Everman advisory committee backs ordinance and outlines $2 million plan for new animal shelter

The Everman Animal Shelter Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the Forest Hill and Everman city councils adopt a drafted shared animal‑control ordinance and heard a progress report on plans for a new municipal animal shelter. Committee members emphasized recent operational improvements, volunteer programs, and neighborhood vaccination and microchip clinics as part of a strategy to reduce intake pressures and increase adoptions.

Ray Richler, who led the presentation, said the advisory group has secured a property for a proposed new shelter and has submitted a grant application; if federal or state grant funding is not available, the committee plans to pursue the project through the city’s capital improvement and bond schedules. “We’re looking at close to $2,000,000 is where the funding requirement would be for that,” Richler said, adding that the shelter concept…