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Conroe residents and staff raise concerns about animal-shelter procedures, staffing and facilities; city says policy update and renovation planned
Summary
A public commenter criticized Conroe's animal shelter for running without up-to-date SOPs and described a recent animal euthanasia after post-surgical complications; city staff said a new manager was hired, a policy update is underway and funds exist for a facility renovation.
A Conroe resident told the City Council the city’s animal shelter has been operating without current standard operating procedures and described an animal euthanized after post‑surgical complications, calling the situation a symptom of systematic neglect. City staff responded that a policy update is in progress, a new shelter manager started recently and the city has funds allocated for a planned facility renovation.
Chris Del Greco told council she obtained the shelter’s standard operating procedures dated February 2013 and said the shelter has been operating without an updated SOP while under police-department oversight. Del Greco said she requested intake and outcome records for April 2025 and described a case in which an animal held for 23 days had post‑surgical complications that led staff to seek private veterinary care and then to euthanasia when medical costs were deemed prohibitive.
Chief Buchholz (city staff) said a current but outdated policy exists and that staff are drafting an updated policy based on model cities. He said the city struggled to hire full-time staff for the shelter, recently filled the manager position (the new manager started last week) and is working with Human Resources to complete hiring. He said the city intends to engage an architect and renovate the facility’s animal-care and exercise areas and that available funds—accrued from services the shelter provided for other municipalities—will pay for renovation work. Buchholz also said staff are working with rescue groups and that policy language governing those relationships would be part of the revision.
Councilmembers asked staff to provide updates and to post information for the public. One councilmember praised Buchholz’s communication since taking the role and asked staff to follow up with the mayor’s office and the city administrator to provide a public update.
Why it matters: Animal-shelter operations and oversight engage public-animal-welfare concerns, municipal staffing and budget decisions. Residents asked for clearer policies, more transparency and accountability regarding veterinary decisions and outcomes.
Council direction: Staff said a policy is being drafted, a new manager is in place and a facility renovation is planned; staff agreed to provide updates to council and to post status information publicly. No formal council action was recorded in the transcript.
