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Pet Circle: Waco shelter reports lower intakes, higher returns and expansion plans
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Summary
Pet Circle Regional Animal Center and Waco Animal Services reported 2025 declines in intakes, improved return-to-owner rates, reduced shelter populations (from ~900 to ~250), increased spay/neuter through BISSELL support and planned a new medical clinic and adoption trailer.
Melissa Sheldon, director of animal services, presented a 2025 operational review for Pet Circle Regional Animal Center and Waco Animal Services on Feb. 3.
Sheldon said the shelter saw declines in intakes — mainly fewer strays and owner surrenders — and cited community programs (pet pantry, trainer partnerships, Safety Net and Found Friends) designed to keep pets with owners. She said return‑to‑owner rates were up after Pet Circle’s inception and that dogs’ average time in care decreased by eight days while cats also saw shorter stays.
Sheldon described inventory and capacity trends: the shelter inherited a large population during the Pet Circle transition and reported total animals in care close to 900 in 2024 (shelter + foster) that moved toward roughly 250 animals in care by 2025. She said transport partnerships placed 340 animals with rescue partners in 2025.
Sheldon attributed a year‑end rise in euthanasia numbers to a late, court‑ordered cockfighting case that affected totals but said the shelter euthanized fewer dogs in 2025 than in 2024 overall. She highlighted major programmatic gains: a near 99% increase in in‑shelter spay/neuter due in part to a BISSELL Fix a Future program that lowered in‑shelter surgical cost to about $22 per animal, more volunteer support (a 450% increase from 2024), and outreach clinics (294 animals served at vaccine/microchip events).
Operational improvements planned for 2026 include a shelter medical clinic (construction started in late 2025, expected completion 2026) to expand surgical capacity and free adoption kennels, and an adoption trailer slated for early 2027 to increase off‑site adoption capacity. Sheldon also noted staffing and call‑volume pressures on animal protection officers and an upcoming National Animal Care and Control Association on‑site evaluation to identify process improvements.
Council members thanked staff for stabilizing shelter operations and asked questions about regional call volumes and the role of animal protection officers.
