Commission Gives "Thumbs Down" To Shelter-Relocation Plan
August 22, 2007 – BREAKING NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN, TX - On Tuesday evening, the Animal Advisory Commission voted to officially oppose the City’s proposal to relocate Austin’s animal shelter. This is the first time that the Commission has taken a public vote on the controversial plan to close Austin’s downtown shelter and replace it with one on an industrial site on the eastern edge of the City—near the corner of East 7th Street and Airport Boulevard.
At the Tuesday meeting, citizens and Commission members expressed alarm over what they described as a lack of meaningful public input into the proposal, and City staff’s allegedly misleading statements made to justify the move. Partially in response to those concerns, Commission Member Lisa McClain, an adjunct professor of animal law, proposed that the Commission recommend that the City Council not approve City staff’s request for permission to hire an architect to build the new shelter near East 7th Street. The Commission passed that resolution—opposing the shelter move—in a 5-2 vote.
Even so, City staff has given no indication that they are listening to the widespread citizen opposition to the proposed move. Ryan Clinton, President of advocacy-group FixAustin.Org, said, “The people of Austin have given City staff the ‘thumbs down’ on moving the shelter. I don’t think City staff is listening, but I know the Council is.”
In November 2006, Austin voters approved a $12 million bond to build a new animal shelter. The bond ballot’s language did not specify whether the shelter would be rebuilt at its current site on Town Lake or moved. The proposal to relocate the shelter has been met with consistent criticism from local animal-welfare advocates who say the move will result in more dogs and cats being killed each year.
Austin’s shelter currently kills roughly 12,000 dogs and cats each year—more than half the animals it shelters.
Animal Advisory Commission Votes to Oppose City’s Plan to
Relocate Austin’s Animal Shelter
On Tuesday night, the Council-appointed Animal Advisory Commission voted 5-2 against moving Austin’s animal shelter from Town Lake to the eastern edge of the City.Relocate Austin’s Animal Shelter
AUSTIN, TX - On Tuesday evening, the Animal Advisory Commission voted to officially oppose the City’s proposal to relocate Austin’s animal shelter. This is the first time that the Commission has taken a public vote on the controversial plan to close Austin’s downtown shelter and replace it with one on an industrial site on the eastern edge of the City—near the corner of East 7th Street and Airport Boulevard.
At the Tuesday meeting, citizens and Commission members expressed alarm over what they described as a lack of meaningful public input into the proposal, and City staff’s allegedly misleading statements made to justify the move. Partially in response to those concerns, Commission Member Lisa McClain, an adjunct professor of animal law, proposed that the Commission recommend that the City Council not approve City staff’s request for permission to hire an architect to build the new shelter near East 7th Street. The Commission passed that resolution—opposing the shelter move—in a 5-2 vote.
Even so, City staff has given no indication that they are listening to the widespread citizen opposition to the proposed move. Ryan Clinton, President of advocacy-group FixAustin.Org, said, “The people of Austin have given City staff the ‘thumbs down’ on moving the shelter. I don’t think City staff is listening, but I know the Council is.”
In November 2006, Austin voters approved a $12 million bond to build a new animal shelter. The bond ballot’s language did not specify whether the shelter would be rebuilt at its current site on Town Lake or moved. The proposal to relocate the shelter has been met with consistent criticism from local animal-welfare advocates who say the move will result in more dogs and cats being killed each year.
Austin’s shelter currently kills roughly 12,000 dogs and cats each year—more than half the animals it shelters.