Proposed county budget eliminates rescue organization’s care for the animals.
After having worked with Bandera County since February 2005, imagine the shock experienced when the volunteers who run the
Cowboy Capital Pet Assistance League (CCPAL) were informed that the sheriff was attempting to cancel their contract. While this would be a blow to the organization, if his proposed animal control budget is approved, the dogs and cats who are the ones who ultimately stand to lose.
During a budget workshop on Monday, July 14,
Sheriff Weldon Tucker submitted a proposal to the County Commissioners to terminate their contract with the rescue. His narrative noted, “Canceling the contract with C.C.P.A.L. would immediately reduce the animal population at the shelter from the current 40-70 animals to 4-7 animals.” In addition his plan recommends that animal control duties, care of the animals, shelter maintenance, and euthanization be handled by his two deputies.
A friend in need
Mary Butler, CCPAL Secretary, is able to read between the lines. Their organization regularly takes in an average of 50 animals per month from county animal control. If the shelter only maintains 4-7 animals, what will happen to the rest? Sheriff Tucker’s plan refers to a not yet finalized agreement with
Kerr County Animal Control to take in “any unclaimed animals, with adoptable dispositions.” The remainder he notes “will be euthanized by Deputy Neely at our facility. This will help eliminate overcrowding at the various animal welfare groups in Bandera County.”
“It’s not the contract that bothers us so much; it’s what’s going to happen,” noted Butler. “We know that they bring us in at least 50 dogs or cats a month, sometimes it’s 54 dogs
and 60 cats per month.”
CCPAL volunteers fear the dogs and cats will be kept only the minimum three days mandated by state law, not sufficient time for guardians to reclaim their lost pets or for the animals to adjust to their new surroundings prior to a temperament test. Additionally, they believe that the sheriff’s proposed savings in euthanization fees will be due to the county reverting back to gassing the animals, the method used prior to their agreement with CCPAL.
“We will take dogs which the county would otherwise destroy; we have had dogs with three legs we have adopted out, we have dogs with very bad burns down their backs that we have treated and adopted out,” stated Butler. “We take these animals to the vet. Those would have been euthanized immediately by the county.”
According to Butler, CCPAL has cared for 1,970 animals since February 2005, more than half of which were adopted, transferred to other shelters or rescues, went to foster homes, and or were released as part of a TNR (trap, neuter, and return) program. An additional 286 were returned to their guardians; however, she noted that many of those reunions took place long after the three days the sheriff is currently suggesting.
All adopted animals are fixed, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, dogs are heartworm tested and on preventative, and cats are feline leukemia tested. They do this with a 100% volunteer staff utilizing a condemned property owned by the county. Many of the organization’s volunteers travel 40 miles round trip to help care for the animals and clean the facility.
Now CCPAL is faced with the possibility that their contract will be terminated. If that happens, they will be given only 60 days to remove the animals and vacate the property.
Butler reported that over 100 CCPAL supporters attended Monday’s budget workshop, though their representatives were not allowed to speak. However, they will have the opportunity to refute Sheriff Tucker’s proposal during the public forum period at the next commissioner’s court meeting, scheduled on Thursday, July 24.
A friend indeed
Fortunately, CCPAL has an influential friend in their corner,
Commissioner Bobby Harris has been a long-time advocate of the organization. This is not surprising, as he personally witnessed their lifesaving efforts after his own dog once escaped. After an unsuccessful search, it was not until weeks later that a volunteer at CCPAL recognized his dog and contacted him. A relieved Harris stated, “I was sure happy to get him back. Had it not been for CCPAL, my own dog would have been executed.”
As a Commissioner, he must support the best interests of Bandera County, and he believes the continued contract with CCPAL is the region’s top choice not only for the welfare of the animals, but also financially. During the budget workshop Harris questioned the sheriff about his animal control budget and was able to prove to his fellow commissioners that the budget was inaccurate in its reported savings and instead of decreasing expenses; it would in fact cost more. Not only did the budget not take into consideration the salaries of the two deputies who would take over animal control duties, he questioned the good faith of the sheriff’s plan to bring animals to Kerr County for potential adoptions. He realizes the proposed $3 cost to euthanize plus $7 to freeze and cremate an animal would be far less expensive than the $30 estimated cost for a deputy to transport an animal to Kerrville. Harris noted, “So when you put the $10 figure against the $30 figure, the only way you are going to save money in this animal control situation is to kill them.” The $30 figure does not even take into consideration any fee Kerr County Animal Control would charge; as such a figure was not available from the sheriff.
Harris fully believes that had he not been at the meeting to ask pointed questions, along with the support of the large crowd, that the commissioners would have approved the budget as submitted, leading to the cancellation of the contract with CCPAL. Now he believes that it is important for the public to once again step up for the animals and to attend this Thursday’s meeting. “I’m looking for support for people to be there and voice their concerns if we don’t want to be a killing county,” commented Harris. “I’m just trying to get them to do the right thing. The consensus is I think I feel like I got them to reverse themselves, and it wasn’t just me doing it, it was due to the public outcry in that meeting.”
“We would like as many people as possible to show solidarity with us.” Butler additionally stated, “I want people to come out and protest the fact that this man [Sheriff Weldon] is trying to euthanize the majority of animals that are picked up, because I don’t believe that he is going to hold them for three days, knock on our door, and say ‘Please, would you like to adopt all these dogs?’ ”
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Show your opposition to Sheriff Tucker’s recommendation to cancel the contract with CCPAL. Attend Thursday’s county commissioners’ court session:
Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Bandera County Courthouse
500 Main Street
Bandera, Texas
For more information:
•
KSAT: Residents Upset With Plans For Strays in Bandera•
BanderaBulletin: Cowboy capital conflictCowboy Capital Pet Assistance League (CCPAL)3012 State Highway 16
P.O. Box 2200
Bandera, Texas 78003
Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Photo credit: photo of Maddie, is just one of the many animals currently available for adoption from CCPAL. Also shown are Shiner an Australian cattle dog mix and Brad a Rottweiler. Photos courtesy of CCPAL.