Austin Humane Society officials met with City of Austin staff Wednesday to persuade the city to reconsider allowing construction of a new animal services center.

Four years ago voters approved a plan to relocate the Town Lake Animal Center from its current location downtown to just off Levandar Loop in East Austin.

But on Jan. 28, after a recommendation from the Public Health and Human Services Subcommittee, Austin City Council decided to indefinitely postpone approving the contractor and bids for construction of the new facility.

AHS said city staff told them the city wants more input concerning recommendations for services.

The Austin Humane Society said dogs and cats are cramped as it is, and delaying the new building will only make things worse.

"It's heartbreaking," AHS Executive Director Frances Jonon said. "Every day we see the homeless animals here at the Austin Humane Society that need our help. We visit our friends at Town Lake Animal Center, and we see the cages there and the animals there. So it's heartbreaking that our hopes of a new city animal shelter, they've been dashed."

In Nov. 2006, Austin voters approved $12 million for a new animal services facility. After the project was designed, a construction start date was planned for next month.

The Austin Humane Society wants the item re-slated for the March 25 council meeting, saying the bidding deadline is April 9. After that, the process has to start all over again.

Members of the city council have not returned calls as of press time.