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Residents and volunteers say gaps in Austin Animal Services emergency care leave injured animals at risk
Summary
Multiple public commenters and a police officer told the commission Dec. 8 that injured and found animals have gone without timely city response and that after‑hours emergency veterinary support has been curtailed; staff said a $100,000 procurement will fund a competitive emergency‑care contract and APOs will prioritize after‑hours triage.
Dozens of residents, volunteers and a veteran police animal‑cruelty investigator told the Austin Animal Advisory Commission on Dec. 8 that the city's system for responding to sick and injured animals is failing and leaving animals to suffer on streets and in neighborhoods.
"Pets are dying horrible, painful deaths because of this terrible decision," Beverly Luna, an organizer with Austin Lost & Found Pets, said during public comment, summarizing recent posts and calls where finders said the city or its contracted emergency clinic would not accept injured animals. Police officer Andrea Gregg, who investigates animal attacks and cruelty, said she and other officers have had to turn residents away and that smaller jurisdictions cannot absorb those calls when Austin declines service.
The crowd's complaints focused on two related problems: apparent breakdowns in 311/911 handoffs and the…
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