San Angelo Council Rejects PAWS Contract, Brings Animal Rescue In-House

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a $162,000 proposal from Concho Valley PAWS and instead bring animal rescue and adoption services under direct city control as the current contract expires Sept. 30.

The decision ends a five-year agreement that began in 2020 and shifts responsibility for adoptions, fosters, and transfers from PAWS to city staff. Interim Assistant Director of Neighborhood and Family Services Angela Bloss introduced the item, noting the contract’s end date and asking for council direction.

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela recommended rejecting the PAWS bid and moving to in-house programming.

“My recommendation is to reject the bid and move forward with an in-house shelter operation on this,” Valenzuela told the council.

Valenzuela said the city’s first priority will be public health and safety. He noted that in past years, the shelter sometimes turned animals away when it was full, telling residents to release them near where they were found.

“That for me was a dangerous proposition,” he said, adding that the city now keeps intake open to avoid strays returning to the streets. He acknowledged euthanasia is sometimes inevitable but said stronger spay and neuter efforts, coupled with close work with rescue groups, are essential to reducing overpopulation.

Animal Services Manager Amanda Weddle, who began work this week, told council she believes staff can implement an adoption plan within two weeks. The city currently employs six Animal Services Officers and plans to increase to eight next year.

Council members raised questions about fairness among rescue groups. Staff said adoptions would be managed through an outcomes coordinator, with animals made available on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure equal access.

During public comment, rescue advocates urged the city to continue supporting spay and neuter vouchers.

“Please find some money for spay/neuter vouchers,” Sharon Hoffman of Critter Shack said. “That’s the one way out of this overpopulation issue, and any money that you spend now will save you money in the long run.”

With the vote, PAWS will no longer manage adoption and rescue services for the city after Sept. 30. Instead, the organization will return to operating independently, focusing on its own rescue efforts and programs such as low-cost spay and neuter. City officials said they hope PAWS, along with other rescue groups, will continue to pull animals from the shelter under the new in-house system.

Valenzuela and Bloss both thanked PAWS for its years of work at the shelter. Mayor Tom Thompson also recognized the group’s contributions while pointing to the city’s recent investments.

“Since I’ve been on here, since 2017, I’ve seen outstanding commitment and obligations … through the service of PAWS, all the way across the board,” Thompson said. “While we have been lagging, we have done a lot of changes, and we have worked through handicaps and handcuffs financially. We have put a lot of money into our animal shelter. And with that, I think we’re going to see progress.”

The motion to reject the PAWS bid and bring services in-house passed 7-0.