Animal Advisory Commission recommends City adopt Animal Services strategic plan with edits, requests targets and clearer intake metrics

The Travis County Austin Animal Advisory Commission voted to recommend the City of Austin Animal Services Office strategic plan to City Council after the commission approved several edits and asked staff to return with measurable targets and regular reporting.

The commission’s recommendation, passed by voice vote, directs staff to forward the draft to the Austin Public Health Committee for review on March 5 and then to City Council for adoption and implementation guidance. Assistant City Manager Susana Carvajal told commissioners the plan “represents the priorities of staff, the city's partners, stakeholders, and our community” and that staff will seek the council’s adoption and follow its direction for implementation.

Why it matters: Commissioners and public commenters said the plan could help rebuild public trust and guide operations at Austin’s shelter system—if the strategic goals are paired with clear targets and regular, transparent data that show whether outcomes are improving.

Commissioners made a set of specific edits during discussion and confirmed their recommendation to council with those changes. Key changes the…