Community members and shelter partners told the Animal Advisory Commission they want the next Austin Animal Services director to have documented municipal shelter experience, expertise with no‑kill/open‑intake systems, and a transparent process that includes stakeholder review.

“Back in 2017 and 2018 the city shelter proudly maintained a 97‑98% live release rate,” said Susie Chase (District 10). “I did not see anything about experience directing a shelter with a live‑release rate in the job description.” She urged that stakeholder engagement be expanded and that finalists meet with community members in each council district.

Julie Oliver and other volunteers argued that recent policy changes and operational failures under the interim director underscore the need for a chief with proven shelter leadership. “When there are no defined procedures, life‑and‑death decisions become inconsistent and arbitrary, and that erodes trust,” Oliver said.

Multiple speakers including Chelsea Reisman (Austin Pets Alive) and former commission chairs asked that no‑kill experience and demonstrated success operating open‑intake shelters be treated as prioritized qualifications. “The city has moved from 17,000 intake to 11,000 intake — meaning 6,000 animals are turned away a year,” Reisman said; she and others said that the job description should explicitly require experience with no‑kill operations and stakeholder collaboration.

Rodney Crane of MGT (the recruitment consultant) told the commission the recruitment has been informed by stakeholder interviews and an online survey with more than 400 responses. Crane said the posting is active with 37 applicants so far, that MGT will continue active and passive recruitment over the next 10 days, and that the interviews will include a remote stage followed by in‑person interviews in December with stakeholder participation. The goal is to identify a candidate either by year‑end or in early next year.

Assistant City Manager Susana Carvajal introduced the consultant and confirmed the city intends stakeholder representation in the interview process. Commissioners asked for clarity on how much weight will be given to shelter and no‑kill experience; MGT said candidates’ prior strategies and outcomes will be explored in interviews.

What’s next: MGT will screen candidates and hold stakeholder interviews in December. Community speakers urged the commission to recommend that the city prioritize no‑kill/open‑intake experience, require broad stakeholder engagement in finalist interviews and publish a clear public schedule for finalist engagement.