AFS Cinema
Shelter Skelter
RECEIVED Wed., May 15, 2024
Dear Editor,
RE: ["Animal Services Volunteers Rally for Council to Fire Their Boss," Daily News, May 14:]
I recently retired from the Austin Animal Center after working eight years as the department executive assistant. In those eight years, I worked for four different directors, all of whom were inundated with complaints from the loud voices of animal welfare in Austin. Over and over again, quite often from the same individuals.
The problems at the Austin Animal Center are not due to the director. Never have been. Current Director Don Bland has maintained the 95% live outcome rate mandated by the city. He and his staff have explored and continue to explore ways to address the many problems at the center, several of which can be attributed to a lack of resources or appropriate funding from the city.
The center's staff have been villainized under every director. For the staff who come to work every day, at a little above minimum wage, it is heartbreaking and extremely stressful. No one at the center wants to put down animals. For anyone in the public to claim otherwise is egregiously flawed and downright heartless.
It's easier to focus on the "bad guy" than to address the many challenges facing the center: housing that restricts pet owners; cost of maintaining animals and vet costs increase; lack of affordable, timely spay/neuters; lack of microchipping, and more. The city of Austin needs to stand up and provide the resources needed to appease the loud voices, or it needs to draw a line in the sand and close their collective ears to the garbage out there.
RE: ["Animal Services Volunteers Rally for Council to Fire Their Boss," Daily News, May 14:]
I recently retired from the Austin Animal Center after working eight years as the department executive assistant. In those eight years, I worked for four different directors, all of whom were inundated with complaints from the loud voices of animal welfare in Austin. Over and over again, quite often from the same individuals.
The problems at the Austin Animal Center are not due to the director. Never have been. Current Director Don Bland has maintained the 95% live outcome rate mandated by the city. He and his staff have explored and continue to explore ways to address the many problems at the center, several of which can be attributed to a lack of resources or appropriate funding from the city.
The center's staff have been villainized under every director. For the staff who come to work every day, at a little above minimum wage, it is heartbreaking and extremely stressful. No one at the center wants to put down animals. For anyone in the public to claim otherwise is egregiously flawed and downright heartless.
It's easier to focus on the "bad guy" than to address the many challenges facing the center: housing that restricts pet owners; cost of maintaining animals and vet costs increase; lack of affordable, timely spay/neuters; lack of microchipping, and more. The city of Austin needs to stand up and provide the resources needed to appease the loud voices, or it needs to draw a line in the sand and close their collective ears to the garbage out there.
Belinda Hare