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 provides an emergency‑euthanasia provision for animals in immediate, unremediable pain with an after‑action review.

Sassenas told council the policy was developed with internal staff, outside consultants (Shelter Savvy) and industry groups (Best Friends) and had been beta tested since Sept. 16, 2024. She said the shelter’s live‑release rate has exceeded 90 percent since implementation, and that the advisory committee voted 6‑0 on May 14 to recommend the policy for council adoption. The department plans to bring the policy back to council in June for formal adoption and noted the separate auditor follow‑up scheduled for August.

Fees: Sassenas also presented a proposed update to the schedule of fees, last adopted in 2013. Department staff said service costs have risen (external veterinary treatments such as parvo, FIP and X‑rays) and that an informal cost‑of‑service review and benchmarking against nearby jurisdictions informed the changes. Highlights of the proposed fees: reduce dog and cat adoption fees from $60 to $40 (staff said many adoptions already used subsidy rates and lower fees may increase placements); formalize higher reclaim/impound fees that encourage sterilization; add a sterilization fee when the city performs in‑house spay/neuter at reclaim ($150); align fees for ferrets/rabbits/exotics with current practice; increase microchip fees to $25; and add or increase fees for daily handling/quarantine for prohibited exotic/wild animals. Staff proposed an owner‑surrender fee (the city currently does not charge) to offset intake veterinary costs and said they could waive it or evaluate data after implementation if council prefers. Sassenas also proposed that county animal services fees be updated in the interlocal agreement to recover county charges for outsourced medical care; the county ILA had not been updated since 2004.

Advisory committee and next steps: Sassenas said the shelter advisory committee recommended the fee schedule and the policy (6‑0) at their May 14 meeting. Staff asked council for feedback and said they will return in June for formal action and — if adopted — plan to implement new fees July 1, along with a public information campaign. The revised county fee schedule will be incorporated into a revised interlocal agreement being negotiated with Denton County.

Council discussion: Council members raised operational questions (how many reviewers are needed for euthanasia decisions and how emergency cases are handled), equity concerns about owner‑surrender fees and whether a temporary review of fee impacts should be scheduled. Sassenas said emergency euthanasia is allowed when animals are in immediate distress and that staff generally perform euthanasia with two certified personnel; she noted resources from a shelter nonprofit and the Denton Animal Services Foundation can help on a case‑by‑case basis for owner hardship.

Ending: Council did not vote on the policy or fees on May 20; staff will return with ordinance language for formal adoption in June and with public communications and the updated ILA for the county fees.