By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have decided to move forward with an outside assessment of the city’s animal control facility.
The council approved the assessment during its June 14 meeting.
After hearing from the director of Del Rio’s Animal Advocacy & Rescue Coalition (AARC), City Manager John Sheedy spoke to the council about why he believes the needs assessment is necessary and a first step in moving the facility to a no-kill shelter.
“This is something we’re very excited about. I can honestly (say), since I’ve been in this position, animal control is overwhelming. We deal with it daily, almost, and we’re working really hard to determine what our problem is, and certainly I’m not saying that we’re going to be able to go to a no-kill shelter immediately, but we want that to be our ultimate goal,” Sheedy told the council.
Part of that process, the city manager said, will be re-examining the city’s animal control ordinances and continuing to work with AARC. He said the city’s ongoing relationship with AARC has resulted in the rescue group saving “many, many animals from euthanization.”
“So, what we’re after right now is, and just to get something underway, is just to go out and get someone to come in and give us an assessment, provide an assessment, of what our needs are. Let’s look at it logically, methodically, come into Del Rio, look at our community, look at our situation and help us come up with what would be determined to be an adequate shelter,” Sheedy added.
City Finance Director Alberta S. Barrett told the council the assessment would likely cost $15,000 to $20,000.
“They will give us an assessment as to what we need, what type of facility, size, based on the number of dogs, cats, whatever we take in and then at that point, we would bring it to the council with the CIP (capital improvements plan) budget, as to what that facility would be and an estimated cost and then we would do the normal procurement process from there,” Barrett told the council.
Sheedy also spoke to the council about the current capacity at the animal control facility.
“I was absolutely shocked to find out when I asked about capacity, and I finally just asked the question point-blank, what is our capacity? And I was not prepared to hear what I heard. It’s six cats and 11 dogs. So once I heard that, then I realized exactly how dire our situation is, because we have no capacity. When you have room for only six cats and 11 dogs, there’s no breathing room, there’s no wiggle room,” Sheedy said.
The city manager said a facility with greater capacity would give animal rescue groups like AARC more opportunities and more time to get animals into foster care and adoption.
Mayor Pro-Tem Jim DeReus said he is aware that AARC had previously worked with the city on revamping its animal control ordinances.
“Would the needs assessment incorporate that?” DeReus asked the city manager.
Barrett replied “that would be part of it,” but said review of the facility will be the primary focus of the company that will conduct the needs assessment.
When DeReus asked the other council members for their comments, Councilman Steve Webb thanked AARC members and said he has worked with them on several occasions.
“I was discussing this matter with the city manager, and we need space. If all you can put is 11 dogs and six cats, we’ve got to have space. We’ve got to build a building someplace. I think the assessment will tell us we need a bigger place. There’s no way around it. I’m all for this,” Webb said.
Councilman Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. said the issue of animal control arises every year.
“The city of Del Rio needs to grab ahold of this. We keep pushing it down. We’re going to need to spend some money. I won’t be here for this, but it’s been a struggle because the (animal control) facility just doesn’t fit the size of the city of Del Rio. We have the people who are willing to help us, this organization (AARC) and others, but if we don’t have a facility nothing’s going to happen,” Carranza said.
He thanked the animal control workers who attended the council meeting.
“I’ve been down there, and it’s just not the best place to show up for work everyday,” he added.
Carranza said the city has made some investments in animal control, spending money on additional officers, vehicles and equipment.
“But that’s just putting a Band-Aid on it,” he said.
After additional comments from Sheedy, DeReus made a motion to direct the city manager to proceed with the needs assessment, with Webb giving the second.
The six members of the council present voted unanimously to approve DeReus’ motion.
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