Council directs manager to improve animal-welfare operations; staff outlines phased plan toward no-kill shelter
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Summary
Council approved a resolution directing the city manager to improve animal-welfare and shelter operations. The police department's animal-control chief described current impound-style operations, facility limitations and a phased plan toward a capacity-expanded, no-kill shelter supported by rescue partnerships and community fundraising.
The Eagle Pass City Council on June 24 adopted a resolution directing the city manager to improve animal-welfare operations and the municipal animal facility. Staff described the current facility as primarily an impound rather than a rehoming shelter and outlined a phased approach to expand capacity, staffing and community partnerships.
Chief Gonzales (animal control overview) said the current facility — built in the early 2000s and operated by animal-control officers — serves as an impound with four full-time animal-control officers managing intake, enforcement and shelter operations. The chief said the facility has seen interior and exterior improvements, added climate control and a chemical-dispensing system for cleaning, but that long-term adoption and humane-housing goals require capital investment.
"Our existing animal shelter functions primarily as an impound, not a true shelter," Chief Gonzales said, and staff described that an upgraded facility would rely on capital funding, donations and partnerships to become a long-term, no-kill shelter.
Staff outlined short-term measures to expand rehoming efforts, increase rescue partnerships (organizations cited include the Buddy Foundation and Operation Border Rescue), develop voucher-based or low-cost spay/neuter clinics, expand microchipping and host adoption events, and pursue ordinance updates to support enforcement and accountability. For the long term, staff described seeking capital funding to construct a modern shelter and establishing a public spay/neuter clinic in partnership with veterinary groups and nonprofits.
Councilmembers stressed the need to separate enforcement (animal control as a public-safety/impound function) from shelter operations and suggested establishing a volunteer and nonprofit committee to run shelter operations as a complement to city enforcement. Staff noted Uvalde as an example where community donations and foundations materially supported construction of a new facility.
The resolution directing improvements and a community-engagement process passed unanimously. Staff said they will pursue capital-funding options, expand partnerships and work with legal staff on ordinance updates.