City Council revisited Animal Services at its 8-29 meeting after loose, aggressive dogs attacked at least one resident's pet (possibly more) on Jackson Street. Members of City Council were light on details of the past weekend's incident in referencing "an e-mail chain."
Unrestrained dogs killed a beloved ASU cat at the Facilities Department on Jackson Street on August 10th. An Animal Control Officer came out and wanted to do a "bite report." That seemed insufficient since the grievous injuries to the cat included "multiple fractured ribs, abdominal tears, herniated organs, torn aorta, collapsed lungs and more." Other than the dog inflicted injuries an autopsy showed the cat was “free of disease or dysfunction.” For many years that cat did his job of controlling rodents on ASU property.
I wondered if the dogs that killed the ASU cat were the same ones involved in the Jackson Street incident mentioned at City Council. That is yet to be determined by professionals based on evidence. ASU Police have video of the loose dogs that marauded through Facilities on August 10th.
Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden referenced her department's "data driven approach" but had remarkably little data to share with Council regarding their concerns. Issues included loose dogs in our community, unaltered pets and aggressive animals. Some can be all three, unfixed, dangerous and running free.
Last year the City Animal Shelter was bursting at the seams with cockroaches and puppies. City Council approved a focused effort by the City Attorney's office to write citations to people who had taken shelter animals (adopted or reclaimed) and not gotten them spayed/neutered as required by city ordinance.
This week several Council members recalled this financial commitment and asked about the data. I expected the City Attorney to say something in response to Council's inquiry. Nothing.
Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden talked about staffing and how the City "added" an Administrative Assistant to assist with data collection. It may have been budget sleight of hand. Cut two Office Assistants. Add one Administrative Assistant.
Morgan highlighted "budget constraints" as a former budget manager.
Animal Services spent $750,000 in FY ended 2015. The budget for the
coming fiscal year ended 2024 is over $1.25 million. That's a $500,000 or 66% increase. It does not include the nearly $2 million in planned shelter renovations.
Morgan also informed Council the shelter does not use the words "no kill." Oddly, those words are in the first line of Concho Valley PAWS most recent RFP submission for shelter adoption and veterinary services.
The City's NFS-02-20 RFP specified scope of services. The first two items in that document were:
Support San Angelo Pets Alive and become the city’s partner in such initiatives
Adopt the lifesaving vision as set forth in American Pets Alive
The Animal Shelter still follows the Pets Alive model:
American Pets Alive: Our mission is to end the urgent crisis facing shelter animals by helping save the millions of dogs, cats, and other potential pets needlessly being killed across the country each year.
Pets Alive turned San Angelo's Animal Shelter into mostly a long-term care facility for large dogs. Their model does not prioritize spay/neuter services or include spay/neuter compliance in their "data driven" statistics. Through a series of intake, geographic and shelter capacity restrictions it is extremely difficult to surrender a pet to the city shelter. It is so complicated the shelter instructs citizens on "the path to shelter intake" for pet owners, as if it's a path to home ownership or the path to a comfortable retirement.
Last summer's horrific hoarding conditions at the shelter came in part from three dogs that had litters. One of those three had multiple stays in the shelter. Shelter staff and PAWS vet had two months to identify the dog was pregnant and have her altered. They did not.
This is the second year in a row Animal Shelter issues roared to the forefront during Council's strategic planning/budget preparation cycle. Questions asked indicate there is more work to be done. Answers given raise doubts as to the city's seriousness or capabilities in addressing them.
Update 9-4-23: PAWS Volunteer Handbook states on page 2:
We are in partnership with the City of San Angelo on a No Kill Initiative.
Concho Valley Homepage ran the following article in April 2021:
"Working Together, Concho Valley PAWS and San Angelo Animal Shelter are achieving the “No Kill” Goal"
The story was written by PAWS and it misrepresents actual euthanasia statistics.
Update 9-13-23: The agenda packet for next week's City Council is available on the city's website. There is no item on the agenda for Shelter Chief Morgan Chegwidden to close the loop on questions asked during the budget meeting but not answered.
Minutes state the following:
Neighborhood and Family Services Assistant Director Morgan Chegwidden and Director Bob Salas addressed concerns regarding the Animal Shelter.
The video showed more than that. Mayor Gunter indicated at least one child's safety was at risk from the Jackson Street incident. A drive around town reveals third world levels of loose animals.
Update 9-27-23: The City's Capital Improvement Plan has a 4-30-24 completion date for Animal Shelter renovations. The project is yet to be bid on the city's purchasing website.
Update 2-21-24: GoSanAngelo's 2019 story stated:
The San Angelo Animal Shelter partnered with Concho Valley PAWS in 2017 and embraced a no-kill initiative.Update 3-24-24: The City of San Angelo's website states:
If a pet is in need of immediate medical care due to illness or injury, the pet will be impounded to receive the network of services available through the San Angelo Pets Alive! coalition.
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