Animal Services Proposes Restricting Services to San Angelo Residents

San Angelo's Animal Shelter Advisory Committee approved restricting services to San Angelo residents only.  City Council will consider this recommendation at their next meeting.

Long ago the City and County agreed to split responsibility for key public services.  Tom Green County took responsibility for the public library and the City accepted responsibility for the City-County Health Department.  When I moved here in 1994 Animal Services was under the Health Department, which offered a wide range of services.   

Does Tom Green County have a right to expect the city to continue providing Animal Services to county residents under that agreement?  That question should be answered at City Council.

The city proposes to limit intake to San Angelo citizens after severely reducing situations in which the shelter accepts a pet.  Death of the owner is not an acceptable reason for the City of San Angelo to take a pet.  

The City no longer takes owner surrendered pets due to things like owner illness or death.  (ASAC approved 4-19-19)

That decision was made before the coronavirus pandemic.  Deaths reached 256 today, 165 from Tom Green County and 91 from other counties. 

Today's ASAC move is expected to reduce shelter intake another 10%.   

Health Director Sandra Villareal asked about community resources for citizens who would no longer be served.  Shelter Director Morgan Chegwidden said local rescues had prohibited the city from giving out their information.  

This should be a red flag for Pets Alive which recommends active community collaboration.   Pets Alive has not contacted area rescue organizations to learn why.  

Update 3-9-21:   The ASAC voted 6-0 to restrict services to San Angelo residents only.  It postponed its February 2021 meeting, but on the agenda is reducing the intake of Community Cats due to lack of funding.   The memo states "this is the second intake diversion program" for 2021.  American Pets Alive has dramatically reduced publicly available services from the Animal Shelter.