AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is wrapping up a community survey to gain further insight into what priorities should be made at the Austin Animal Services Office (ASO).
Wednesday marks the final day of the ASO community survey, with findings poised to inform the city’s new Animal Services Strategic Plan. During the Austin Animal Advisory Commission’s meeting Monday, officials said there had been more than 2,000 survey participants as of Monday evening.
As part of the strategic planning process, city leaders have met with more than 100 staff members and volunteers along with ASO leadership in addition to launching a working group. That working group includes participants like animal commission members, Austin Lost and Found, Austin Pets Alive!, Classic Canines, city staff, Emancipet, the Austin Humane Society, TRAPRS and individual community advocates.
Some key concerns discussed in the working group thus far included:
- Standards of care
- Space
- Warehousing and intake
- Animals coming in from other facilities
- Live outcome percentages and no-kill policy
- Funding ASO might need to carry out eventual strategic plan
- Behavioral barriers, behavioral challenges in some animals at shelter
- Trust in management
“As you can imagine, this was not easy for some participants to hear or even to say but I do think it was a helpful exercise for the group,” said Dr. Larry Schooler, a consultant aiding in the working group process.
The working group has three upcoming meetings in late August and September to discuss the overarching goals for Austin Animal Services, what needs should be prioritized and how to measure success under the new strategic plan. After the ASO survey ends Wednesday, city leaders will analyze key themes in community members’ feedback and synthesize them.
The strategic plan development process comes after the City Auditor’s Office and the National Center for Animal Shelter Evaluations reviewed ASO last year. Both reviews acknowledged there were “misaligned departmental goals” at ASO along with issues related to stakeholder engagement and alignment.
Focal points of the audit included overcrowding causes at the Austin Animal Center, intake restrictions at the shelter, treatment of animals at AAC and if the city’s current “no kill” rate is manageable. From the City Auditor’s review came the recommendation for ASO to work with stakeholders to develop and implement a strategic plan.