The city of San Angelo is considering changing animal services dog intake policies, triggering a debate over what the city's role should be.
Morgan Chegwidden, assistant director of neighborhood and family services for the city, bought information on the shelter to the council on Tuesday. Chegwidden and the council had a discussion on taking possible action on dog intake polices by animal services.
Animal Services impounds cats, dogs, wildlife, livestock and fowl in San Angelo city limits. Animals generally arrive by three methods: animal service officers' intake, found stray and owner surrender.
The city of San Angelo Animal Services Division impounded over 8,800 animals in 2013 and 6,000 in 2016 after the city adopted policies to reduce intake including closing the after-hours kennels, limiting intake to Tom Green County residents only and adopting the $10 owner surrender fee.
In 2020, the organization further limited intake jurisdiction to San Angelo city limits, only decreasing intake to 4,200.
