BY BEN THOMPSON
A closer look
What’s next
center annually, amid a trend of dipping adoption rates and fewer missing animals returned to owners. At the same time, other shelters, foster programs and local groups deal with thousands of arrivals of their own. The ongoing response to last year’s audit will involve work with Austinites to balance their expectations with the city’s as a new strategic plan is charted out.
The center has also faced its share of negative perceptions from the community, especially after last year’s audit dinged the facility’s operations, its handling of capacity constraints and cleanliness. The audit also advised re-evaluating the 95% no-kill benchmark against practical needs of the center’s capacity, though Bland said it is “the last thing” officials hope to consider. Well over 10,000 animals still arrive at the city
Austin Animal Services is working through the updates laid out in the audit report, which should be completed before this winter. Officials anticipate the center’s possible expansion in response to growth and demand—although any such service extensions are likely still a ways off. Staff have explored other sites east and west of I-35 as well as an expansion on Levander Loop as options so far. Community members interested in learning more about the animal center, adopting and volunteering can do so at www.austintexas.gov/austin- animal-center. A coalition of local animal organizations is also planning an April community forum to discuss local issues.
Pet outcomes
19,033
20,000
With longer stays, the shelter has less capacity and animals have fewer outcomes.
15,000
12,817
12,146
11,080
10,979
Adopted Shelter transfer Returned to owner Euthanized Other
10,000
4,524
5,000
0
2020-21
2019-20
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24*
2018-19
*AS OF MARCH 7 SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Fiscal year
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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
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