISE ANIMAL SHELTER OR OKAY, WHATEVER I.

FEEL LIKE WHATEVER COUNT DOESN'T COUNT COMMITTEE, WHATEVER.

AND AND THAT TO ME THERE IS A COMPONENT OF EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND AND I KNOW THAT STAFF HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT COMMISSION FOR A FEW YEARS AND SOME ARE NEWER AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE POPULATION KEEPS GROWING OR MOVING IN THE US, THE POPULATION MOVES A LOT AROUND CITIES OR PLACES COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES. SO I'M JUST THINKING IT WOULD BE GOOD.

MAYBE FUTURE IS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT EDUCATING PEOPLE OR ROTATION OF DIFFERENT TOPICS ONES NEEDING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S ALWAYS A COMMON THINKING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN THE ROOM? QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE A YES THEN? OH, SORRY. NO. SO SORRY I MESSED THAT ONE UP.

YES, COMMISSIONER. FERGUSON. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION THAT I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND WATCH THE VIDEO BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION, MEDICAL INFORMATION. AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ASKED FOR THE NUMBERS.

BUT ALSO JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO PUT SOME OF THAT INFORMATION ONLINE TO BE ACCESSIBLE? I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THE WHOLE DATABASE AT ONE POINT WAS ACCESSIBLE, BUT IS THERE ANY BENEFIT AND COULD THERE BE JUST SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL INFORMATION AVAILABLE? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D WANT TO DISCUSS AND YEAH, SEE, SEE, SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND, AND ALL OF THAT.

SO YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS THAT WAS GREAT AND VERY HELPFUL ON UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD.

AND IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, IF ANYBODY HAS AN OBJECTION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME FOR DOCTOR ELLIOT.

BECAUSE DUE TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE FELVF IV INTAKE TESTING POLICY DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT UP TO NOW INSTEAD OF WAITING AFTERWARDS. JUST OUT OF RESPECT FOR DOCTOR ELLIOT'S TIME.

UNLESS ANYBODY HAS AN OBJECTION TO THAT. I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE TO NOW.

[5. Discussion regarding the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Intake Testing Policy for cats Austin Animal Services memo. ]

[01:30:01]

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON MOVING IT UP TO.

SURE. SO FIVE AND FIVE ARE RETROVIRUSES THAT AFFECT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF THE CAT.

IF THE TRANSMISSION IS THROUGH CLOSE SOCIAL CONTACT AND IT'S TRANSMITTED THROUGH SALIVA, BLOOD, MILK AND URINE. FIVE TRANSMISSION IS THROUGH A BITE WOUND.

THESE VIRUSES DO NOT SURVIVE OUTSIDE THE BODY FLUIDS, AND THEY ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS TO OTHER SPECIES, SUCH AS DOGS AND HUMANS. PREVIOUSLY, ALL INTAKE OF ALL CATS AND KITTENS WAS TESTED FOR LEUKEMIA AND AIDS.

FELINE AIDS IS TYPICALLY TESTED AFTER THEY'RE SIX MONTHS OF AGE.

TESTING ALL INTAKES CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF FALSE POSITIVE RESULTS, A RESULT THAT MAY NOT TRANSLATE TO A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE OR TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING THE DISEASE, BUT PLACES THE CAT ON A LIST OF BEING POSITIVE.

THIS CAN LEAD TO DELAYS IN ADOPTION AND USUALLY RESULTS IN US SEEING THEM DIRECTLY TO A PA.

NATIONWIDE, LESS THAN 3% OF THE CAT POPULATION IS INFECTED.

SHELTER BEST PRACTICES IS TO MOVE AWAY FROM TESTING AT INTAKE.

DUE TO THE LOW PREVALENCE OF THE DISEASE IN THE FALSE RESULTS.

THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH USING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AS A SCREENING TEST.

THIS SCREENING TEST IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME. IT CAN LEAD TO FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, AS THE CAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED PRIOR TO ENTERING THE SHELTER AND DOES NOT AND DOES IN FACT HAVE ACTIVE VIRAL INFECTION.

IF THE CAT IS POSITIVE FOR FELV, THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM MAY ELIMINATE THE VIRUS.

IF THE VIRUS IS NOT PROPERLY ELIMINATED, IT MAY STAY WITH THE CAT.

IN THIS EXAMPLE, THESE CATS MAY BECOME ILL AND MAY ACTIVELY SHED THE VIRUS.

FURTHERMORE, ANY NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE RESULT SHOULD BE RETESTED IN 30 TO 90 DAYS, WHICH MEANS ADOPTERS WOULD BE GETTING THESE CATS RETESTED BY THEIR VET. MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL TEST CATS THAT ARE ILL, SICK AND WOUNDED OR WOUNDED.

WE WILL TEST CATS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED IN GROUP HOUSING SITUATIONS AND RETEST THEM AFTER BEING IN THE SHELTER FOR 60 DAYS.

WE WILL TEST CATS FROM A HIGH RISK SITUATION, SUCH AS A HOARDING SITUATION, AND WILL TEST CATS THAT ARE TRANSPORTED TO A RESCUE IN ANOTHER STATE. EDUCATING ADOPTERS ABOUT THESE VIRUSES IS IMPORTANT SO THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH THEIR VETERINARIAN TO DETERMINE WHEN TO TEST THEIR NEW CAT AND WHAT THE RESULTS MEAN AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME. UNTIL THE ADOPTER HAS THE CAT SEEN BY EVENT, THEY SHOULD ISOLATE THE CAT FROM OTHER CATS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

THIS PROTECTS THE CATS FROM NOT ONLY THESE VIRUSES, BUT ALSO UPPER RESPIRATORY AND OTHER DISEASES.

AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. NO, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO JUST SAY ONE THING TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS GUIDANCE IS SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS AS WELL AS ASPCA. YES. OKAY. YES. DID YOU SAY YOU'RE EASY BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU. DO FELV AND FIVE REDUCE THE LIFESPAN OF THE CAT OR KITTEN WHO HAS IT? THE IT CAN IF THEY HAVE THE ACTUAL VIRUS. SO YES.

SO WHAT PERCENTAGE IF IT CAN LIKE 90% DIE WITHIN TWO.

I HEARD THEY LIVE MAYBE TWO YEARS AND HAVE A LONG HAVE A SLOW.

IT DEPENDS FELINE AIDS. THEY CAN LIVE WITH THAT AS LONG AS THE FIVE.

YEAH. AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE. IT'S AN IMMUNE SUPPRESSIVE VIRUS.

SO AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE THAT IMMUNE SUPPRESSION THAT GETS ACTIVATED.

THEY CAN LIVE A LONG LIFE. FELINE LEUKEMIA. THEY CAN ALSO LIVE WITH.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT STAGE THE VIRUS IS IN.

SO IF THE VIRUS DOES GO IN AND ATTACK THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, THEN THOSE CATS CAN WON'T BE LIVING AS LONG OF A HEALTHY LIFE AS THEY WOULD IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE VIRUS. AND THE ADOPTER POTENTIALLY WOULD NOT FIND THIS OUT UNTIL THEY ADOPTED THE CAT, FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND THEN WOULD. YES. AND WE ALSO WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT EITHER IN OUR SHELTER.

SO IF YOU TEST IT THOUGH, YOU'D KNOW IT WAS POSITIVE.

NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT COMES IN, IF IT'S POSITIVE AT INTAKE THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS PRIOR TO COMING IN.

SO WE'D HAVE TO TEST THEM AGAIN IN 60 TO 90 DAYS, WHICH WE DON'T DO, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE KITTENS AND CATS GET ADOPTED.

SO LIKE, I JUST HAD A FOSTER KID AND HE'D BEEN TESTED, SO I FELT COMFORTABLE BRINGING HIM IN MY HOUSE.

BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS, IF I TOOK THE SAME KITTEN AND IT WASN'T TESTED, THEN BY THOSE NUMBERS 92 CATS, KITTENS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN TO AYE S OF THE 4000 SOMETHING NOTED WOULD HAVE FELV.

[01:35:07]

SO AREN'T WE PUTTING FOSTERS AT RISK WHO HAVE CATS OR KITTENS AT HOME? SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ADOPTIONS OR. I'M TALKING ABOUT A FOSTER.

I'M A FOSTER. ALL RIGHT, SO I'M A FOSTER FOSTER, AND I DON'T.

I CAN'T TAKE THE CAT TO A VET. I YOU ARE THE VET.

YEAH. SO I'M PUTTING MY ANIMALS AT RISK. AM I A CAT AT HOME, AT RISK BY TAKING AN UNTESTED CAT FROM A AYE S YES, I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION NOW. SO WHAT WE STILL RECOMMEND AS FOSTERS IS TO KEEP THOSE, KEEP THE ANIMALS SEPARATE ANYWAY. SO IF YOU'RE DOING LIKE A MEDICAL FOSTER, THEN WE RECOMMEND THAT WE KEEP THEM SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER POPULATION, FROM YOUR POPULATION. SO ANYONE WHO FOSTERS A CAT OR KITTEN IS TOLD NOT TO LET THOSE CATS OR KITTENS INTERACT WITH THEIR HOME CATS OR KITTENS, I BELIEVE SO, YEAH. IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. OKAY.

AND WERE YOU TOLD THAT WHEN YOU FOSTERED. NO.

NO. OKAY. MIGHT AS WELL ASK THAT, I DON'T KNOW, I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE FOSTER CONTRACT.

NO, BUT HE WAS A VERY SICK CAT AND HE HAD RINGWORM, AND SO WE DIDN'T LET HIM.

WE DID. HE DID GET ALONG WITH THE SMALL DOGS, BUT WE DID.

WE DID NOT LET HIM INTERACT WITH THE CAT. I'M NOT A CAT CAT PERSON TO INTERACT.

SO THAT WASN'T A GOOD MATCH FOR ME TO DO. SO WHAT WE'RE HEARING ON NEXT DOOR AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA IS A LOT OF OUTRAGE. BUT ALSO JUST IF YOU WANT TO BE SURE, JUST GO TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY BECAUSE THEY TEST WHICH I FIND REASONABLE.

BUT WHAT EDUCATION WAS DONE FOR FOSTERS AND THE COMMUNITY CATS AND THE TNR PEOPLE BEFORE THIS CHANGE WAS MADE SO THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT BECAUSE WE JUST, I JUST SORT OF GOT AN EMAIL.

SO, SO WHAT EDUCATION WAS DONE TO HELP PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT CLEARLY THEY WERE UPSET BECAUSE THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND STARTED POSTING ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. YEAH, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT OUR LEADERSHIP MEETING.

SO I'M ASSUMING WITH THE OTHER MANAGERS, IT WAS ALSO FILTERED DOWN THERE.

WE DIDN'T MEET SPECIFICALLY WITH THEM, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY CAN MEET WITH THOSE TEAMS. OKAY. BUT AND NOT WITH THE PEOPLE OR THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW.

AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, TNR HAS NOT WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NOT EVER BEEN TESTED, BUT IT IS CURRENT WAS NOT PRIOR TO THIS CHANGE.

THE CATS WERE NOT BEING TESTED PRIOR THROUGH THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR RERELEASE.

OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S NOT CORRECT. SNARES ARE TESTED.

SNARES. YES. NOT. I USED TO LOOK AT THE INVOICE, DOCTOR ELLIOTT.

YEAH. I MEAN, I'M I'M TRYING TO THINK BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, THEY SAID DON'T TEST SNARES.

SO BUT I BELIEVE WE ARE BECAUSE WE'RE TEST. WE WERE TESTING EVERYTHING AT INTAKE.

SO YES. WELL INTAKE AND THEN HHS WOULD TEST THEM.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. NEMER. I APOLOGIZE, THIS MAY BE LONG BECAUSE I AM COMPLETELY OUTRAGED BY THIS CHANGE COMPLETELY. I'M ON THE BOARD OF A LOCAL HALF ADOPTION RESCUE THAT'S FOSTER BASED.

AND BY YOU DOING THIS, IT'S CAUSED US SO MANY PROBLEMS AND SO MUCH HASSLE THAT YOU'RE LIKELY GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF SMALLER CAT RESCUE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY WITH A FELINE LEUKEMIA POSITIVE CAT TO DO ANYTHING BUT EUTHANIZE.

THE LAST ONE, I HAD TO BEG ELLEN JEFFERSON TO TAKE FROM APA, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO WITH FELINE LEUKEMIA POSITIVE CAT.

AND THIS IS THIS IS I THINK THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING COMMISSIONER NORTON SAID THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT INFORMED FOSTER'S.

WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AS A RESCUE. AND FOR YOU TO SAY THAT YOU'RE TESTING ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT ARE SICK OR INJURED OR ANYTHING, I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU RUNNING? ARE YOU RUNNING A SNAP TEST? ARE YOU RUNNING A PCR TEST? WE DO THE POINT OF THE POINT THAT WE CAN DO IN THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS A SNAP TEST.

YEAH. WE DON'T LET PCR. LET'S LET DOCTOR ANSWER.

YEAH. THE PCR TEST IS TESTING FOR DNA, AND THAT HAS TO BE SENT TO A SPECIAL LAB.

SO THAT DOESN'T GIVE US THE RESULT RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. SNAP TESTS ARE NOTORIOUSLY INACCURATE.

[01:40:04]

SO TRUE OR FALSE. BEFORE PEOPLE LIKE APA WILL TAKE A CAT THAT IS POSITIVE.

THEY REQUIRE YOU TO DO THE PCR TEST TO SEE IF IT'S REALLY IN THE DNA AND IF IT'S REALLY BEEN INFECTED.

CORRECT. NO, WE DIDN'T DO THAT WITH APA AT ALL.

WE GOT A SNAP TEST THAT WAS POSITIVE OR POINT OF A TEST RIGHT THERE.

POINT OF CONTACT TEST. AND APA WENT AHEAD AND PULLED THOSE CATS.

WHAT THEY DID OVER THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY RAN PCR OR WHAT WHAT WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF THE SMALLER FOSTER BASED RESCUES FOR THE EXACT REASON THAT COMMISSIONER NORTON WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU'RE NOT TESTING THESE ANIMALS, YOU'RE PUTTING EVERY SINGLE INDEPENDENT, CAT RESCUE BASED, FOSTER BASED CAT RESCUE AT RISK OF TAKING A FAILED POSITIVE TEST AND EITHER GETTING EXPOSED THEIR OWN CATS EXPOSED BECAUSE, AS YOU SAID, THEY DO HAVE TO BE SOCIALIZED. USUALLY IT'S A 2 TO 3 WEEK QUARANTINE, NOT AN INFINITE QUARANTINE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A I CAN ALREADY TELL YOU, I KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT, BUT I KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT DO YOU WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? WHY ARE YOU WHY WOULD YOU FATHOM DOING F I'D I UNDERSTAND FEMI COMPLETELY DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

SO THIS WAS A DECISION THAT WAS MADE TO GET US IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES.

AND THIS IS A THIS IS NOT A NEW BEST PRACTICE FOR CATS.

THIS BEST PRACTICE HAS BEEN GOING ON NATIONALLY FOR YEARS.

AND I'M REALLY SURPRISED THAT AUSTIN HASN'T BEEN DOING IT YET.

AND I, I HONESTLY, I'M VERY SHOCKED THAT WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY WITH THIS SITUATION.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE PUTTING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE IT JUST, WE WERE COMING IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES NATIONALLY.

THIS ISN'T AN UNCOMMON PRACTICE WITH SHELTERS ALLEY CAT ALLIES, THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS, ASSOCIATION OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS ASPCA, AMONG OTHERS, ALL RECOMMEND UTILIZING YOUR LIMITED RESOURCES FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE CATS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS, AS OPPOSED TO UTILIZING OUR MONETARY AND STAFF RESOURCES FOR UNIVERSAL TESTING.

USING IT FOR TARGETED TESTING. SO THAT WAY WE CAN REALLOCATE THAT STAFF THAT'S SPENDING TIME TESTING AND OR THAT MONEY TOWARDS THE CATS IN OUR CARE THAT ARE REALLY SICK THAT THAT NEED OUR HELP AND THAT NEED OUR ATTENTION.

THAT'S THE INTENTION OF THIS ENTIRE POLICY. IT'S NOT TO DISCOURAGE OUR FOSTERS OR RESCUE PARTNERS. AND I KNOW I'M MORE THAN HAPPY AS WELL AS DOCTOR ELLIOTT TO TALK TO RESCUE PARTNERS ON A ONE ON ONE SITUATION AND OR FOSTERS WHERE IT MAKES SENSE. ON HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR RESCUE PARTNERS AND OR FOSTERS.

THAT BEING SAID, RIGHT, THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE, THAT IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR YEARS. THIS IS JUST NEW TO AUSTIN. THIS IS NOT A NEW PRACTICE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE DOING THIS. AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT AREN'T YOUR TYPICAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE MIGHT REFERENCE, LIKE BEST FRIENDS OR MADDIE'S FUND. SO I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE GIVE US A MINUTE AND TRY IT OUT AND SEE HOW IT OPERATES. RIGHT? AS ALWAYS, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS WORK AND REEVALUATE AND DETERMINE THE NEXT BEST NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS. AND I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU KNOW WHAT COMMISSIONER IS SAYING.

AND YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND CONCERN, YOU KNOW, I HAD QUESTIONS AS WELL.

I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HERE ARE QUESTIONING THE IMPORTANCE OF WHETHER TESTING FOR FELV IS IMPORTANT OR NOT. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S JUST MORE OF A QUESTION OF WHETHER UNIVERSAL TESTING IS THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF LIMITED SHELTER RESOURCES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. YOU KNOW, WITH A LARGE SHELTER.

SO I THINK THAT AT HAND, THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS TRYING TO BE ADDRESSED HERE, CERTAINLY NOT MINIMIZING THE CONCERNS REGARDING THAT. SO I JUST I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT OBVIOUSLY IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT, YOU KNOW, ALSO NEEDING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SHELTER RESOURCES TOO.

[01:45:02]

AND I THINK THAT SPENDING, SPENDING, WHAT IT TAKES FOR A SNAP TEST, BECAUSE I DO KNOW AND I MEAN, I'M SURE THIS IS RESCUED AS A SMALL RESCUE. WHAT WE PAY IS FAR MORE THAN WHAT A S WOULD PAY CONSIDERING THE GREATER AMOUNT OF TESTS THAT THEY WOULD NEED. BUT IT JUST SEEMS THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF OF THE POPULATION OF A SHELTER AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN, IN, IN, IN, I GUESS JUST IN LIMBO, NOT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THE CABIN THAT THEY JUST ADOPTED IS GOING TO BE POSITIVE AND DIE IN TWO YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I JUST, I JUST, I UNDERSTAND IT'S BEST PRACTICES AND I SHARE, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT MONEY, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT IT CAN BE CUT THAT WOULD BE FAR LESS DETRIMENTAL TO BOTH FOSTERS ADOPTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS.

THANK YOU. I GUESS ONE QUICK QUESTION THAT I HAD SORT OF A FOLLOW UP TO THAT.

AND AGAIN, JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE, I'M WONDERING, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COST IF YOU'RE BUYING MORE IN BULK OR SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THE SNAP TESTS ARE A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER WHEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE BOUGHT IN LARGE BULK LIKE THAT.

MAYBE THEY'RE NOT IF THEY ARE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF PERHAPS IF SOMEBODY'S JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

IT WANTED A TEST. IF THERE COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL FEE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT PROVIDED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A FELV TEST. YES. THE ADOPTER CAN MAKE THAT DECISION IF THEY WANT US TO GO AHEAD AND TEST.

KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE HISTORY ON THIS ANIMAL, BUT WE CAN DO A TEST AT THAT POINT.

SO YES, WE ARE OFFERING THAT. AND ESPECIALLY IF THE ANIMAL HAS, THE CAT HASN'T BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED AND THEY'RE ON THE LIST FOR THE NEXT DAY.

IT'S VERY EASY FOR US TO DO THAT TEST WHEN THE KITTENS SEDATE THE CAT.

SEDATE. THANK YOU. YES. I JUST WANTED TO DO A FOLLOW UP ON THE MONEY THING, AND ONE OF THE RESPONSES THAT SOMEONE GOT FROM THE SHELTER THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON NEXTDOOR, IT WAS SAID THAT THE SAVINGS WAS $32,000.

SO AT $100 A CAT, BY MY MATH THAT'S ABOUT $30,000.

SO A YEAR OR SO. AREN'T WE AT RISK OF JUST MAKING THAT A WASH BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ADOPTIONS AND FOSTER POOLS FROM GROUPS LIKE NANCY, THAT IT JUST ISN'T GOING TO MAKE FISCAL SENSE.

AND I GUESS COMMISSIONER NEMER, THE THING WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS THE IMPACT OF ADOPTIONS AND FOSTERS OF CATS, TO SEE IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE WORTH THE $32,000, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

THANK YOU. AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IT'S NOT JUST THE PRICE OF THE TEST, IT'S ALSO THE LABOR THAT GOES INTO IT.

IT'S ALSO THE STRESS THAT THESE TINY KITTENS HAVE WHEN WE DRAW BLOOD FROM THEM.

AND WE'RE ALREADY THEY'RE ALREADY COMING IN AT A HIGHLY STRESSED ENVIRONMENT ANYWAY.

AND IT'S REALLY, IT IS STRESSFUL TO THESE KITTENS AND WE ARE PUSHING THESE KITTENS TO BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THEM AS WELL AS PULLING BLOOD.

SO IT DOES TAKE TWO PEOPLE TO DRAW BLOOD FROM THEM, AND THEN IT TAKES TIME TO RUN THE TEST.

EACH TEST TAKES ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 10 MINUTES DEPENDING ON THE TEST.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO ENTER ALL OF THAT DATA INTO THE SOFTWARE.

SO ALL OF THAT IS TIME CONSUMING. WHILE THE TEST ITSELF IS AROUND 32,000 FOR FOR THE TEST.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT THAT FOR THE STAFF BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT THE STAFF HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER. DANIEL. SO I'M THE ONE THAT REQUESTED THIS FOR THE AGENDA.

BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT WILL AFFECT DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, WHICH ULTIMATELY AFFECTS CATS AND OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND.

I HAVE A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MICROBIAL DISEASES, AND I'VE WORKED AT NEARLY TWO DECADES IN PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND PREVENTION. I ALSO MANAGE THE COMMUNITY CATS PROGRAM AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND I CURRENTLY WORK FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A TEAM LEAD FOR THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING ALL LIVESTOCK PERMITTED TO ENTER TEXAS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TESTED FOR DISEASES THAT CAN AFFECT NOT ONLY THE ANIMALS, BUT POSSIBLY HUMANS.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DISEASE SURVEILLANCE.

AND IF YOU DON'T MEASURE IT, YOU CAN'T MANAGE IT.

AND SO I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING THIS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW.

CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS SLASHED PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND WHAT ARE WE SEEING? REOCCURRENCE OF DISEASES.

$32,000 IN STAFF TIME, WHICH THEY'RE DOING INTAKE ANYWAY, ISN'T THAT MUCH WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RISK AND WHAT

[01:50:03]

BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY. YOU SAY THAT BEST PRACTICES.

SO I LOOKED UP THE REFERENCES IN YOUR MEMO AND IT SAYS THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS RECOMMENDS THAT CATS ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION OR RELOCATION BE SCREENED FOR FELV AND FIVE. THE SCREENING IS PROVIDED PRE ADOPTION IN SOME SHELTERS.

HOWEVER, IN MANY SHELTERS, LIMITED SHELTER RESOURCES DO NOT PERMIT ROUTINE TESTING FOR ALL CATS PRIOR TO ADOPTION.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU GUYS ARE GOING WITH THIS.

BUT AUSTIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO FUND THIS FOR HOW MANY YEARS? WE HAVE THE MONEY AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

IN SUCH CASES, THE CATS ARE HOUSED INDIVIDUALLY.

SHELTERS MIGHT PRIORITIZE TESTING HIGH RISK CATS SUCH AS SICK CATS, CATS WHO HAVE BITE WOUNDS, AND CATS WITH HIGH RISK SITUATIONS SUCH AS HOARDING CASES.

YOU HAVE STATED YOU WOULD DO THAT. THAT'S GREAT.

HOWEVER, IF THEY'RE NOT TESTED FOR RETROVIRUS INFECTION IN THE SHELTER, A RECOMMENDATION FOR POST-ADOPTION TESTING SHOULD BE CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO THE ADOPTER AND DOCUMENTED IN THE CATS FILE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN TRAINED ON THIS.

ARE THEY GOING TO TELL ADOPTERS ABOUT IT OR ARE YOU GOING TO EXPECT THE DOCTORS TO ASK ABOUT IT? AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW THE INFORMATION TO ASK.

THIS IS A CHANCE TO DO PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT I SEE AS A ROLE OF THE SHELTER.

SO IT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY EXPLAINED AND ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE BY THE ADOPTER TO HAVE THE NEW CAT EXAMINED AND TESTED BY A VETERINARIAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE NEW CAT SHOULD BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM OTHER CATS UNTIL THE TEST RESULT IS KNOWN. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. DO THIS THING.

AND ALTHOUGH MOST SHELTER CATS ARE FREE OF INFECTION, POST ADOPTION, TESTING IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN NEW PET OWNERS CONFRONTING DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE NEWLY ADOPTED CAT THAT IS SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A RETROVIRAL INFECTION.

AND THAT'S IF THEY GO TO THE VET AND GET IT TESTED.

LIFE HAPPENS. PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS GOING TO GET IT DONE.

AND WHO'S GOING TO SUFFER? THE CAT AND THE CAT.

IF THERE'S OTHER CATS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, THEY COULD GET SICK.

IF THESE ARE INDOOR OUTDOOR CATS, THEY COULD GET COMMUNITY CATS OR OTHER INDOOR OUTDOOR CATS SICK.

YOU WOULD BE THE REASON DISEASE IS SPREADING AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

AND THEN IF ONE CAT IN A LITTER IN A GROUP IS LATER REPORTED TO BE INFECTED, THE ADOPTERS OF THE OTHER CATS WITH EXPOSURE TO THE INFECTED CAT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED SO THAT IN-CONTACT CATS CAN BE MONITORED AND TESTED.

YOU'RE SAYING NOT TESTING IS GOING TO GIVE YOUR STAFF MORE TIME TO DO OTHER THINGS, BUT THEN IF YOU'RE HAVING STAFF, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH POSSIBLY INFECTED CATS AND REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADOPTED CATS FROM THE SAME LITTER THERE, YOU HAVE STAFF TIME BEING USED RIGHT THERE. RESOURCES ARE BEING USED, SO WHY NOT JUST CONTINUE WITH THE TESTING THAT AUSTIN HAS PAID FOR? WE ARE AUSTIN, WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS. IT'S $32,000 AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PREVENT DISEASE OR PREVENT DISEASE SPREAD.

THOSE ARE THE BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I JUST READ.

THOSE WERE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU PUT IN THE MEMO.

I HAVE MORE. AGAIN, I'M JUST READING THE POSITION STATEMENT.

THEY SHOULD ALL BE TESTED. AND ALSO GOING TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREA, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY FOCUS AREA.

GOAL THREE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING AGGRESSIVE OR UNHEALTHY ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE SENDING OUT POSSIBLY UNHEALTHY CATS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THIS GOES AGAINST THE STRATEGIC PLAN. AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS MARKED COMPLETE ON THE WEBSITE DUE TO SECURING TWO FTES AND TRUCKS FOR OPOS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S COMPLETE WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT'S FALLING INTO IT, BECAUSE TESTING IS KEY TO SURVEILLANCE, AND SURVEILLANCE IS A FOUNDATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THAT IS ONE OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS HERE, AND ALSO OFFERING A SAFETY RESOURCE FOR THE CATS IN YOUR CARE AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER THING THAT I JUST READ OFF IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND THEN IF YOU GO TO STRATEGY B, IT SAYS REVIEW RESEARCH AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ANIMAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

SEEKING REVIEW AND OR APPROVAL FROM GOVERNING BODIES AS APPLICABLE.

AGAIN, THIS TESTING CHANGE CONTRADICTS THIS ITEM IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

AND IF YOU CONSIDER ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION A GOVERNING BODY, THEN I MOVE TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON BASICALLY NOT DOING THIS. LET'S SEE. COMMISSIONER NORTON TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CATS WERE POSSIBLY TALKING 300 AFFECTED CATS BEING SENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, 300 CATS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE SENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY,

[01:55:01]

NOT TO MENTION THE CAT'S HEALTH SPREADING DISEASE.

LET'S SEE. I'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THAT. I DID HEAR ABOUT A RESCUE WHO DOES WORK IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

THEY'RE REPORTING SEEING MORE F I'VE AND F E LV DUE TO WILKOS STOPPING COMBO TESTING.

SO I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THAT HERE. AND AGAIN, AS COMMISSIONER BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PUTTING A BURDEN ON RESCUES AND RESCUES ARE GOING TO GO TO THE OTHER TWO BIG SHELTERS IN THE AREA, HHS AND APA, WHICH BOTH TEST APA, I BELIEVE JUST TESTS FOR FELV AND ARS, TESTS FOR COMBO TEST ADULTS AND FELV FOR SIX MONTHS AND UNDER.

SO YOU'RE PUTTING UP A BARRIER WHICH YOU SAY THIS IS REMOVING A BARRIER, BUT I SEE IT PUTTING UP A BARRIER TO ADOPTERS, FOSTERS AND RESCUES PULLING CATS FROM YOUR SHELTER.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. AND THAT GOES INTO ROUTINE INTAKE TESTING MAY UNINTENTIONALLY INCREASE THE LENGTH OF STAY AND CREATE BARRIERS. FROM MY EXPERIENCE, WHEN I WAS AT THE SHELTER, APA ALWAYS PULLED FELV CATS ALWAYS PULLED THEM.

HAS THAT CHANGED NOW? SO IF YOU'RE NOT TESTING THESE CATS AND THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE SITTING THERE WHEN YOU HAVE AN OUTLET, WHEN YOU HAVE A RESCUE PARTNER WHO'S WILLING TO TAKE THEM AND KNOWS HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM AND CAN FIND ADOPTERS.

PARKER IS A RECENT CAT. YOU KNOW THAT THE ADOPTER WAS LIKE, YES, I WANT THEM TESTED.

PARKER CAME BACK FELV SHADOWCAT STEPPED IN AND PULLED THE CAT.

SO YOU HAVE PARTNERS WHO WILL HELP WITH THESE CATS.

AND THEN IT ALSO SAYS IN THE MEMO, THIS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT OVERALL SHELTER CAPACITY AND ANIMAL WELFARE OUTCOMES.

WHAT ANIMAL WELFARE OUTCOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL THAT WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

NOTHING. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS A QUESTION FOR US.

YEAH. WHAT ANIMAL? THIS IS FROM YOUR MEMO. WHAT ANIMAL WELFARE OUTCOME IS MORE IMPORTANT? STAY IN A SHELTER FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFE WOULD BE THE OTHER.

OUTCOME THAT WE WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE HAPPEN. BUT. YES, BUT IF IT TESTS POSITIVE FOR FELV, IT'S GOING TO BE PULLED BY A PARTNER. TO ME, THIS FEELS LIKE.

IS THIS TO MAKE THE LIVE RELEASE NUMBER LOOK BETTER? WHICH IF THAT'S THE CASE, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE OR BEING CONCERNED ABOUT AN ANIMAL'S HEALTH.

TALKED ABOUT A P A AND H S AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOPS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN, BUT THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST TRAINING WHEN THIS IS DONE, WHEN THERE'S CHANGES, WHAT TRAINING HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE STAFF.

AND FOR FOSTER'S DO THEY, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR TESTING? WILL IT BE AUTOMATIC? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RESCUES.

TRANSFERS. IF PEOPLE TELL YOU AND IT'S ALWAYS ASKED, DO YOU HAVE OTHER ANIMALS AT HOME.

IF YOU'VE GOT CATS AT HOME, IS THAT AN AUTOMATIC.

HEY, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TEST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT EXPOSING YOUR CAT AT HOME AND SPREADING DISEASE. AND THEN THERE WAS TALK ABOUT MEASURING, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT OF THIS, NOT JUST IN CAT ADOPTIONS, BUT IF YOUR TRANSFER CAT OR FOR PARTNERS TRANSFERRING CATS OUT, DOES THAT GO DOWN? DO YOUR CAT FOSTER NUMBERS GO DOWN? ARE MORE PEOPLE REQUESTING, YOU KNOW, ADOPTION, FOSTER RESCUE? AND THEN THIS WAS TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT, BUT DID YOU TALK TO THE OTHER STAFF AT THE SHELTER? ARE ALL THE SHELTER VETS IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS? NO THEY'RE NOT DOCTOR ELLIOTT. YES. NO, THEY'RE NOT ALL OF MY VETS.

THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR FOUR MONTHS, AND THEY'RE NOT ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH IT.

WELL, THEY'VE ALL SUPPORTED IT. DID YOU TALK TO A VET SERVICES STAFF, ANIMAL CARE STAFF, YOUR OUTCOME ADOPTION STAFF OR YOUR CAT VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HELPING WITH ADOPTIONS? TO GET THEIR INPUT, TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE MORALE? THE MORALE OF THE SHELTER HAS NOT BEEN THAT GREAT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HURT IT EVEN MORE.

WHEN PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE RESPECTED OR HEARD OR VALUED WHAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE.

AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR WHERE I STAND ON THIS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DANIEL. I ALSO DID WANT TO MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SHELLY LIEBERMAN.

[02:00:03]

MY NAME IS SHELLY. I'M A VOLUNTEER AT ANIMAL SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

I DO I DID MEET WITH DIRECTOR DANGLER AND DOCTOR ELLIOTT ON THE 31ST OF THE DAY BEFORE IT WENT INTO EFFECT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT WAS ALREADY DECIDED, BUT I STILL HAVE CONCERNS.

AND I DID WANT TO CLARIFY BEFORE ON THE FOSTER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOSTER FOSTER MANUAL, FOSTER PETS MAY NOT BE INTRODUCED OR SOCIALIZED TO OTHER ANIMALS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE THAT ARE RESIDE WITHIN THE FOSTER CAREGIVERS HOME.

SO I BROUGHT THAT CONCERN UP TO THEM. DURING THAT MEETING.

WE ALSO BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN ABOUT RESCUES BEING NOTIFIED AS WELL, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED.

I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY AND SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC.

I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ADOPTERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THEY COULD BE TAKING HOME A CAT THAT CARRIES A CONTAGIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DISEASE, AS COMMISSIONER DANIEL ALREADY SAID, THE FIRST ADOPTER UNDER THIS POLICY GOT THE CAT TESTED.

HE TESTED POSITIVE. HE'S AT SHADOW CATS NOW. BUT WHAT IF THAT ADOPTER DIDN'T KNOW TO ASK? ONCE A CAT LEAVES THE SHELTER, WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS.

THEY MAY HAVE ANOTHER CAT. FREQUENTLY THEY INTRODUCE THEM RIGHT AWAY, EVEN THOUGH WE TELL THEM NOT TO.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE A VET. THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FELV AND NOT REALIZE THAT TESTING IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD REQUEST.

SO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT INFORMATION GAPS NOT JUST ON THE ADOPTER, IT FALLS ON OTHER CATS, OTHER ADOPTERS, RESCUES, VETERINARIANS, AND ULTIMATELY THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

AND I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE. WE'RE A PUBLIC INSTITUTION AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GO BEYOND SIMPLY JUST GETTING ANIMALS OUT THE DOOR.

WE SHOULD SET THE STANDARD FOR RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL HEALTH DISEASE PREVENTION, NOT SHIFTING IT ONTO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE INFORMATION OR RESOURCES TO MAKE FULLY INFORMED DECISIONS. SO AT A MINIMUM, BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN SOP, WHICH IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING, NOT YET WRITTEN, THAT CLEARLY STATES WHICH CATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE TESTED UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? THE MEMO FROM JULY 31ST LEAVES SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, BUT IT ALSO SHOULD ADDRESS HOW STAFF SHOULD BE TRAINED.

THAT'S BOTH VET SERVICES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WE ALSO NEED TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR PLAN TO EDUCATE ADOPTERS ABOUT FELV AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING, AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO MONITOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ENDING ROUTINE TESTING, INCLUDING WHETHER THERE'S ANY INCREASE IN THE TRANSMISSION OF FELV OR OTHER IMPACTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THAT THIS JUST DESERVES A LOT MORE DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NORTON. I JUST HAD ONE MORE COMMENT.

WHAT'S BEST PRACTICE FOR THE NATION MAY NOT BE BEST PRACTICE FOR AUSTIN.

AND THERE'S NO REASON WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE BEST PRACTICE OF THE NATION.

WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD. THAT'S THE RATIONALE THAT WAS USED TO DROP THE EMERGENCY VET SERVICES AT NIGHT, THAT OTHER GROUPS DON'T USE IT. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT THE MONEY WITH IT.

NOW WE'RE DOING THIS, AND I THINK, AS HAS PUT THEMSELVES IN A BIT OF AN ISLAND, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT FROM YOU.

THEY HAVE BETTER OR FOSTER AND PUT THEIR ANIMALS AT RISK.

THEY CAN GO TO A P A, OR THEY CAN GO TO A US AND KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ANIMAL FOR A LONG LIFE.

I THINK TO LOSE YOUR RESCUE PARTNERS IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COALITIONS AND HOW GREAT THE PARTNERS ARE.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. AND MY HEART REALLY GOES OUT TO A DOCTOR OR A FOSTER WHO A FOSTER WHO PUTS THEIR ANIMALS AT HOME AT RISK, AND A DOCTOR WHO ALSO COULD PUT THEIR ANIMALS AT HOME AT RISK.

UNDER THIS NEW POLICY, AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST, IF SOMEBODY AS AS A FOSTER, IF I MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP A CAT THAT'S GOING TO LIVE TWO YEARS, THAT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, I TAKE MEDICAL DOGS, ALMOST ALL SENIORS, AND I PROBABLY ADOPT HALF OF THEM.

AND THEY LIVE BECAUSE THEY LIVE TWO YEARS. AND THEN I GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

SO I GET THAT. BUT NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT.

AND IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT I DON'T THINK JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS A BEST PRACTICE IS NOT THE BEST PRACTICE FOR THE SHELTER.

AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE THE IMPACT THIS MAY HAVE BECAUSE IT'S GOTTEN A LOT OF TRACTION.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER NORTON. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER.

YES. COMMISSIONER NELSON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SHELTER COMING AND SPEAKING ON THIS AND THE COMMISSION SPENDING TIME DISCUSSING IT. AND I THINK I SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND THAT IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING TO SAY THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL ENDORSED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS.

AND THE AYE, A RETROVIRUS TESTING AND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, AND THAT THE SHELTER IS JUST FOLLOWING THAT.

[02:05:11]

WHAT THEY DO ALLOW IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SMALL ROOM FOR NUANCE.

BUT THAT OTHER THAN OTHER THAN TNR. CATS IN GENERAL THAT SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR THESE DISEASES. AND THEN SO THAT WAS THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS.

AND SIMILARLY, WHEN I READ THE 2020 A, A F P FELINE RETROVIRUS TESTING AND MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES THEY, ONE OF THE LINES IS, ALTHOUGH THESE GUIDELINES BROADLY RECOMMEND TESTING ALL CATS FOR RETROVIRAL INFECTION, AN EXCEPTION EXISTS FOR FREE ROAMING STRAY AND FERAL CATS AND TNR RETURN PROGRAMS. AND IT. SO. SO I JUST THINK, YEAH, THAT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME MORE.

DISCUSSION THAT IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO BE HAD. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT AUSTIN WANTING AUSTIN TO BE YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE FOR THE, THE REST OF THE NATION.

AND I WANT TO, I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO SHOOT FOR THOSE HIGH STANDARDS.

AND THEN I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH FELV, THERE'S A BENEFIT TO KNOWING BOTH ANTIBODY AND ANTIGEN STATUS. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LARGE UTILITY IN HAVING A SNAP TEST RESULT PRIOR TO VACCINATING FOR IT. I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AN OWNER WHO'S, WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GO ON AND, AND HAVE A PERSONAL VETERINARIAN FOLLOW UP WITH THIS AND CREATE A COMPLETE PICTURE.

AND SO IF WE'RE GOING BY THE GUIDELINES, IF THEY SAY YOU'RE GOING TO STOP TESTING, YOU MIGHT ALSO STOP VACCINATING.

AND, AND THANKFULLY I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DISCUSSION OF THAT.

BUT THAT'S, THAT SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED WITH CHANGES IN TESTING.

SO THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NELSON.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN THE ROOM? COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER FERGUSON, THANK YOU. YES. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE NOW.

SO SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, BUT I JUST WANTED TO JUST VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID ON THE TOPIC. AND ALSO WHAT MISS LIEBERMAN SAID I, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY WISE FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICES TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND JUST RECONSIDER THE NEW POLICY.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY THAT MUCH MONEY IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

AND I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF, IF Y'ALL WOULD JUST RECONSIDER.

THINK ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID TONIGHT. THAT'S ALL.

THANKS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERGUSON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE ONLINE? ALL RIGHT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND YOU KNOW, INVOLVING YOURSELF HERE WITH THE WITH THE DISCUSSION.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY, I KNOW THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A NEW THING THAT A LOT OF US ARE HEARING.

AND YOU KNOW, I DO WONDER IF IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A MORE IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION OR PRESENTATION ON IT AS WELL.

ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT MIGHT BE IN OUR FUTURE THAT WOULD PERHAPS BE HELPFUL ON YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD OR EVEN IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF COMPROMISE THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE.

BECAUSE I ALSO KNOW THAT WITH IT BEING NEW, I WOULD ASSUME THAT OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SOPS AND TRAINING ETC.

GOING ON AND, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT AND PUT SOME MINDS AT EASE, YOU KNOW,

[02:10:03]

AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT'S STILL IN THE WORKS TOO AT THIS POINT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR ELLIOT. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO SO NOW WE'LL CHANGE THAT AROUND.

[4. Quarterly report from Austin Pets Alive! Presentation by Mara Hartsell, Quality of Care Director, Austin Pets Alive! and Rory Adams, Director of Strategic Customer Service, Austin Pets Alive! ]

AND THE PRESENTER WE HAVE HERE IS MAURA HARTSELL.

DO ANY SPEAKERS GO FIRST? NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR THAT? WE DON'T HAVE IT. WELL, FIRST IS THE PRESENTATION OR THE SORRY, THE THIS ONE.

OKAY. IT'S A NEW POLICY, I THINK. RIGHT? YEAH.

SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE MAURA SPEAK FIRST AND THEN, BUT WE ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY NUMBER FOR COMMENTS.

SO. OKAY. OKAY. SO GO AHEAD. WELL ME TOO, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

YEAH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MAURA HARTSELL, QUALITY OF CARE DIRECTOR AT APA.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE APA'S QUARTER THREE LICENSE AGREEMENT REPORT FOR APRIL THROUGH JUNE AND AS WELL AS OUR JULY MONTHLY REPORT.

DURING QUARTER THREE, APA ACCEPTED 1162 ANIMALS DIRECTLY FROM A S, ALONG WITH 299 ADDITIONAL ANIMALS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY WHO WERE DIVERTED FROM ENTERING THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER SYSTEM THROUGH PASS AND DIRECT COMMUNITY INTAKE.

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT WORK WAS RELATED TO KITTEN SEASON.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR QUARTER THREE TRANSFERS WERE BOTTLE BABIES AND MATERNITY OR NURSING CATS, ALONGSIDE DOGS AND CATS NEEDING MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CARE.

THESE ARE POPULATIONS THAT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL FOSTER MEDICAL AND OPERATIONAL RESOURCES ONCE THEY LEAVE THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER.

THAT WORK CONTINUED INTO JULY. WE ACCEPTED ANOTHER 295 DIRECT TRANSFERS FROM AAS AND 111 ADDITIONAL TRAVIS COUNTY DIVERSIONS BY THE END OF JULY. APA HAD EXCEEDED ITS ANNUAL CONTRACTUAL TRANSFER REQUIREMENT, REACHING 159% OF THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF TRANSFERS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. BY THE END OF JULY, APA HAD TRANSFERRED IN A TOTAL OF 2162 ANIMALS.

THE REQUIREMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 WAS 1360 ANIMALS.

WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE STRONG OUTCOMES FOR THE ANIMALS COMING INTO OUR CARE.

IN JULY, MEDICALLY VULNERABLE TRANSFERS HAD A 94.5% SURVIVAL RATE, AND APA'S OVERALL LIVE RELEASE RATE WAS 95.2%.

I THINK THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SUMMARIZE THESE TWO REPORTS IS THAT THE PARTNERSHIP REMAINED VERY ACTIVE THROUGH THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER, PARTICULARLY DURING KITTEN SEASON, AND APA CONTINUED TO TAKE ON LARGE A LARGE VOLUME OF ANIMALS WITH SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND FOSTER NEEDS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT AUSTIN'S LIFE SAVING GOALS.

WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT WORK ALONG AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND THE CITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EITHER REPORT.

THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. I'M GOING TO. SINCE THIS IS QUARTERLY REPORT, I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON JUNE THAT YOU SENT THIS WEEK.

WHEN YOU HAVE ON YOUR REPORT FOR LIVE INTAKES TRANSFERRED IN FROM AGENCY, DOES THAT INCLUDE A S OR IS THAT THAT INCLUDES A S? OKAY. SO IF I TAKE THAT NUMBER FOR LAST FOR JUNE 942 AND I TAKE AWAY WHAT CAME IN FROM TRAVIS COUNTY LOCALLY, THAT WOULD BE 459 ANIMALS THAT YOU BROUGHT IN TO COMPETE WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN APRIL. YOU SAID AT THE VERY MOST, WE WILL TAKE IN 100 ANIMALS A MONTH FROM COLLECTIVELY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S A HIGH VOLUME NUMBER. SO WHAT CAUSED THE FOUR TIMES THE INCREASE? WE HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING LOCAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING FLOODS ACROSS TEXAS.

THAT WAS JULY. YEAH, BUT THERE WAS SOME SOME LEADING UP TO THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE BEST FRIENDS CONTRACTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO OTHER LOW RESOURCE SHELTERS THAT WE HAVE TO FULFILL. SO ARE THE BEST FRIEND CONTRACTS, ALL IN AUSTIN, ALL IN TEXAS.

THEY ARE. OKAY. BECAUSE I SAW A BEST FRIENDS POST ONCE FOR BRINGING ANIMALS FROM UTAH TO AUSTIN, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR TRANSPORT. NO, WE DON'T ACCEPT ANIMALS FROM OTHER STATES TYPICALLY.

[02:15:05]

AND I JUST LOOKED AT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL JULY NUMBERS.

AND THEN FOR JULY OF THIS YEAR, ZERO DOGS WERE TAKEN IN BY APA FROM A, A S FOR SPACE.

AND YOU KNOW, I IN A LOT OF THE DISCOURSE 2019 IS, IS BROUGHT UP AS A, AS AN EXEMPLAR HERE OF HOW THINGS WERE RUNNING. AND IN JULY OF 2019, APA TOOK IN 65 DOGS FIRST BASE FROM AAS. AND JUST TOTAL DOGS THAT MONTH.

APA TOOK IN 154 IN JULY OF 2019, AND IN JULY OF 2026 TOOK IN A TOTAL OF 50 DOGS.

AND I HEAR THERE'S GOOD THERE'S GOOD COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN APA AND THE SHELTER NOW, WHICH IS EXCELLENT. AND, BUT I'M WONDERING IF, IF ANY OF THAT IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO RESULT IN, YOU KNOW, IN NUMBERS ALIGNING MORE LIKE 2019, ESPECIALLY IF GIVEN AS AN EXEMPLAR YEAR.

I CAN SPEAK TO WHAT APA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT OUR DATA SHOWS.

WE'RE MEETING AND EXCEEDING OUR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT TO AAS WHILE ALSO USING AVAILABLE CAPACITY AND PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE AS MANY ANIMALS AS WE CAN, SO WE. WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT A. IN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WAY THAT WE CAN.

AND I THINK OUR NUMBERS SHOW THAT VERY CLEARLY.

WITH US REACHING 159% OF OUR TOTAL ANIMAL GOAL COUNT FOR THE YEAR IN 2019.

YOU HAD IT WAS 12% OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR INTAKE OR 3000 ANIMALS A YEAR, WHICHEVER WAS HIGHER.

IS THAT WHAT YOUR CONTRACT WAS IN 2019? I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE CONTRACT IN 2019.

YES, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. SO THE CONTRACT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND DESPITE APA POINTING TO 2019 AS AN EXEMPLARY YEAR, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE THERE'S MUCH OF AN EFFORT TO GET BACK TO TAKING DOGS FOR SPACE. OR AGAIN, 2019, YOU TOOK 65 DOGS FOR SPACE AND THIS YEAR TOOK ZERO.

SO OUR FOCUS IS CERTAINLY ON THE MOST MEDICALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY VULNERABLE ANIMALS THAT TAKE THE MOST RESOURCES FROM TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AGAIN, WHENEVER WE CAN, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE THE HARDEST POSSIBLE CASES FROM THE CITY TO ENSURE THE MAXIMUM LIFE SAVING RESULT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER OF ACCOUNTING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE UNABLE TO BE TAKEN IN BY THE SHELTER AND ARE LEFT ON THE STREET AND MAY SUFFER AND DIE THERE.

THAT THAT THAT'S THE NUMBER WE'RE NOT CAPTURING IN ANY OF THESE REPORTS.

RIGHT. WE ARE CERTAINLY TAKING IN. WE'RE WE HAVE A LOT OF INTAKE DIVERSIONS OF THAT.

WE. WELCOME TO APA MONTHLY. THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED UP ON THE STREET.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP. SO ALSO IN APRIL, YOU SAID WE HAVE REVAMPED OUR INTAKE STRATEGY FOR THIS YEAR AND PRIORITIZED AUSTIN ANIMALS ABOVE ALL ELSE.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE BECAUSE A A A A C STILL HAS MEDIUM LARGE DOGS AND CRATES 23.5 HOURS A DAY WHILE YOU'RE BRINGING IN OTHER MEDIUM LARGE DOGS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. OKAY.

AGAIN, OUR DATA SHOWS THAT WE HAVE FAR EXCEEDED OUR ANNUAL GOAL AND WE REMAIN VERY COLLABORATIVE, VERY SUPPORTIVE. AND THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF SHOWING SUPPORT BEYOND PULLING ANIMALS DIRECTLY FROM THE SHELTER,

[02:20:06]

THEY DON'T COLOR OUTSIDE OF THE LINES AS MUCH. SO I KNOW THAT WE, WE ARE IN CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH AAS ABOUT STRATEGIES AND JUST OTHER OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT THAT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A DIRECT ANIMAL.

POLLS TO APA. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ONLINE. I DON'T SEE ANYONE RAISING THEIR HANDS.

SO SHE'S GOT ONLINE. MAYBE SHE WAS JUST WAITING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HEAR ANY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARA.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER NORTON, WE HAVE THE YES, WE HAVE THE FINAL UPDATE OF THE OFF LEASH DOG WORKING GROUP.

[6. Final update from the off-leash dog working group regarding their recommendations for commissioners. ]

OH, OKAY. YES. OKAY. DO YOU WANT ME TO HAVE THE THING TO MOVE THE SLIDES FOR THE OFF LEASH DOG WORKING GROUP? OH, AND CAN YOU PULL THE SLIDES UP? THANK YOU.

SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO REALLY FAST DUE TO TIME.

AND THIS IS GENERALLY GOOD NEWS.

SO JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE WE, I ASKED FOR ANOTHER WORKING GROUP AND COMMISSIONER HOLT CAME ON WITH ME AS SORT OF OUR MY ADVISOR AND LOOKING OVER THINGS TO LOOK AT THE OFF LEASH DOG ISSUE AGAIN.

LOOK AT WHAT WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND HOW HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? AND I THINK AS A COMMISSION, WE OFTEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE DO PRESENTATIONS AND WE NEVER HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP.

AND WE'VE, I'VE ALSO ASKED ABOUT MAYBE DOING FOLLOW UP ON, ON OUR LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.

SO I THINK WE'LL BE DOING THAT. AND THIS IS SORT OF SEEING WHERE WE ARE.

OKAY, I'LL START A LITTLE BIT. SO THE ISSUES WE CONSIDERED I SENT THIS OUT SO I DON'T HAVE TO I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT, BUT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE.

WE STILL SEE MISINFORMATION. NEW AUSTIN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LAWS.

THERE'S A LOT OF CITY PARKLAND ISSUES BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OFF LEASH DOGS WHEN THEY'RE NOT OFF, WHEN IT'S NOT AN OFF LEASH AREA, OFF LEASH DOGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AGAIN, I FOCUSED ON OWNED DOGS, NOT DUMP DOGS.

I THINK IT'S A SEPARATE TOPIC. IT WOULD BE A GOOD TOPIC, BUT NOT FOR THIS.

HOW DO PEOPLE REPORT ISSUES? AND THEN WE KIND OF LOOKED AT SOMETHING NEW, WHICH IS CONTINUED EDUCATION AND DATA MONITORING.

WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THAT? HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE'VE DONE ANY BETTER? AND SO I WANTED TO REVISIT THIS UPDATE. YOU ALL SEE IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL JUST DISSOLVE THE GROUP.

SORRY, I'M TRYING TO MOVE IT AND IT'S NOT OKAY.

SO CONCERNS WE GET FROM PEOPLE ON NEXT DOOR EMAILS THAT ARE SENT TO US.

CONVERSATIONS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, DOGS THAT CHASE BIKES, POTENTIALLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS, RUNNING UP TO STROLLERS, RUNNING UP TO PEOPLE WITH WALKING AIDS, OR THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

NOT POOPING, NOT CLEANING UP THE POOP, NOT YOU HEAR NOT ENOUGH TICKETS ARE WRITTEN FOR VIOLATIONS.

DOGS RUN UP TO RANDOM ADULTS AND DOGS ARE OWNERS ARE NOT TRAINED TO BREAK UP DOG FIGHTS.

SO THE CURRENT LAWS AGAIN, THIS IS AUSTIN CITY CODE TITLE THREE.

YOU CAN LOOK IT UP. WHAT I MAINLY WANTED TO LOOK AT HERE WERE ANY LAWS THAT CAME UP THAT COULD HAVE AFFECTED ANY OF THIS? AND I DIDN'T FIND ANY. I SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT A LAW CALLED PONCHO'S LAW.

I FORGOT TO PUT DOWN THE WHAT H WHAT BILL IT WAS THAT PASSED, BUT THAT ACTUALLY CLARIFIES LAWS ABOUT REGARDING LIKE GROOMERS, DAYCARES AND DOG TRAINERS. SO IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER TO THIS, BUT I WAS JUST KIND OF CURIOUS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING NEW THAT CAME UP.

SO THEN I WENT AND LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS WE HAD FROM THE LAST TIME.

AND SO I REACHED OUT TO PARDS AND I THANK DAVID.

I THINK HIS NAME IS FOR REPLYING. BECAUSE ONE THING YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE IS I CALL AND THERE'S NO PARK RANGER, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARK RANGERS. I PLACE A CALL AND NOBODY CAN COME OUT BECAUSE I'M, I'M AT PEACE PARK AND THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER IS WAY OUT IN TRAVIS COUNTY SOMEPLACE

[02:25:03]

BUT THE GOOD THING IS THEY HAVE 21 FULL TIME PARK RANGERS.

THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER AS LAST TIME. 11 SEASONAL PARK RANGERS, PART TIME AND FOUR CADETS.

THOSE WERE NEW. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM THE LAST TIME, SO I THINK THEY WERE ADDED.

THEY DO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO SERVICE 330 CITY PARKS, AND IT'S JUST 19,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND, AND IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO BE IN ALL PLACES AT ALL TIMES WHEN WE HAVE 330 PARKS AND WE HAVE NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THEY DO THEIR BEST. THEY HANDLE A MULTIPLE MULTITUDE OF PARK LAND RELATED ISSUES.

AND AS FAR AS I KNOW RIGHT NOW, THEY STILL DO NOT WRITE TICKETS FOR OFF LEASE VIOLATIONS, WHICH IS A CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE GOOD THING IS WITH SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE MADE BEFORE AND ISSUES WE BROUGHT UP, I THINK PARK HAS JUST DONE A REALLY OUTSTANDING JOB.

THEY'VE, THERE'S A LOT MORE SIGNAGE IN THE PARKS SUCH AS AUDITORIUM SHORES.

THERE ARE LARGE SIGNS AND PARKS SUCH AS THE SOUTH AUSTIN REC CENTER.

THAT SAID, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE CITIZENS FOLLOW IT.

AND WHEN I WENT TO THE SOUTH AUSTIN REC CENTER, THERE WAS THE BIG SIGN AND ONE PERSON IN THE FIELD WITH ONE OFF LEASH DOG.

SO THEY STILL DON'T FOLLOW IT, BUT AT LEAST THEIR SIGNS UP LETTING THEM KNOW.

AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON. SO THAT WAS TO ME AN IMPROVEMENT.

AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT LATER.

BUT COMMISSIONER LOGAN HAD ASKED ABOUT MILLER.

SO AS FAR AS I CAN FIND OUT, THE SIGNS THAT WERE AROUND THE LAKE WERE PUT UP BY PEOPLE AND PROBABLY TAKEN DOWN BY THEIR POA, WHICH IS A PROPERTY OWNER ASSOCIATION. AND MILLER WAS KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE PARKS OWNS THE GREENWAYS AROUND THE PERMIT, AROUND THE PERIMETER OF MILLER. AND THEY DO HAVE SIGNS UP THERE THAT DOGS HAVE TO BE UNLEASHED.

BUT THE AREA AROUND THE LAKE IS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S AREA.

IT'S NOT THE CITY AREA. AND AGAIN, THE PARKS IMPROVE WITH SEASONAL SEASONAL RANGERS AND CADETS.

AND ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE PARKS WEBSITE, IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

ABOUT DANGEROUS DOGS. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH, THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES UP IS PARKS.

OKAY. AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. PARKS HAS IMPLEMENTED AN OFF LEASH DOG AREA PILOT PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS ALL NEW. THEY CALL THEM DOULAS. AND THEY REALLY LOOKED AT THE LACK OF OFF LEASH DOG PARKS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR LAST GROUP. AND AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WEREN'T HERE, SORRY, OUR LAST GROUP WAS ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION PEOPLE.

TWO OF US AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.

SO OUR TWO GROUPS GOT TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE DIRECTORS OF BOTH THE BOTH THE GROUPS.

SO THEY HAVE ABSOLUTE GOALS, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF OFF LEASH DOGS IN PARKS.

PROVIDE A SPACE FOR DOG OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR DOGS OFF LEASH WITHOUT CREATING CONFLICTS WITH PARK USERS AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH CITY ORDINANCE.

EXPLORE COMMUNITY SENTIMENT OF THE OFF LEASH AREA.

THEY WANT TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS GREAT.

EVALUATE MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND ONGOING EXPENSES BECAUSE THAT IS A THING AND ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

AND SO CURRENTLY ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY HAVE, THEY LOOKED AT THREE WHAT THEY CALL PILOT PARKS AND ONE WAS AT CIRCLE C IN DISTRICT EIGHT. AND THE DECISION IS PENDING ON THAT.

THEY'RE ANALYZING THE DATA, THE SURVEY FEEDBACK, LITTLE ZILKER AND D5, WHICH WAS A PARK WE REALLY LOOKED AT IN 2022.

WE HAD PEOPLE FROM THAT AREA WHO REALLY PARTICIPATED IN OUR MEETINGS.

THEIR DECISION THERE WAS NOT TO PUT IN A DOG PARK, AND THE LONGVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT FIVE IS BEING ANALYZED.

MUCH LIKE CIRCLE C, THE FUNDING COMES OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, AND YOU CAN LOOK UP THE DETAILS ON THIS WEBSITE.

OR IF YOU GO TO THE PARKS ON DOGS OFF LEASH IN AUSTIN OR SOMETHING, YOU'LL COME UP WITH PART AND YOU'LL SEE THIS.

SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS AND DOGS IN AUSTIN.

AND IF WE LOOKED AT FROM OUR BROCHURE THAT WE CREATED IN 2022, THERE WERE 12 DOG OFF LEASH AREAS AND NOW THERE'S 30.

SO I THINK PARKS HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB. NOW, ARE THEY PERFECT? PROBABLY NOT. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM NEED MORE PENS.

I'D LOVE TO SEE CATCH PENS. I'D LOVE TO SEE EVERYTHING FENCED IN.

I'D LIKE TO SEE A SMALL DOG AREA AND A LARGE DOG AREA, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I GIVE THEM A LOT OF CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S LIKE GOOD NEWS. OKAY.

[02:30:02]

THERE ARE 18 ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS AND FOUR APO LEADS.

I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE LESS THAN THEY HAD THE LAST TIME.

THE FOUR APO LEADS DO HALF TIME APO WORK. SO THAT MAKES IT 22.

AND THE LAST TIME OR THAT MAKES IT 20. AND THE LAST TIME WE HAD 21 WHO WERE OUT IN THE FIELD.

AS WE HEARD EARLIER, THEY HAVE TWO INVESTIGATORS, ONE FOR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND ONE FOR DANGEROUS DOG, TWO WILDLIFE OFFICERS THAT WERE NOT ON THE LAST REPORT AND DISPATCH AND SIX DISPATCHERS COVERING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WHICH WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE LAST TIME THEY DO SERVICE 900MI² OF TRAVIS COUNTY, WHICH IS A LOT.

SO AGAIN, YOU TAKE THE SMALL NUMBER AND YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT ON 15TH AND THEY'RE WAY UP IN NORTH AUSTIN AND IT'S 5:00 ON A FRIDAY.

YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GET SOMEBODY DOWN THERE. THEY HANDLE ALL KINDS OF DOG RELATED THINGS AND THEY CAN WRITE CITATIONS.

JUST KNOW THAT CITATION. I FORGOT TO LOOK UP ON THE FEE SCHEDULE, BUT IT'S NOT $500.

I THINK IT'S LIKE 250, BUT A JUDGE CAN INCREASE IT.

BUT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE REALLY FOUND LAST TIME IS THE JUDGES HAD A TENDENCY TO JUST DISMISS THE CASES.

SO EVEN IF THEY WROTE A TICKET AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

AND I WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO JASON FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION FOR US.

ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION WE HAD WAS TO TELL OUR PEOPLE WHO CONTACT US TO CALL 311 WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES.

SO I DID A SEARCH, JUST A BROAD SEARCH. I LEARNED HOW TO DO IT IN THE DATA SET OF 311 CALLS BY YEAR CONTAINING THE WORD DOG.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN 2019 WE HAD TEN 000 SOMETHING 2020 COVID YEAR LESS OUR OFF LEASH DOG WORKING GROUP TALKED ABOUT THIS IN 2022. THE CALLS HAVE STEADILY GONE UP.

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH US, BUT THEY ARE.

THERE ARE MORE CALLS AND 2026 HAS A LOT. I MEAN, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE HIGHEST YEAR EVER IF IT STAYS ON THAT.

THE MOST COMMON DESCRIPTIONS FOR THOSE CALLS ARE LOOSE DOGS, DANGEROUS DOGS, VICIOUS DOGS.

RESTRAINT ISSUES ARE NOT DOG. AND THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF NAT DOGS, SO I DIDN'T FILTER THEM OUT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S LIKE A COYOTE MIGHT BE THERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I IN ORDER TO GET THE DETAILS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK UP THE CASE NUMBER AND THEN DO A PIR TO GET THE CASE NUMBER.

SO IT'S JUST TOO MUCH WORK. AND THERE JUST WEREN'T A WHOLE LOT OF THEM.

AND COMMISSIONER. VANLANDINGHAM, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE FENCING FUND, SO I FOUND OUT A LOT ABOUT FENCING FUND.

SO THE PROGRAM ALLOTS UP TO $250 PER HOUSEHOLD FOR FENCE MATERIAL, WHICH TYPICALLY COVERS 150 SQUARE FOOT ENCLOSURE.

ANIMAL PROTECTION CONFIRMS THE DOGS ARE VACCINATED FOR RABIES AND NEUTERED.

IF NOT, THEY DO NOT SUPPLY THE FENCING MATERIAL AND THEY GIVE INFORMATION ON LOW COST WELLNESS SERVICES, HOW THEY CAN GO AND GET THOSE THINGS. THE OPO COMMUNICATES WITH THE HOMEOWNER AND THEN IT, ASSUMING WE MOVE ON SUBMITS A LIST OF WHAT THEY NEED TO FIX THE FENCE.

THERE'S AN APPLICATION ON THE AAS WEBSITE. THE OPO IS AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPO.

SO THIS IS A VERY LABOR INTENSIVE THING. THEY BUY AND TAKE THE MATERIALS AND DELIVER THEM TO THE HOMEOWNER.

THEY CHECK BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THE FENCE WAS PUT UP. OTHERWISE THEY TAKE IT BACK.

DOGHOUSES, IF DONATED, MAY ALSO BE AVAILABLE.

AND THAT CAN BE BROUGHT OUT BY ANIMAL PROTECTION.

SO FENCING IS RECOMMENDED. SO THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

FENCING IS RECOMMENDED BY THE OPO RESPONDING TO OFF LEASH DOG CALLS WHEN THEY NOTICE THERE'S A FENCE PROBLEM SO THEY CAN TRY TO CONTAIN THE DOGS.

ONE CONSIDERATION A IS MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS WHO GET CALLED TO HOMES FOR VARIOUS ISSUES.

AND IF THEY SEE BAD FENCING AND A DOG, MAYBE THEY COULD RECOMMEND IT.

MY MAIN CONCERNS IN LOOKING AT THIS IS IF THE HOMEOWNER'S DOGS ARE NOT UP TO DATE ON RABIES, THEY'RE EXACTLY THE DOGS WE WANT TO KEEP CONTAINED.

YET WE DON'T PROVIDE THE FENCING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT SAYS WHAT A S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE IF WE SINCE IT'S STATE LAW THAT YOU HAVE RABIES SHOTS WITH THE ANIMAL AND IT'S A MISDEMEANOR IF THEY DON'T DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS OTHER THAN THEY GIVE THEM WELLNESS STUFF AND KIND OF WALK AWAY.

MY OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THE FENCING FUND AT THE TIME I DID THIS HAD AROUND $11,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 44 FENCES.

SO WE CAN'T JUST GO AND BROADCAST THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY REALLY QUICKLY.

BUT MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO BUMP UP THE FENCING FUND BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

[02:35:05]

ALL THE MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE, THE VIDEOS POP UP ON THE PAGE AND THEY HAVE ALL THE CURRENT OFF LEASH DOG AREAS.

THEY HAVE A BIG MAP OF THEM. AS HAS CHOSEN NOT TO PUT UP THE VIDEOS OR THE WILDLIFE BROCHURE AND I THINK THE OFF LEASH PARKS ARE A BIT OUT OF DATE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE 2025 MAP AND NOT THE CURRENT MAP.

SO I DID FIND OUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT 311 DATA, WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE TO CALL IN SO THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT, THAT THERE ARE THINGS BEING DONE WITH IT. AND AGAIN, I THANK MELISSA POOLE FOR HELPING WITH THIS.

I DON'T HAVE NUMBERS, BUT SHE DID CONFIRM THAT EMPLOYEES EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE OFF LEASH REQUIREMENTS AND OUTREACH EVENTS THAT THEY DO.

BRENDAN ARE THERE HOMELESS LIAISON PROVIDES LEASHES AND HARNESSES AND OTHER SUPPLIES.

BRENDAN IS AWESOME. THEY THAT OUTREACH IS PERFORMED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATORS AND ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MARKETING PROFESSIONALS AND FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, AS IS CONSIDERING SOME KIND OF REGULAR CADENCE TO SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH I HAD TALKED ABOUT WITH SOME OF THE OFF LEASH ISSUES.

AND MAYBE WE MIGHT WANT TO SUGGEST A I SUGGESTED MAYBE A COUNCIL MEMBER NEWSLETTER OR SOME KIND OF A REMINDER TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES IN THAT AREA. THE PARK RANGERS ALSO ARE PROVIDING EDUCATION AT LOCATIONS WITH HIGH.

311 CALL VOLUMES. SO THE DATA IS BEING USED. AND AGAIN, THERE WERE SOME WEBSITE ENHANCEMENTS SINCE 2022 AS ENHANCE THEIR WEBSITE. I THINK IT'S MUCH EASIER TO FIND DATA.

THEY ALSO ADDED OFF LEASH ISSUES TO THEIR CHAT BOX, WHICH WASN'T THERE BEFORE.

AND AS I MENTIONED, THE PARK SITE IS JUST VERY GOOD.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE WE DID IT LAST TIME THAT ARE POSITIVE AND GOOD.

YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE SOME STRIDES BEING MADE.

RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU KNOW, ASK YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER OR COUNTY PEOPLE TO IN THEIR MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS TO THINK ABOUT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, THE OFF LEASH DOG LAWS, DONATE TO THE DEFENSE FUND IF THAT'S ALLOWED LET THEM KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE OFF LEASH DOG AREAS. I MEAN, IT'S EXPANDED SO MUCH AND I DOUBT PEOPLE REALLY EVEN KNOW LET THEM KNOW THERE COULD BE WELLNESS VOUCHERS AVAILABLE, FREE MICROCHIPS AND TAGS YOU CAN WALK UP. AND ALSO THE FRIENDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER EXISTS AND THEY CAN HELP WITH BEHAVIOR TRAINING.

AGAIN, 311 I WOULD JUST SAY THE SAME THING. CONTINUE TO TALK TO 311 REPORT INSTANCES, HABITUAL STRAYS.

OPOS HAVE A KIND OF A LETTER THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND TRY TO BE NICE ABOUT IT AND GET THE NEIGHBORS NOT TO FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER BY KIND OF TAKING THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO CALL ABOUT HARASSING WILDLIFE.

IF THE DOG, YOU KNOW, SEEMS TO BE REALLY SKINNY OR SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH IT IF THE DOG INJURES A HUMAN OR ANOTHER DOG OR AN INJURED DOG CAN FOLLOW, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. IF THERE'S LOOSE DOGS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, YOU REALLY NEED TO TALK TO THAT BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN RULES.

I LIVE NEAR SAINT EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LET THEIR DOGS OFF LEASH WHILE THEY'RE WALKING AND THEY ON THE SCHOOL, AND THAT'S TOTALLY FINE IF AS LONG AS IT'S FINE WITH THE SCHOOL.

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGNS THAT SAY NOT TO DO IT YOU CAN ASK FOR A SPEAKER AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS EITHER AS EDUCATORS OR PARK RANGERS IF THAT WOULD HELP. AND YOU COULD RECOMMEND FENCING ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IF THEY, IF THAT'S AN ISSUE, MAYBE THEY COULD TELL THEIR NEIGHBORS, GO ONLINE TO SEE THE FENCING APPLICATION AND FILL IT OUT.

WHICH WAS NOT ALWAYS THERE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING NEW WE CAN DO.

OKAY, SO THIS IS MY EXCITING PART ABOUT OFF LEASH DOG AREAS.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEBODY WRITES I'VE GOT I GET NOTES WHERE PEOPLE SAY I'D LIKE A DOG PARK.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEBODY COMES AND SAYS, I HAVE A DOG PROBLEM? WE REALLY NEED A DOG PARK IN THIS AREA. IF IT'S AN HOA OR A POA, THEY HAVE TO START WITH THAT GROUP BECAUSE THAT IS OWNED BY THEM AND THERE'S REALLY

[02:40:06]

AND IF IT'S JOINTLY, JOINTLY OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CITY AND ANOTHER ENTITY, THEN IT GETS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THEY COULD REACH OUT TO THEIR HOA AND COPY THE CITY EMAIL THAT'S ON THERE.

AND AN EXAMPLE IS THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, IN LOOKING UP THE ISSUE OF THE SIGNS THAT ARE AROUND THE LAKE THAT SUDDENLY WERE THERE AND DISAPPEARED I REACHED OUT TO THE MILLER DOG PARK COALITION AND A WOMAN NAMED MERYL FOOTE RUNS IT.

SHE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL THROUGH THIS. SHE GAVE ME SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THESE WORK, HOW IT'S WORKING AT MILLER AND ABOUT THE OFF LEASH DOG AREAS IN GENERAL.

SHE'S JUST BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL. SO MILLER IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

SO THE CITY OWNS THE GREENWAYS AND HAS A MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE MILLER PO TO MAINTAIN THEM.

THE CITY OWNS GARCIA PARK AND WILL TRANSFER IT TO THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT AT SOME POINT.

NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE WHO WANT GARCIA PARK TO BE AN OFF LEASH DOG PARK.

SO I ACTUALLY WENT OVER AND LOOKED AT GARCIA PARK, AND I REALLY LIKE IT FOR A DOG PARK BECAUSE THERE ARE HOUSES, BUT IT'S SET BACK. IT'S THE GRASS IS CUT, THERE'S A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, SO SANITATION IS THERE.

YOU CAN EASILY PUT UP A FENCED AREA. AND I THINK IT'S BEING LOOKED AT.

THE CITY AND THE MILLER PO AGREED TO A PILOT DOLA IN THE MILLER NORTHWEST GREENWAY.

AND THAT'S SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN 2027. SO I FORGOT WHO'S THE COMMISSIONER FOR THAT AREA.

BUT THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN AROUND MILLER. SO THOSE KIND OF DEVELOPMENTS ARE JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT WAS CITY LAND AND PARTS OF IT ARE CITY LAND, BUT PARTS OF IT BELONG TO THE POA. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF A CITIZEN COMES, HOW YOU'D KIND OF WALK THROUGH HOW TO HELP THEM. SO AGAIN, IF IT'S CITY PARK LAND, THEN YOU WANT TO REFER THE PERSON TO THE PILOT PROGRAM WEBSITE, SUGGEST THAT THEY READ THE DOLA GUIDELINES FROM 2023.

THERE'S A LINK THERE SO THEY SEE IF THEIR AREA EVEN QUALIFIES.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, MY COUNCIL MEMBER RECOMMENDED AN AREA AND I WENT OVER, DROVE HER TO THE EAST SIDE AND LOOKED AT IT.

AND IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE AREA FOR A DOG PARK.

IT WAS AN EMPTY TRIANGLE, BUT IT WAS RIGHT UNDER AN APARTMENT BUILDING.

AND THE PEOPLE. THERE'S JUST NO WAY IT WOULD BE SO LOUD FOR EVERYBODY.

IT WAS ACROSS FROM A SCHOOL, SO THERE WAS A RISK OF PEOPLE KIND OF DUMPING THEIR DOGS THERE AND GOING AND DOING SCHOOL STUFF, SO I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN RECOMMENDED THAT. SO I WOULD LOOK AT THE DOLLAR GUIDELINES, AND IF THE AREA QUALIFIES THOUGH, THEN THEY CAN CONTACT THE THIS EMAIL THAT'S THERE.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE NEW STUFF AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT AND TRIED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU HAD.

SO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM ANYONE WE COULD TAKE THE.

YEAH. OH PUBLIC COMMENT. SORRY. SO WE'VE GOT TWO FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE FIRST WILL BE BEVERLY LUNA WHO IS REMOTE.

HI, THIS IS HI, THIS IS BEVERLY. I THINK THAT ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ADDRESSED BY THE BY MISS NORTON'S COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. PAT. POST-RACE.

OKAY. OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION OR COMMENTS? I'M SORRY. DID YOU SAY THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER? I THINK MY ONLY COMMENT IS I'M LOOKING AT THE APPLICATION FOR FENCING ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW.

AND I WISH IT WAS ALSO IN SPANISH. AND I THINK IT ASKS FOR SOME PRETTY EXTRANEOUS INFORMATION UNNECESSARILY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. WELL, I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU ALL.

WHEN YOUR PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH QUESTIONS AND THINGS.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THIS WAS SUPER DETAILED.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK SINCE IT IS ALMOST 9:00, DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE OR TABLE WITH THE NEXT TWO ITEMS.

[02:45:02]

GOTCHA. OH, SORRY. WHAT WAS THAT? MINE'S SUPER FAST.

OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO REMOVE MINE. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO CONTINUE WITH PAGES AND I'M GOING.

I'M SORRY, DOCTOR NIELSEN'S THEN I'M GOING TO REMOVE THE ONE ABOUT THE EMERGENCY VET SERVICES SINCE THE BUDGET'S ALREADY GONE TO COUNCIL.

GOTCHA. GOTCHA. OKAY. SO, DO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE AN ACTUAL MOTION FOR THAT? YES. YES. MOTION TO WITHDRAW. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE WORKING GROUP OF EMERGENCY INTAKE PROCEDURES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION THAT WOULD THAT. THAT WAS THE MOTION.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? DO I HEAR A SECOND? COMMISSIONER NORTON SECONDS THAT.

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE REMOVING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE STUDY OF THE EMERGENCY INTAKE PROCEDURES OF AAS.

ALL RIGHT. AND SO WE DON'T DO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT ONE EITHER THEN SINCE THAT WAS REMOVED.

CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. SO NUMBER SEVEN, AGENDA NUMBER SEVEN, CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP AND COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

[7. Creation of a working group exploring compliance with the Texas Health and Safety Chapter 8-23. ]

NO. NO. NILSSON. NILSSON. SORRY. I GET IT, THEY BOTH START WITH N.

I DO THE SAME THING. I KNOW I WAS WORKING ON THE ANNUAL INTERNAL REVIEW.

I SAW THAT THE FIRST PURPOSE AND DUTY IN OUR BYLAWS IS ADVISE CITY COUNCIL AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ON COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 823. AND I JUST FEEL LIKE I'VE NEVER I, I JUST FEEL LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS OVERTLY DONE IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION.

SO I JUST AT LEAST WANTED TO LOOK INTO TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE CHAPTER 823, AND MAKE SURE ALL MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WERE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IT WAS AND, AND HOW WE MIGHT BEST ADVISE ON THAT. AS, AS IT'S, IT SAYS IN OUR FIRST PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF OUR BYLAWS.

SO I'M HAPPY TO DO THIS ON MY ON MY OWN AND JUST MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION ONCE I'M READY.

AND. BUT IF ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION OR THE PUBLIC WANTS TO JOIN ME AND MAKE IT OFFICIAL WORKING GROUP.

I JUST WANTED THERE TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT TOO.

AND SO PEOPLE CAN EMAIL ME ABOUT THAT OR, OR LET.

IN ADDITION TO LETTING ME KNOW RIGHT NOW IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A VOTE IF WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT INTO A WORKING GROUP, DON'T WE? SO IS THERE ANYBODY. CAN I ASK FIRST, IS THERE ANYBODY PRESENT WHO'S INTERESTED IN FROM THE COMMISSION WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT BEING A WORKING GROUP AS OPPOSED TO JUST ME DOING RESEARCH? OKAY. LOOKS LIKE WE WANT YOU TO DO SOME RESEARCH.

COMMISSIONER NELSON SOUNDS GOOD. SO IF I GET ANY EMAILS FROM COMMISSIONERS OR FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BEFORE THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL READ IT AS FORMING A WORKING GROUP. OKAY.

AND OTHERWISE, I'LL WITHDRAW IT. OR HOWEVER WE CAN MOST EASILY MOVE ON.

ALL RIGHT. ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT THOUGH ON, ON, ON NUMBER SEVEN.

FROM YES.

SORRY, I WAS DOING SOMETHING ELSE. NUMBER SEVEN, I DON'T HAVE ANY REAL ISSUES WITH IT'S REALLY NUMBER EIGHT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO.

THANK YOU. OH, GOTCHA. YEAH. AND NUMBER EIGHT WAS REMOVED, SO.

ALL RIGHT. SO PAT. FOR THIS IS ON THE THE CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AT THIS POINT FOR TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY. CHAPTER 823.

I'M SORRY. WHAT'S THAT? YEAH, WE WE HAVE TO, I GUESS SINCE IT WAS FOR THE CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE, DO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO VOTE TO WITHDRAW IT DOESN'T THAT DOESN'T THAT CANCEL THE SPEAKERS? TWO. OH, OKAY. THIS IS FINE. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION VERSUS THE.

EIGHT WHICH IS OKAY. SO WE JUST FINISHED OUT IN A SECOND.

OKAY. SO I'M SPEAKING ON SEVEN. CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER ABOUT SIX.

I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE AND I HEARD ONE ITEM. AND SO I HAD SPOKEN TO SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR THAT I COULD GO OUT AND COME BACK IN.

[02:50:06]

BUT I'M HERE NOW, AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS ABOUT TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY.

CHAPTER 8-23. I AM INTERESTED IN THAT. IF IT IS A WORKING GROUP ON TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY. CHAPTER 8-23 AND IT'S OPEN ENDED.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE, I MISSED WHAT YOU SAID. DOCTOR NELSON, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND, A VERY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION AND YOU JUST WANT FEEDBACK ON THAT, THEN THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

BUT IF IT'S OPEN TO LOOKING AT TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY, CHAPTER 8-23 AND LOOKING THROUGH PLACES WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT EITHER ACTION HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY OR ACTION AT THE LEGISLATURE ON AMENDING. 823 I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT TOPIC.

IN OTHER WORDS, I'VE HEARD SOME DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST ABOUT STATE LAWS AND CITY ORDINANCES AND CITY PROCEDURES, AND WE DON'T BRING THEM TOGETHER AND MAKE THEM WORK WELL.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS TOPIC IF THERE WERE AREAS THAT WE COULD DO BOTH RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY ORDINANCES, RECOMMENDATIONS TO TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK BETTER.

SO THAT'S MY COMMENT. I THINK THAT I CAN SPEAK ON THAT, AND AGAIN, I CAN DECIDE IF IF I WANT TO BRING IT UP AS A AS AN ITEM TO VOTE ON A WORKING GROUP NEXT MONTH.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. THE DISCUSSION IS CLOSED. SORRY. I'M CHECKING ONLINE HERE.

SO DISCUSSION IS CLOSED ON THIS, AND NOW WE CAN ASK FOR IF THERE'S ANY

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW OF WHAT THAT OF WHAT THAT WILL BE, BUT THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEM.

I SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. HOWEVER, WHICHEVER WAY THAT FALLS.

ANY OTHER. OKAY, SO THE NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 8TH OR I NEED TO UPLOAD THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER.

BY SEPTEMBER 8TH FOR THE NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH.

SO THE DEADLINE COULD BE AUGUST 20TH BECAUSE I'LL BE ON VACATION FOR A WEEK FROM THERE, SO I WON'T BE ON MY EMAIL.

WHAT? YOU SAID AUGUST 20TH. YOU SAID. GOTCHA. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TONIGHT.

I KNOW THAT WAS A OH, NO. OH, NO. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER NYBERG, GO AHEAD.

I'M SO SORRY, CHAIR. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD ADD TO.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE WORDING. I'M NEVER GOOD WITH THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ADD THE THE POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND FORMING OF A WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES DECIDING NOT TO.

TEST CATS FOR FELINE LEUKEMIA. CAN I. I'M GOING TO ASK ONE THING ON THERE, AND I SAY THIS LIKE I'M A HUGE CAT PERSON, BY THE WAY. I HAVE THREE AT HOME. SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ON THIS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, BUT I'M, I'M WONDERING IF BEFORE WE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE I WORRY THAT THAT COULD GET INTO THE VERY MUCH ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THINGS, WOULD IT BE MORE WORTHWHILE TO FIRST HAVE A, A PRESENTATION GOING INTO MORE DETAIL ON IT, AND THEN PERHAPS THE NEXT MONTH TALK ABOUT THAT AS AN OPTION, IF THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD STEP IT THAT WAY OR, OR HOW WOULD I GUESS WHAT WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

[02:55:03]

AND I DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK A MORE DETAILED REPORT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE TESTING FOR FELINE LEUKEMIA AT ALL.

AND I IT'S WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT OPERATIONAL. WE'RE JUST DOING.

IT WOULD JUST BE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL IF WE EVEN CAME UP WITH ANYTHING THAT.

WE THINK THAT IN THIS CASE, THAT BEST PRACTICES SHOULD NOT BE FOLLOWED OR THAT WE THINK THAT IN THIS CASE, IT'S BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND LIKE COMMISSIONER DANIEL WAS TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THE THE RISKS OF DISEASE SPREADING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

WE'RE LOOKING AT AT HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT THAT DOES FALL INTO STUFF THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

AND WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT WAY PAST JUST THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY CATS, IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO IMPACT RESCUES, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT FOSTERS, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT A LOT OF THINGS.

SO I THINK THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL ABOUT IT.

I WOULD SECOND THE MOTION. I WOULD SECOND IT.

OKAY. SO SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A MOTION TO FORM A MOTION.

YOU NEED TO. YEAH, SHE DOES IT. WE NEED A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND. YEAH. I'M JUST I'M JUST YEAH. SO I'M JUST REPEATING TO PUT IT ON WORKING GROUP FOR YEAH, YEAH. THE SAME THING LIKE CREATION RECOMMENDATION, CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP, EXPLORING, EXPLORING THE OPERATIONAL WORK TO STUDY OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EXPLORING SLASH. STUDYING. PROBABLY STUDY. STUDY.

I LIKE STUDY, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY THE STUDY, THE THE IMPACT, THE IMPACT OF THE FELINE LEUKEMIA FELV AND FIV COMBO TEST ON THE COMMUNITY, ON THE COMMUNITY ON ON ALL CATS.

ON ON ALL CATS. OKAY. OKAY. DO I READ THAT BACK? YOU GOT IT. OKAY. SOUNDED GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. AND I JUST I THINK IT'S REALLY JUST, AGAIN, BEING NEW TO THIS GROUP AND STUFF.

I MEAN, I REALLY DO THINK IT'S GREAT HAVING THE CONVERSATION AND THE PASSION THAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, INVOLVED IN THAT TOO, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE, YOU KNOW, A RESPECTFUL PASSION THAT'S THAT'S GOING FORWARD IN THIS TO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING ALL THE PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE GOING ON.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WEIGHING IN ON THIS.

I KNOW IT'S IT'S A BIG CHANGE AND AN EMOTIONAL ONE AS WELL.

AS I SAY WITH MY THREE KIDS AT HOME. SO I'LL TAKE THE CATS.

YOU CAN TAKE THE DOGS. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT ANY OTHER BUSINESS? OKAY. SO SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IS ADJOURNED AT 8:59 P.M..

WE MADE IT OUT BEFORE NINE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.