AUSTIN, Texas — This week, the Austin City Council approved a new strategic five-year plan for the Animal Services Office.
It comes after an audit in 2023 found issues at the Austin Animal Center, including animals being kept in small, dirty cages due to kennel crowding.
After that report, the city auditor’s office recommended the shelter create a clear plan moving forward, so it can better take care of the about 13,000 animals that come in every year.
But for the last several months, the shelter has been closed to intake, due to overcrowding.
“Every day, it’s a jigsaw puzzle about how to accommodate animals that are coming in,” said Elizabeth Ferrer, the public information and marketing program manager for the Animal Services Office.
The Austin Animal Center is hoping that this new five year strategic plan will enhance their shelter operations.
“Austin is growing and with that population growth, and with this building staying the same size, it really is challenging trying to meet the needs of our community in terms of how many animals are coming and going,” Ferrer said.
The strategic plan includes more one-on-one training with staff and volunteers, more efficiency in how they place animals and increased communication internally and with the public. Other goals in the plan include increasing the number of free spay and neuter surgeries, opening intake and increasing the number of animals that are adopted, rescued or returned.
“We would also like to have an open intake all the time to be able to accept new animals every single day, that really is ultimately the goal,” Ferrer said.
At the moment, the plan doesn’t include any concrete plans for expansion of their East Austin building, but staff say a potential city bond in 2026 could get them money to expand the shelter space.
Until then, they are hoping the community continues to step up and take home more of these animals to foster, so they can create more space in the shelter.
The Austin Animal Center is always looking for more volunteers. Anyone looking to learn more and sign up can do so on their website.