Austin Animal Services briefed the Bridal Advisory Commission on Oct. 13 about an Aug. 13 incident in which a bottle of formalin was mistakenly used during surgical skin prep in the department's operating area.

What happened: Vet services staff said a technician reached for a bottle stored under the sink and, believing it was isopropyl alcohol used to top off a surgical scrub container, poured formalin into the prep canister instead. The error was not confirmed by reading the manufacturer's label before pouring, staff said. The surgical team noticed burning eyes and other discomfort during the procedure and cancelled remaining surgeries once the cause was suspected. The department contacted building services and the fire department and evacuated the room.

Follow-up and outcomes: AAS staff said most animals recovered without lasting harm. Two cases drew follow-up medical attention: a puppy nicknamed "Little Man" was treated for contact dermatitis and healed under veterinary follow-up, and another dog, "Walter," developed upper respiratory signs that progressed to pneumonia; Walter required overnight emergency care, returned to AAS the next day, received follow-up treatment and recovered in foster care. Staff also reported some employees experienced eye or mucous-membrane irritation; supervisors told commissioners staff were reminded to pause and check labels, to notify supervisors promptly about abnormalities, and to report hazards to managers.

Corrective actions: AAS said it has purchased a locked chemical storage box for formalin, centralized formalin storage in a labeled closet, and conducted follow-up staff meetings on safety and communication. The department told the commission it individually discussed the incident with all involved technicians and emphasized labeling checks and pausing to confirm the correct reagent before use.

Why it matters: The incident raised questions about hazardous-chemical storage, label checks and workplace safety in a clinical environment. Department leaders described concrete mitigation steps and said they are emphasizing procedural compliance in vet services.

Ending: The shelter told the commission it would continue safety briefings and implement storage and labeling changes; two animals and staff who required medical follow-up have recovered, the department reported.