Animal Taskforce to Present to Council

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela's Animal Services & Control Taskforce, formed in January, will present their findings to City Council at the May 6, 2025 meeting.  

Vallenzuela formed the taskforce to "address critical issues related to animal services and control. The initiative was authorized by City Council and aims to develop effective, objective solutions to prioritize public health, safety and animal welfare."

The Animal Taskforce report comes during a time of flux for Council.  This will be Mayor Brenda Gunter's last meeting.  Councilman Tom Thompson won this weekend's Mayoral election and will be installed at a future Council meeting as will winners of two of the three open Council seats.  One Council position will go to a runoff election, scheduled for June.

The taskforce report comes as the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee increased its meeting frequency and is tackling more substantive issues.  

The Taskforce is addressing issues created by the shelter's adoption of "best practices" from American Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society.  Both groups reduce shelter intake without a focus on spay/neuter, effectively endorsing a "let them roam unaltered" policy.  

Years of choking off shelter intake gave San Angelo third world levels of loose animals.  City staff noted the increase in "animal on people" bites and the Taskforce was formed in the aftermath of the horrific dog attack on Animal Control Officer Floyd Bias, who has physically healed and returned to work.

Best Friends Animal Society has a parallel effort going which could result in a public-private partnership proposal for City Council.  If such a proposal were in the works, that could explain a portion of the two year delay in renovating the current shelter building.  Council approved borrowing funds for this urgent need in early 2023.

It will be interesting to hear the Taskfoce's analysis and recommendations, as well as to see their reception from key players on the current and evolving City Council, city leadership, an invigorated Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, Animal Services staff and the general public.  

Everyone do their best to listen, incorporate the information shared and breath deeply several times.  It's an opportunity to hear from thoughtful, knowledgeable leaders on ways to address a growing, heretofore intractable problem for both people and unhoused pets. 

Update 5-7-25:  Taskforce Chair Judge Allen Gilbert led the presentation at City Council and all members participated in presenting recommendations.  A new City Council under Mayor Tom Thompson will consider the Taskforce's recommendations during the upcoming budget process.  

Update 5-8-25:  ConchoValleyHomepage ran a story on the Taskforce's presentation to Council.