Council approves first reading to align city animal code with county regional shelter after merger

City council members approved the first reading of an ordinance revising Title 7 of the Georgetown Code of Ordinances to reflect the July 14 merger between the city’s animal shelter operations and the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

Chief of Police (presenting) said the merger required changes to definitions, titles and processes in city code because shelter operations, adoptions and disposition of unclaimed or surrendered animals now occur at the regional facility. The ordinance renames the city unit as the “animal control unit” under the police department, removes references and processes specific to the former Georgetown shelter, adjusts licensing and impoundment procedures to align with the regional shelter operations, and deletes shelter-specific fee language.

Action: Following the chief’s presentation, a council member moved to approve the ordinance as presented; the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff said the ordinance includes standard repeal and severability clauses and establishes an effective date.

Why it matters: The ordinance aligns city code with operational reality after the shelter merger and transfers animal-adoption, disposition and related fee processes to the regional shelter. City animal control officers remain under the police department’s direction, but intake, adoption and some licensing functions are now handled by the regional facility.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the ordinance language and return it for subsequent reading(s) and final adoption per the city’s ordinances and code-adoption process.