AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin City Council is moving forward with updating the Austin Animal Center's (AAC) policy when it comes to dog bites. The policy change comes after an audit of the shelter revealed significant issues like dogs being kept in too-small cages, dirty conditions and strained relationships with stakeholders.
Some key changes to the policy include the Dunbar Bite Scale, which is how AAC will handle dogs when it comes to aggressive behavior – even deciding if certain dogs need to be euthanized.
Last year, 131 severe biting events were reported in Austin, according to City data.
The Dunbar Bite Scale has six bites levels. The worst is a Level 6, where an animal kills someone. The new resolution would require AAC to not release animals at or over a Level 4, which are bites that can cause one to four punctures that may have deep bruising around the wound. Level 5 is multiple bites, with at least two of them being a Level 4 or multiple attacks with at least one Level 4 bite in each.
Under the current system, the shelter releases dogs whose bite history is considered "moderate" or "severe."
Community members spoke out about the policy change during the city council's meeting.
"It's not these few, you know, severely dangerous dogs that are really the issue. It's the stray dog. It's AAC's refusal to take in dogs. We have accepted the burden or taken on the burden of picking up these strays ourselves and finding fosters and finding adopters," Beverly Luna with Austin Lost and Found Pets said.
"Due to overbreeding or subsequent genetic issues, neurological conditions or treatment, or cruel treatment that cannot be reversed, some dogs are tragically beyond the help that can be provided," another community member said.
The policy change would only apply to dogs that are the property of the City of Austin, not dogs owned by residents.
The new ordinance is expected to go into effect on Aug. 1.
Staff will still need to provide a report detailing all euthanasia at AAC and the rationale behind each. Staff will also need to make all data they can publicly release that relate to the factors that led to a dog bite's classification.
Some other changes to the ordinance include allowing a finder to foster program, which lets people who find animals immediately register them as fosters in the shelter system, keeping them out of the shelter and in a temporary home.