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Levelland residents press city over animal shelter access and transparency; council funds feasibility study
Summary
Multiple residents urged better hours, volunteer access and clearer euthanasia/transfer notices at the Levelland animal shelter. City Manager James Fisher said the shelter budget has been separated and the council has authorized a feasibility study for a new facility.
Hundreds of residents who filled the council chamber urged Levelland officials on Monday to change how the city operates its animal shelter, citing locked doors, poor communications and dogs euthanized or removed without clear notice.
"How can anyone reclaim or adopt an animal when there is no one there and no communication?" asked Jan Symnacker, a longtime volunteer, pressing the council to "stop the chatter and do something." Several other speakers described missed callbacks, locked doors during posted hours and volunteer restrictions that they said have reduced adoptions and rescue placements.
Skylar Eisenberg described a dog listed as Abram (shelter number 10020) whose listing and removal she and others tracked; Eisenberg said staff told her the shelter "did not have to disclose whether a dog was adopted, rescued, or euthanized." Brianne Rice and Liz Farrell said those practices left them grieving and guilty after missed opportunities to save animals.
City Manager James Fisher told the council he and staff have listened and already moved the shelter budget into a separate department. Fisher also said council has authorized funding for a feasibility study to explore a new shelter facility and that staff will take steps to improve transparency and rescue coordination.
"We have an opportunity from listening to our guests tonight to make our animal services better than it is today," Fisher said during the State of the City presentation.
Speakers representing local rescue groups recommended specific operational changes: weekend public hours, at least one staff person on-site during posted hours, vaccination on intake to reduce disease transmission, timely public listings of animals, and a clear 72-hour notice that names specific dogs slated for euthanasia so rescues can respond.
The council did not take an immediate policy vote on shelter operations during the meeting but has directed staff to pursue the feasibility study and to continue reviewing the shelter's structure and operations. Follow-up items mentioned by staff include evaluating whether the shelter should be removed from police department oversight and creating clearer intake and posting procedures for animals.
