The San Angelo Animal Shelter will close its outside drop-off kennels, effective Friday, May 15. The surrender of animals will continue to be accepted during the shelter’s normal business hours.
The move to close the kennels is meant to prevent repeat and irresponsible surrenders of pets and litters, including those by non-residents of Tom Green County, said James Flores, assistant director of the Neighborhood and Family Services Department. Guilt-free surrenders of strays, lost and unhealthy animals will be accepted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. The shelter, 3142 U.S. Highway 67 North, is closed on Sundays.
Flores noted it is illegal to leave an animal at the shelter without staff assistance. Violators will be prosecuted, he said. Surveillance cameras have been installed to police such activity.
People who surrender healthy pets will no longer be eligible to adopt animals from the shelter.
“The move to close the drop-off kennels is meant to underscore the need for responsible pet ownership,” Flores said. “Pets shouldn’t be surrendered simply because they pose an inconvenience. That decision should come only after a lot of deliberation – and with the understanding that the owner won’t be allowed to adopt another animal from the shelter.”
The change is one of many Flores has instituted at the animal shelter in recent months in an effort to improve the facility’s performance. Among those, no adoptable animal has been euthanized in the past 30 days and reputable rescue groups are now allowed to adopt unsterilized pets, with the agreement the group will spay or neuter the animal.
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l, while I totally agree with Mr. Flores's thought process and it's great to hold people accountable....I think this is a big mistake. There will now be a marked increase in the number of animals being dropped off on the side of the highway or just left to run the streets. We already know that Animal Control typically refuses to "work" to catch an animal who doesn't want to be caught. I can't imagine Animal Control being willing to exert the effort needed to go out and now catch all of those animals that could have been safely contained in one of the night drop boxes. We'll see.
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PermalinkAnimal Control typically refuses to "catch" animals that are running loose. They tell citizens to contain the animal and then they will come and get it. While I understand the reasoning behind this decision, the reality is that you cannot cure stupid. The same people who utilize those night drop boxes will now just as guiltlessly dump their "pets" on the side of the highway and drive off. Who is going to catch the increase of strays now? I predict a huge increase in the number of dead animals on the roadways after Friday. I'm positive there is a better solution to this issue. I'd love to discuss it with Mr. Flores.
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PermalinkMy understanding is that those kennels were meant as a safe place for strays that residents found after hours. I have placed a couple of dogs without collars in there late at night. I felt I was being a responsible citizen for protecting the animal from injury and giving the owner a chance to find it. Are we now to just hope for the best if we can't take them in ourselves?
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PermalinkThis is heart breaking. I have picked up and surrendered 3 strays since I moved to San Angelo 3 years ago. All occurred after my work hours and when the shelter isn't open, as most people work during the shelters operating hours and aren't out rescuing dogs or surrendering them. Because I value the health of my own dog, I brought these straight to the surrender kennels to minimize exposure/spread of parasites or diseases. I suppose now, instead of coaxing the starving dog out of the drain, I'll be forced to let him lay there and possibly die. I do apologize for being irresponsible, Mr Flores. I just assumed people in this city might actually care about animals or something. Silly me.
"Don't drop off dogs at our shelter. Ever. Let them die."
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