AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – Panhandle animal shelters have seen a major influx in pet dumping in the last 30 days as shelters and rescues suffer with overpopulation.
Local shelters and the City of Amarillo’s Animal Management & Welfare department discuss the enforcement of breeding and vaccination laws to lessen the impact of dumping.
“There’s a huge dumping problem or overbreeding problem here. A lot of other places around the county enforce their laws and here they’re not. Technically, unless somebody calls it out, there’s not breeding restrictions,” said Stacia Merriett, volunteer, Gracie’s Project.
Local ordinances include enforcement of breeding, abandonment, inhumane treatment, and spay and neuters.
“We do have an ordinance for inhumane treatment that it will fall under, but we also have a state law that’s been in effect for a while and the state law kind of helps us as far as punishment for that. So it will be a class A misdemeanor, that includes fines and up to a year in jail,” said Ty Vernon, assistant director, City of Amarillo Animal Management & Welfare.
Gracie’s Project has closed their intake of pets because of the overpopulation issue happening in the Panhandle.
“In the last 30 days, we have seen a huge influx of dumping. Different locations, not all one location, and we’ve personally taken in about 40 dogs into our rescue to help. That doesn’t mention all the other rescues that have helped across the Panhandle too,” said Merriett.
The City of Amarillo’s intake numbers in previous years have been comparable to cities triple our size, like Austin and Houston.
Officials recommend doing research and speaking with a rescue or shelter before becoming a pet owner.
Copyright 2024 KFDA. All rights reserved.
