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Animal-control officer warns of screw-worm spread, requests credit-card policy fix; council discusses veterinary contracts and shelter capacity
Summary
The animal-control officer reported increases in shelter intake, raised concerns about screw-worm cases and the need for FDA-approved preventative medications, and asked the council to review the city credit-card policy to allow timely veterinary care; council discussed contracts, shelter capacity and a $5,000 medication grant.
City animal-control staff updated the council on trap-neuter-return activity, intake numbers, disease risk and operational constraints at the July 9 meeting.
The animal-control officer reported approximately 13 cats in the most recent clinic report and said the shelter currently has about 14 animals in custody after recent pickups. She raised concerns about screw-worms, noting reported cases in Texas and Mexico, and identified three FDA-approved preventive medications (NexGard, Capstar, Credelio) as the relevant treatments discussed with veterinarians. She said the city is on a list for a $5,000 grant intended for medications.
The officer also requested a change to the city credit-card policy because current procedures—requiring the city secretary to handle the physical card—delay urgent veterinary care and complicate paying for services such as spays/neuters or emergency treatment. "I would ask if y'all could please look at that and simply come up with a different plan for animal control," she told council.
Councilors asked for clearer reporting (break out microchip, vaccine, and TNR counts), discussed the possibility of a formal veterinary contract, and raised concerns about shelter capacity and euthanasia policies if transports become restricted by animal-health quarantines.
Why it matters: Animal-health issues (screw-worm risk) and operational limits (payment procedures, transport restrictions, staff capacity) affect public health, shelter operations and humane outcomes for animals in the city.
What’s next: Council asked staff to break out clinic counts, add veterinarians used (including Dr. Doyle for euthanasia) to the reference list, pursue options for credit-card/purchasing policy changes as a separate agenda item, and to follow up on the $5,000 medication grant logistics.
