Two Shelter Stories

Two stories ran on the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter, one from Best Friends Animal Society and other from the City's Public Information Department.  Both stressed city efforts to keep pets at home.  The city story noted Amelia's only living owner had to move to assisted living.  It's not clear if this gentleman called or visited the Animal Shelter, only to be turned down for assistance (like a number of local citizens since the shelter choked off intake).

Neither death, illness nor moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home are acceptable reasons to surrender a pet to the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter.  The move to managed intake occurred in 2019.

Keeping pets at home when there are no owners is not something to be proud of, however "creative" it may be.  

I wrote members of City Council in 2021:

Does the shelter know what citizens are doing with animals they can no longer owner surrender?  I hope citizens appear in person (before Council) to share their concerns about animal problems in their neighborhoods.  Choking off intake into the shelter via Pets Alive practices could have unwanted animals turned loose on city streets.

Again in 2022 I shared with Council members:

The public needs help for sure.  Regarding intake, when someone has a life event, like moving into assisted living or a nursing home the City of San Angelo Animal Shelter will not help.  If a pet owner dies, the city will not help.

Amelia's story should be a lament for the Animal Shelter.  It's not.  

Did we fail Amelia? Do we blame her people? I can’t think so.

Can't think.....that may sum it up.