Richmond, Texas, May 19th ,2017 – Precinct One Commissioner, Vincent Morales, arranged the meeting with Fort Bend Pets Alive!, County Attorney, Department of Health & Human Services, Fort Bend County Animal Shelter to invigorate a public and private partnership.
Frank Yeverino J.D., legal counsel of Fort Bend Pets Alive! solicited adoption of a no kill order to incorporate provisions for life saving programs in shelter operation of the county animal shelter. Saving 90 percent or more of the animals who enter shelters is the current benchmark of no-kill. It is a pertinent step to provide a quantitative benchmark that all stakeholders in Fort Bend County can use as a goal. To become a better community through kindness to animals is a shared community value in Fort Bend County.
Commissioner Morales, Dr. Reynolds, Deputy Director of Health and Human Services and Animal Shelter Director Rene Vasquez in concurrence of Judge Hebert’s goal of reaching 90% save rate, committed to these three action items.
First, Fort Bend Pets Alive! is to work with shelter director Rene Vasquez to initiate a canine behavior modification program to help canines of larger breeds that have been more subjected to be put down mainly due to development of improper behavior in confinement after a prolonged period of time in the shelter environment. Neutered/spayed larger breeds of canine who participate in well designed play groups become socialized and more adoptable. Play groups with proper behavior intervention and modifications are life saving programs that can definitely reduce unnecessary euthanasia rate of canines of larger breeds. Subsequently, the recently increased save rate will move higher and closer to Judge Hebert’s goal of reaching 90% which was declared by County Judge Hebert at the State of County Address this year.
Secondly, Fort Bend Pets Alive! is to arrange a meeting between an expert from Best Friends Animal Society Utah to meet with representatives of Fort Bend County Facility Department along with other staff members to explore options of the
$1.1 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) of the shelter expansion project. One of the main concerns of Fort Bend Pets Alive! and the community have is if installation of HVAC system will be on the list of the improvement project. If it is, animal advocates want to be assured the HVAC air flow system is conducive to effective infectious disease control. Having an expert from a prominent national animal welfare organization to participate in the process and to give expert opinion on the overall expansion project will ensure our tax dollars to be better used and be used towards humane treatment of companion animals in our county.
Thirdly, an ad-hoc committee is to be established between Fort Bend Pets Alive! and the county to provide the necessary framework to engage concerned animal-loving citizens and government officials to meet on a regular basis to help drive the animal shelter to reach a 90% save rate; a goal that is set by Judge Hebert. Community input helps set strategy, action plan to reach the shelter’s long term and short term goals.
The last but not least, the Fort Bend Pets Alive! team thanked the staff of the animal shelter for the drastic increase of save rate in the past two years. Hard work does pay off. While increasing the number of lives leaving the shelter alive is very favorable to animals that are sitting in the shelter facing risks of unnecessary euthanasia, the importance of providing services to each sheltered pet, foster family and adopter was emphasized. Furthermore, citizens’ concerns of a handful of animals adopted out intact and returned intact after months were reported to Commissioner Morales, shelter staff and Department of Health & Human Services again. Community support and trust will only be built and sustained when animals are rescued/adopted out responsibly. It was also recommended to the shelter staff to join Best Friends Animal Society’s No More Homeless Pet Network. The free membership provides free webinars, food donations in bulk, marketing ideas and many more benefits for the shelter to enjoy. Utilizing Asilomar Accords/Animal Shelter Count to collect, record data to provide accurate reporting was recommended again.