Kaufman County approves contract to send up to 20 animals a month to Cedar Creek Humane Society

Kaufman County commissioners voted to approve a contract with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek to transfer up to 20 animals per month from the county shelter to Cedar Creek.

The county’s sheriff told the court the agreement is necessary because the county shelter has been operating at capacity. "We carried 640 animals that year," the sheriff said, referring to 2024 intake, and described calls for animal assistance in early 2025: "To date the only animals that we're able to put into the shelter was 51 in January, 12 in February and 28 in March because there's just no run." The sheriff and county staff said the county has budgeted funds for the contract under animal control services.

Why it matters: commissioners said the arrangement is a short-term tool to improve humane care and manage intake while the county upgrades its facilities. The sheriff described quarantine and seized-animal procedures for cases involving bites or court-ordered seizures and clarified that owners found responsible for abuse would be billed for care costs, not the county.

During discussion commissioners asked whether staff at Cedar Creek had been consulted. The sheriff said he had spoken with the shelter’s representative, and the court was told "she is on board." No county staff opposed the contract.

The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Phillips and seconded by Commissioner Moore; the court approved the contract by voice vote. The commissioners discussed additional shelter improvements at the county facility, including changes to cat kennels and adding more dog runs, and said proceeds from selling surplus cat kennels would help pay for a fence.

The county clerk and sheriff were directed to finalize and sign the agreement so transfers can begin under the terms presented to the court.