In other news: Austin goes from bad to worse. New study links raw pet food to “bacteria, viruses, and parasites.” Proposed city ordinance to allow dogs in restaurants. Large state to ban declawing. Communities are looking for someone to run or help run their animal shelters. Antisemitism comes for vegans. Dogs know how toys work. A 50th anniversary milestone for computers and dogs.
These are some of the stories making headlines in animal protection:
Austin goes from bad to worse
As reported earlier, the Austin, TX, city council continues to dismantle the safety net for animals entrusted to the care of Austin Animal Center (AAC), the city pound. After years of declining standards, including turning animals away, telling people to abandon animals to the street, killing healthy and treatable animals, and inhumane care of impounded animals, the City Council approved a resolution to allow pound veterinarians to spay full-term pregnant dogs and cats, kill each of the kittens or puppies, and not record them in outcome data. Existing law, which The No Kill Advocacy Center wrote, requires AAC to notify rescuers and allow them to save the moms, wean the puppies/kittens after birth, and then find homes for all. And that’s not all.
Rescuers are now reporting that the city pound routinely fails to respond to animal protection calls. For example, emergency calls about emaciated dogs are often met with excuses like claiming a lack of staffing or resources, despite AAC being one of the best-funded animal control agencies in the nation. In another case, AAC refused to assist in the rescue of a suffering husky, and dispatchers hung up on citizens calling for help. Many cruelty or neglect calls also go under-investigated, or officers are never dispatched.
Animal advocates want AAC to start reporting the number of calls ignored, animals left untreated, and cruelty crimes going unfiled. They argue that doing so would result in a shift from cosmetic performance metrics toward a real, accountable response system that protects animals.
New study links raw pet food to “bacteria, viruses, and parasites”
