We are posting material from the AAC April meeting.

This is information that is publicly available through the Freedom of Information Act.

We are scanning it at the highest DPI available, but parts of it may still be unreadable as the copies we get are not always the best.

If you would like your own copies, you may contact joan.Hamilton-Huber@ci.austin.tx.us

A sample request for information letter is available at The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, as is free legal assistance for freedom of information matters.

Until we can get Wordpress to cooperate, we will present the information as a link.  Click here to view the minutes.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS WILL CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008, at 5:30 P.M. in the FIRST FLOOR ASSEMBLY ROOM of the AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING, 721 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. APPROVAL OF APRIL 2008 MEETING SUMMARY

4. GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS

5. “NO KILL” SUBCOMMITEE – RECOMMENDATIONS

6. “DANGEROUS DOG” ORDINANCE – RECOMMENDATIONS (FINAL)

7. TLAC “MAKE-READY” PROCESS

8. TLAC OFFSITE ADOPTION PROGRAM (e.g., PETLAND, PETSMART)

9. AAC MISSION STATEMENT

Standing Agenda Items:

10. BUDGET

11. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

12. ASPCA MISSION: ORANGE

13. NEW SHELTER UPDATE

14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please contact Joan Hamilton Huber at 512-972-6080.

Nathan’s new blog came out today, and a harsh light was shone on Austin.   It is only through shining this harsh light that all the cockroaches can be revealed as they scuttle under their rocks.

From his excellent blog:

Better to know the truth, and who the enemy really is, than continue to run around in circles pretending we all want the same things and that collaboration with these groups is what is needed to save lives.

We think some advice about dating can also be applied to saving animal lives.  When it comes to the opposite sex, we should ignore everything they say and pay attention to everything they do.  Just insert ”saving animal lives” in place of dating.   If a group isn’t proactively doing things to save lives, they are just blowing hot air.  Our city pound is a bloodbath.

Here is the relevant snippet from MR. Winograd’s blog:

Austin, TX
After one year of the ASPCA’s Mission: Orange campaign supposedly to create “No Kill” in Austin, TX, local activists are reporting that death rates have gone up—not down—because the shelters there refuse to put in place the programs and services of the No Kill Equation. Town Lake Animal Control’s director has gone on record saying the public cannot be trusted with fostering animals and that her staff does not have time to do more adoptions (presumably they are too busy killing them in the back). Instead of trying to address this actual impediment to No Kill success, the ASPCA claims that animal lovers who are trying to force the shelter to embrace the No Kill Equation are a threat to success.

At the same time, the ASPCA sided with shelter bureaucrats who wanted to move the shelter from its current location in the heart of the community to a remote part of the city where it will be out of sight and out of mind. Even though it would have meant building a new shelter, no additional animal space was being planned but shelter bureaucrats were promised bigger and more modern office space.

To read more about this, click here.

Now, seriously, are you a member of the Austin public?  Because I am, and I find the suggestion that the public (i.e. you and I) are not capable of fostering animals to be highly offensive.   There are members of the public all over the country fostering animals.  Is there something in particular about the public in Austin that makes us incapable of fostering animals?  These are the questions we need to be asking Dorinda Pulliam, Assistant Shelter Director.

If her staff does not have time to do their jobs, then we would ask why not?  Just exactly what is it they are doing that is more important than saving animal lives?

Animal Advisory Commission

No Kill Subcommittee

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION NO KILL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS WILL CONVENE FOR ON TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2008, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 p.m. at the TOWN LAKE ANIMAL CENTER 1156 W. CESAR CHAVEZ ST. AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

DISCUSSION OF CRITERIA:

• New proposals to reduce intake and maximize return to owner.
• Discussion of low cost spay neuter city wide.
• Mandatory microchipping of all dogs and cats.
• New Ordinance regarding feral cats

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please contact Joan Hamilton Huber at 512-972-6080.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/animal_nokill_040808.htm

Why should you be there if you care about animals?

Mandatory microchipping is not going to stop animals from being killed at TLAC.  Also, the proposed ordinance requiring microchipping will be “complaint driven.”  We are opposed to any such laws or ordinances as they can too easily be used as fodder in neighbor disputes.

Feral cat ordinances are unnecessary in Austin as it is currently lawful to TNR feral cats.

]]> http://www.no-killaustin.org/2008/04/animal-advisory-commission-no-kill-subcommittee/feed/ http://www.no-killaustin.org/2008/04/blo/ http://www.no-killaustin.org/2008/04/blo/#comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:38:16 +0000 admin http://www.no-killaustin.org/?p=4 Animal Advisory Commission

Dangerous Dog Sub-Committee

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A MEETING BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION DANGEROUS DOG SUB-COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD ON Wednesday April 9, 2008 6:00 P.M. AT THE TOWN LAKE ANIMAL CENTER LOCATED AT 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St, AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

CALL TO ORDER

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2. STAFF PRESENTATION

3. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS

4. COMMITTEE AND STAFF DISCUSSION OF SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS

TO DRAFT DANGEROUS ORDINANCE

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/animal_danger_040908.htm

As Nathan Winograd fans probably know, punitive legislation is not the way to go. We hope many citizens will attend and speak their minds at this subcommittee meeting.

Yes, they can be boring (or not - just depends!). Yes, you may feel like you won’t be listened to. But if you don’t speak out, who will speak for the animals?