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Local resident urges county to reinstate animal control volunteer program to stem rising euthanasia risk
Summary
At the Dec. 16 Commissioners Court meeting, Guadalupe County resident Nivia Maldonado urged the court to reinstate a structured volunteer and rescue program for the county animal shelter, saying recent intake rates and reduced rescues are creating an intake‑to‑outcome deficit that risks unnecessary euthanasia.
A Guadalupe County resident told commissioners on Dec. 16 that the county animal shelter is failing to move dogs into homes or rescues at a rate that keeps pace with intake and asked the court to restore volunteer rescue support.
"I am here because conditions at Guadalupe County Bridal Control have reached a point where the current approach is not protecting animal welfare, public transparency, or the county's own operational needs," said Nivia Maldonado during the citizens‑to‑be‑heard portion of the meeting. She said the shelter has an annual intake of over 700 dogs and described disease prevention and daily exercise as essential needs.
Maldonado cited social‑media and rescue placement figures she said document a drop in outcomes since volunteer programs ended. She told commissioners that Friends of Dogs Rescue placed dozens of dogs when volunteers were active and that recent Facebook posts show only limited rescues and adoptions. "Since that support ended, outcomes have sharply declined," she said, and asked when a volunteer program would be reinstated and which rescues would be permitted to provide support.
Her comments included examples of operational gaps: lack of regular dog walking, minimal public visibility for adoptable animals, no organized adoption events, and missing basic medical/age details on shelter listings. She said the shelter's public Facebook page (about 1,200 followers) did not routinely answer questions in comments and that a nearby sandwich‑board or improved signage could increase public awareness.
Maldonado also raised concerns about neonatal care and foster capacity for unweaned puppies, noting bottle‑feeding requires around‑the‑clock attention and that staff alone cannot meet that need without volunteers.
The court did not take immediate action or make a formal motion during the meeting; Maldonado asked for a timeline and clarity on which rescue organizations would be allowed to provide volunteer assistance. Commissioners did not respond with a schedule during the public‑comment segment.
Next steps: Commissioners did not schedule an action item on the shelter during the Dec. 16 agenda; Maldonado's request for reinstatement of a volunteer/rescue program will require staff follow‑up or a future agenda item to produce a formal response or policy change.
