PAWS Stopped Spay/Neuter Vouchers for Two Months

The City of San Angelo's adoption and veterinary service provider ceased issuing spay/neuter vouchers for the last two months, December 2022 and January 2023.  

Our low-cost spay and neuter voucher program will change in response to increases in veterinary costs and grant funding. We are in the processes of finalizing funding and contract agreements and should launch an updated program in February! We apologize for any inconvenience. WE WANT TO HELP YOU GET YOUR PET FIXED. But we have to secure the best possible ways to ensure we can offer the most help to the most people. Thank you for understanding. Please reach out to other rescues to learn about their available spay and neuter programs.

PAWS last solicited their spay/neuter vouchers in November, the same month City Council approved completely cutting off dog intake.  

The City increased enforcement of the spay/neuter ordinance in September.  It did so after public outcry over horrific shelter conditions amidst a serious roach infestation.  PAWS went on the offensive with a "Be the Change" campaign which encouraged citizens to spay/neuter their pet(s). The City Attorney's office hired part time staff to assist in the research and citation issuing process.  The city is going back two years to cite shelter adopters who failed to fix their new pet.

Last year the shelter released far more unaltered dogs (760) than PAWS likely issued in dog spay/neuter vouchers (30 per month = 360).  I asked PAWS for their numbers but they did not reply.

There is and has been a need for more low cost spay/neuter services for San Angelo residents.  Area rescues have asked the city to devote more resources in this area.

PAWS and the City shelter reducing services while upping enforcement is poorly timed, given our community's widespread need.  Area rescues have been overwhelmed by the city's repeated reductions in shelter intake and San Angelo's street animal crisis.  Both the City and PAWS repeatedly refer the public to "area rescues" despite being asked over and over to cease and desist.

One has to wonder if all this is intended to be punitive.  Raise an issue and the city does less.  Raise that they've done less and city leaders find an indirect way to deliver payback. It's happened in Animal Services and Public Information.

Update 1-17-23:  It appears the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee will not meet as scheduled for Thursday, January 19, 2023 given city staff are yet to post an agenda.  The Texas Open Meetings Act requires the agenda to be posted 72 hours in advance.  That deadline has passed with no agenda posted for the scheduled meeting.

Update 1-18-23:  The new date for the ASAC meeting is 2-16-23.  There will no meeting in January. 

Update 7-10-23:  PAWS posted on Facebook that it will not offer spay/neuter vouchers for July.