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 August 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.
Update 1-21-25: City Manager Daniel Valenzuela released the composition of his Animal Services & Control Taskforce. ConchoValleyHomepage made it their top story. FoxWestTexas ran a piece as well. The members include:
- Judge Allen Gilbert
- Assistant Police Chief Adam Scott
- Dr. Catie Morris
- Heather Hegwood
- Kris McGuffin
- Sharon Halfmann
- Mary Golder
- Kim Spooner
- Mark Lack
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