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Volunteers urge county review of Humane Society governance as commissioners approve new building shell
Summary
Longtime volunteers told Harris County commissioners the Humane Society’s programs and partnerships declined after leadership changes; the commission gave written consent for a privately donated 3,000-square-foot shell to be added to the leased property and said it will review lease terms at a future work session.
Longtime volunteers and former board officers pressed Harris County commissioners on a series of programmatic and financial concerns about the Humane Society of Harris County before the commission granted written consent for a new building on the society’s leased property.
“I have been a longtime volunteer at the Humane Society,” said Sue Stepp, who identified herself as a former six-year board president and current volunteer, outlining what she described as a six-month decline in coordination with animal control and in core programs such as adoption events, trap-neuter-release work and a pet food pantry. “A review of the current contract between the county and the Humane Society of Harris County is warranted to address future expectations and safeguard the health and safety of the animals in Harris County.”
The volunteers described multiple program reductions they trace to leadership changes after the retirement of Catherine Jenova, the longtime executive director. George Kiss, who said he served as a board president and volunteer, told commissioners the shelter “used to participate in PetSmart events twice a month,” and that transports and spay/neuter partnerships had declined. Julie Raines, a former six‑year board member, said the volunteer base and outreach programs had fallen off and asked whether funds earmarked for construction would be spent instead on programs the community depends on.
Neil Callahan, an attorney who said he is the society’s registered agent, appeared with Jenova and representatives of Houston Homes to answer questions about a proposed addition. Callahan told commissioners the society is “in compliance with this lease,” and said Jenova had agreed to return to help stabilize operations. He described a roughly 3,000-square-foot shell being donated by Houston Homes and said the society would raise funds to finish the interior.
Commissioners noted that section 4 of the lease requires prior written consent for permanent or portable buildings and must meet county codes. Board members said county staff and building inspectors had visited the site, that permits had been pulled, and that periodic inspections would take place as construction proceeds. One commissioner asked that any additional outbuildings or action buildings currently on the site be addressed separately; the board said it would consider those at a later work session.
The commission voted to approve the plans for the new building shell after a motion and second; the motion passed with a voice vote and no recorded roll-call tally in the public record. Commissioners stressed the approval was limited to consent for the construction plans and did not constitute a county financial guarantee for interior work or operations.
The volunteers asked whether the county can require a forensic audit of the society’s finances. County staff said they would check the authority of the commission to order an audit and that the lease gives the county obligations related to impounded animals but does not itself specify an audit process. Commissioners said they would place a review of the lease and contract on an upcoming work session agenda and that county legal staff would be asked to advise on what oversight the commission may lawfully exercise.
The county’s consent to the new building is effective while the society remains a tenant; commissioners noted the lease provides that improvements revert to the county if the lease is not renewed. Several citizens said they supported Jenova’s return and called for explicit service expectations and safeguards to be included in any future contract revisions.
Commissioners and staff also encouraged volunteers to reengage with animal control and the society’s board as the organizations work to restore services and donor confidence.
Ending: The commission approved written consent for the building shell to proceed and agreed to review the lease and related partnership obligations at a future work session; no county funding for the project was approved by the board during the meeting.
