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Volunteers and residents raise concerns about Pet Circle operations and staffing at hearing of visitors
Summary
At the council’s hearing of visitors, volunteers and animal‑care advocates described staffing shortfalls and operational problems at Pet Circle (the city animal shelter), saying animals spend extended periods in kennels and volunteers have been discouraged. City staff said they would follow up.
WACO, Texas — During the hearing of visitors at the March 18 Waco City Council meeting, volunteers and residents urged city attention to operations at Pet Circle, the municipal animal shelter, citing staffing problems and animal welfare concerns.
Longtime volunteer and community member Terry Romans told the council she believed some animals were confined in kennels for six to 14 days without adequate exercise and said volunteers have decreased because of perceived poor treatment of volunteers by staff. “If Saint Francis walked through that shelter today, he would be so disappointed at the treatment of these animals,” Romans said, and added that volunteers had stopped attending because they felt unwelcome.
Ken Willets, who said he serves on the animal welfare board, described occasions in which kennel staff were not available and other employees with limited animal‑care experience covered the unit. He said volunteers were providing the most consistent, knowledgeable customer interactions and that staff practice needed improvement. Willets also said it was difficult to locate transparent euthanasia statistics and that volunteers and fosters had been turned away at the end of days because staff were closing operations early.
Both speakers asked the council for increased staffing and better volunteer coordination. Council members said staff would follow up with the speakers to review shelter practices.
What happens next: Council directed staff to follow up with the speakers and examine the concerns raised. No formal action or vote was taken during the hearing of visitors; speakers asked that the city investigate staffing schedules, volunteer engagement and euthanasia reporting practices.
