Which City of San Angelo Animal Group?

The "new" Animal Shelter Advisory Committee met yesterday, according to Concho Valley Homepage.  The only new thing since December 2024 was the resignation of ASAC Chair Victor Schultze, DVM.  Otherwise, this is the same ASAC since October 2024 when two new members joined the committee.

CVH reported the committee would "determine how to improve the facility and process and control stray animal populations."  The story seemed to confuse the ASAC with City Manager Daniel Valenzuela's new Animal Crisis Taskforce.  Daniel informed City Council he was close to filling the taskforce at the January 7th meeting.  City Council minutes from that meeting state:

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela provided an update on the Animal Services Task Force and is hoping to finalize the task force and schedule the first meeting within the next week

CVH interviewed Animal Shelter Director Morgan Chegwidden who has traditionally not involved the ASAC in anything strategic, focusing solely on "meeting Texas state law."  

Citizens could easily be confused as to which group is doing what after watching the news story.  A major clue for anyone watching the actual meeting was that members had to pull monthly shelter numbers from the consent agenda to discuss them.  Another clue is Morgan never mentioned Daniel's taskforce, who is on it, the taskforce's aim and how it differs from the ASAC.  Chegwidden also failed to give an update on shelter facility renovations, a project Council approved financing almost two years ago.  Another clue included the failure to mention the resignation of former ASAC Chair Victor Schultze, DVM.

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter expects a quick turnaround from the City Manager's Animal Crisis Taskforce, thirty to forty five days.  The next ASAC meeting is scheduled for March 20th.  A group meeting once every two months will not fill the Mayor's desires to address the city's loose animal crisis in an urgent manner..  

I don't blame CVH for being confused.  It's hard to paint the big picture when information is kept piecemeal and doled out sparingly.  That has been the case with Animal Services for quite some time.

Interim Neighborhood & Family Services Leadership

With the departure of Neighborhood & Family Services (NFS) Director Bob Salas two managers have assumed interim roles.  NFS Assistant Director Morgan Chegwidden is now Interim Director while WIC Manager Angela Bloss took on the Interim Assistant Director role.

Both Morgan and Angela have been promoted internally prior to their new assignments.  Morgan went from Budget Manager to NFS Assistant Director in June 2017.  Her primary focus was Animal Services and she served three roles on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, Staff Liaison, Board member and Shelter Director.  She completed the Executive Leadership Certification from Southern Utah University with tuition funded by Best Friends Animal Society.

Angela went from Deputy City Clerk to WIC Manager and was named the City's ADA Coordinator in an October 2024 City Council meeting.

The city is yet to post a press release regarding the interim assignments.  The information on these changes came from the City of San Angelo website.

These moves are important given City Manager Daniel Valenzuela has likely recruited a mix of local citizens to advise him and City Council on San Angelo's loose animal crisis.  Morgan oversaw the Animal Shelter for the last seven years, a period that dramatically choked off shelter intake, saw a significant rise in loose dogs on city streets and increased dog-on-dog bites, as well as animal-on-people bites.  The horrific dog attack on a City Animal Control Officer prompted Council to take action.

Council decides the employment of the City Manager but no other roles.  Council has been mostly effusive in their praise for Chegwidden despite crisis after crisis after crisis.  They also had no issue with her referring an upcoming Council meeting as "a show" in a communication with Best Friends leadership.  

Shelter Adoption coordinator Concho Valley PAWS simultaneously faces challenges.  Executive Director Jenie Wilson's husband was arrested in August 2024.  He provided website services for the PAWS and had done similar work for the city in the past.  

Many changes are afoot.  Whatever is decided by city management and Council, it took years to get into San Angelo's loose animal crisis and it will take years and a much better game plan to get out.

Update 1-11-25:  Bob Salas introduced Morgan to the Development Corporation Board in their December 2024 meeting as his interim replacement given his retirement "early next month (January 2025)."    

Animal Crisis Taskforce Update

Mayor Brenda Gunter asked for a rapid formation of the Animal Services Taskforce and production of recommendations on 12-3-24.  She set a 45 day turnaround expectation.

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela offered an update in today's public comment.  He is close to naming the nine people to serve on the taskforce and listed a number of goals for the group.  

• reduce the free roaming dog population
• reduce citizen dog bites
• increase spay/neuter rates
• manage shelter capacity
• encourage responsible pet ownership
• create and enforce policies and ordinances
• foster collaboration with animal rescue groups

That list sounds like the daily job of Animal Services.  What happened over the last seven years that caused these problems to grow exponentially and put many citizens at risk?  

Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden began her role in June 2017 and may soon rise to Director of Neighborhood and Family Services, given Bob Salas' announced retirement.  

It would be an odd note in the middle of the taskforce if one accountable person got to avoid examination by virtue of promotion.

Update 1-17-25:  Concho Valley Homepage ran a story on the "new Animal Services Advisory Committee" which met yesterday.  The piece seemed to confuse the ASAC with Daniel's new Animal Taskforce.  CVH interviewed Animal Shelter Director Morgan Chegwidden who has traditionally not involved the ASAC in anything strategic, keeping in the "meet Texas state law" box.  A citizen could easily be confused as to which group is doing what after watching the news story.  A major clue for anyone watching the actual meeting was that members had to pull monthly shelter numbers from the consent agenda to discuss them.  Another clue is Morgan never mentioned Daniel's taskforce, who is on it, the taskforce's aim and how it differs from the ASAC.  Chegwidden also failed to give an update on shelter facility renovations, a project Council approved financing almost two years ago.

The Partner/No Partner BFAS Dance

Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden's big project was defending the city's "Let them roam unaltered" policy regarding loose dogs, now at third world levels in most neighborhoods.  She did so at the 12-3-24 City Council meeting.  A question arose about the relationship between the shelter and Best Friends Animal Society.  Morgan said the city did not have a signed partner agreement.

She did not share any of the following collaborations (current since 11-1-24):  

1. Bite investigation course -  COSA staff to attend BFAS course
2. Sharing COSA Animal Control cases for last FY  --  BFAS to heat map
3. BFAS virtual rounds training with the shelter medicine team -- Animal Shelter and CV PAWS

It sounds like a partnership, smells like partnership, and reads like a partnership. This is not the first time Morgan has been less than forthcoming in this area.  

Council deserves openness and honesty.  It isn't getting it and has not for quite some time.  That's not a great foundation for going forward.  

Shelter Took 22 Dog Surrenders in FY23-24

Concho Valley PAWS recent public relations blitz over possible changes to San Angelo Animal Shelter dog intake said the following:

Dog intake diversion does not mean dog intake is "closed" but instead allows support alternatives that prevent shelter overcrowding and euthanasia for space.

Now not closed is it?  Twenty seven owners surrendered their pet to the Shelter for fiscal year 2023-24, 22 of those were dog surrenders.  One person returned their dog during the same period.

Consider the history of cuts implemented by the Shelter in conjunction with PAWS:

Who gets the 1.8 dog surrenders per month and the one dog return per year?  Likely someone who wrote their City Council member.

Data Driven Animal Services Drove Dogs into San Angelo Streets

City Council finally faced San Angelo's third world loose dog problem after an Animal Control Officer was brutally attacked by several large dogs.  The City Council member with the longest tenure, having served multiple terms over several decades, asked "why do we even have Animal Services?"  

For a brief moment it looked like Council might wash their hands of the whole mess by contracting it out.  Beleaguered Council members receive frequent calls and emails from constituents regarding animal related issues, including other major dog attacks that have not been reported in the news.

Animal Services chose to serve dogs in the shelter and those that come into contact with Animal Control Officers over the general public and did so with Council's blessing.  Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden's slide shows that history.  She mentioned a few intake numbers but she did not show:

Morgan disputed the city has a "let them roam unaltered" policy in her presentation but that contention was refuted by the many citizens offering public comment.  Citizens said over and over, Animal Control instructed them to "let the loose dog roam."

Chegwidden reluctantly spoke to the large numbers of dogs leaving the Animal Shelter still able to reproduce.  That has been happening for years, thus San Angelo effectively has "let them roam unaltered."

Urgently needed shelter renovations, once expected to be completed in August 2023, may be finished in November 2025.   Mayor Brenda Gunter noted her displeasure with unfulfilled commitments on this project.

Council decided to form a task force and delegated this task to City Manager Daniel Valenzuela.  Staff recommended shelter leadership and PAWS work on the issue with "additional stakeholders designated as needed."  Mayor Gunter expressed her desire for a game plan within 45 days.

City Council is clearly divided on this issue.  Some stated their desire to do the minimum and focus on Animal Control.  Others said we can serve citizens and pets simultaneously, while enforcing city ordinances, ramping up spay-neuter and getting dangerous dogs off the street.

It was odd seeing PAWS Director Jenie Wilson compliment Council during her public comment, especially after stirring up the public for days that Council might cut "lifesaving programming."  

Wilson should have been next to Morgan during her presentation, answering questions about PAWS role.  She wasn't so Morgan could just say "I cannot speak for PAWS" in response.   

It remains to be seen who Valenzuela appoints to San Angelo's Loose Dog Roundup Task Force other than Morgan and Jenie.   It took years to create third world levels of loose dogs and will take years to undo.  Can the pair who got us there get us out of the current mess?

Update 12-13-24:  Critter Shack Rescue's Sharon Halfmann wrote on Facebook:

The failure of the City of San Angelo to enforce the spay/neuter/vaccination ordinance is one of the problems at the heart of the animal overpopulation issue. Very few citations are given and the backlog of tickets is months if not years long. 

The failed “no-kill” movement here and other places in Texas and throughout the US has resulted in record numbers of strays on the streets, where they are often run over, die of starvation, dehydration or illness, become pregnant or impregnate other dogs, or become dangerous packs. 

 Local rescues are overwhelmed, adoptions numbers are down, resources are limited and the shelter is often completely closed to intake. 

If the City can admit that recent policies have failed and that real, wide-reaching change needs to take place, that spay/neuter ordinances need to be strictly enforced and education and low-cost alternatives for pet owners is absolutely necessary, perhaps we can move forward to address these issues as a community - City, pet owners, rescues, concerned citizens. 

We so desperately need to move forward to better the lives of area animals, and that can only happen if entities and citizens work together cooperatively for that common goal, in a realistic manner that brings about real, positive changes.

Update 1-7-25:  Mayor Brenda Gunter asked for a rapid formation of the Animal Services Taskforce and production of recommendations on 12-3-24.  She set a 45 day turnaround expectation.

City Manager Daniel Valenzuela offered an update in today's public comment.  He is close to naming the nine people to serve on the taskforce and listed a number of goals for the group.  

• reduce the free roaming dog population
• reduce citizen dog bites
• increase spay/neuter rates
• manage shelter capacity
• encourage responsible pet ownership
• create and enforce policies and ordinances
• foster collaboration with animal rescue groups

That list sounds like the daily job of Animal Services.  What happened over the last six years that caused these problems to grow exponentially and put many citizens at risk?  

Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden began her role in July 2018 and may soon rise to Director of Neighborhood and Family Services, given Bob Salas' announced retirement.  

It would be an odd note in the middle of the taskforce if one accountable person got to avoid examination by virtue of promotion.

Shelter: Six Years of Decreased Intake

San Angelo City Council will discuss dog intake policies in its upcoming meeting.  The City of San Angelo Animal Shelter contracts with Concho Valley PAWS for adoption and veterinary services.  Together these organizations have choked off shelter intake in a series of changes over the last six years.  Council's background packet has historical statistics on shelter intake.  Missing is the just completed fiscal year.

In FY24 the Shelter took in 2,259 pets, a decrease of 642 or 22% fewer than the year before.  PAWS began assisting the Shelter via a contractor relationship in FY18 (when the shelter took in 5,914 pets). During PAWS tenure City Animal Shelter intake decreased 62% or by 3,655 pets.  That's a drop of 300 pets per month.

Anyone dealing with the Animal Shelter or Concho Valley PAWS hears how "data driven" they are, but rarely see much, if any data, especially on spay/neuter. 

Contrast PAWS characterization of the meeting in an e-mail to supporters:

City Council to Consider Eliminating

Critical Life Saving Programs for Animals

With city management's recommendation:

...referring the intake policies to the originating committee, including Animal Services staff and Concho Valley PAWS leadership.

San Angelo Live, often a shelter/PAWS mouthpiece, wrote about referring to the originating committee but failed to include that Concho Valley PAWS is a key part of that committee.  They later ran a piece specifically on PAWS concerns.

Live somehow missed Animal Shelter service cuts to the tax-paying public (while their budget grew tremendously).  Pets Alive and Best Friends Animal Society drove new shelter initiatives which shifted responsibility to "the community."

"Community sheltering" started years after the city instituted mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for pets.  A chronic lack of enforcement meant litters of puppies and kittens contributed to shelter overcrowding.  The City Shelter added to the overpopulation by returning thousands of unaltered pets to owners.

Neither moving to assisted living nor death are valid reasons for the shelter to accept a pet.  The number of loose dogs in our community grew significantly under "managed intake."  In January Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden called it a crisis as "pet owners are dumping their animals at the Animal Shelter or letting them loose."

The recent dog attack on an Animal Control Officer arose from a home that had ten dogs, many unaltered.  The owner had citations for both failure to spay/neuter and not having a permit for having at least seven dogs.  Social media reports indicate the owner tried to surrender some dogs to the shelter to remedy their situation but was refused.  The city has no documents relative to this report.  The horrific nature of the attack on a professional may have been the impetus for this agenda item.  If a trained officer could be taken down what chance would a regular citizen have?

Concho Valley PAWS is mobilizing its supporters to turn out for public comment.  It's e-mail outreach included: 

Dog intake diversion does not mean dog intake is "closed" but instead allows support alternatives that prevent shelter overcrowding and euthanasia for space.

The reality for many residents has been that the shelter is closed to them for their particular need.  The City ran a story on shelter dog "Amelia" who'd been turned out into the streets:

Amelia’s “mom” passed away several years ago after a long battle with cancer. It appears her “dad” attempted daily care for Amelia while struggling with his own health but was ultimately hospitalized and permanently moved to assisted living.  No one was coming for Amelia.

And she did not qualify for owner surrender under city shelter policies.  The story read like an indictment of managed intake.

It took years to get into this sad and disturbing situation.  And it will take years to get out of it.  An overwhelming public comment session from Concho Valley PAWS followers will likely not help City Council deal with underlying issues or help them paint a picture that balances the needs of people/pet owners with the needs of pets currently in the shelter alongside the need for safe city streets.  

The need for this picture has been a long time coming.  Delegate this to an "originating committee" and it may never get painted.

Update 11-30-24:  ConchoValleyHomepage ran a story on PAWS outreach but noted that PAWS leadership is part of the solution.  The story did not show the dramatic decline in shelter intake over the last six years.

Mayor Brenda Gunter's State of the City address included public safety but not Animal Services.  She did talk a lot about public-private partnerships.  Might one involve Animal Services?