Denton staff seek council feedback on new responsible‑euthanasia policy and proposed fee changes for Animal Services

Nikki Sassenas, director of Denton Animal Services, presented a two‑part package May 20 that included a new written responsible‑euthanasia policy for shelter decision making and a proposed schedule of updated fees for shelter services.

Policy: Sassenas said the department lacked a formal, adopted euthanasia‑decision policy and that the new policy was built from best practices and outside review. The policy establishes clear categories and criteria (medical, behavioral, legal, wildlife/prohibited animals and unweaned neonates), creates a multidisciplinary review team for euthanasia recommendations (veterinarian, management team member, shelter staff and behavior specialist) and requires the director to approve euthanasia recommendations and enter documentation in shelter software. The policy requires that no stray be euthanized during its 72‑hour stray‑hold period, that no stray be euthanized on days the shelter is closed, and that the shelter not euthanize animals solely because it is at capacity. It also…