Kyle City Council is continuing to take steps toward building a new animal care center. The move comes as the September 2026 deadline approaches for finding an alternative to the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, which will stop offering services to communities outside San Marcos at that time.

At its April 1 meeting, Kyle City Council received an update on Phase 1 of a comprehensive feasibility study for the proposed Kyle Animal Care Center.

The overview

On Jan. 7, Kyle City Council approved a contract with Jackson & Ryan Architects to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for a potential standalone animal shelter, according to a city presentation.

The study will take place in three phases:

• Phase 1: Needs assessment, community input and operations/data analysis
• Phase 2: Site evaluation and operational/financial feasibility
• Phase 3: Regulatory and legal considerations, along with a conceptual design

So far, Jackson & Ryan Architects staff have completed a site visit to the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter to examine current challenges and identify improvements that could inform the design of a Kyle facility. The San Marcos shelter was described as overcrowded, inefficient and loud, with poor isolation and inadequate space for staff, according to the presentation.

The architects also conducted stakeholder visioning sessions to define a broad plan for the future shelter, gather input on features such as aesthetics, and establish programmatic and facility goals. A two-day programming session followed, including detailed interviews with staff and stakeholders to determine individual space requirements.

Community input was collected through a survey, with results showing:

• 72.8% of respondents are aware of the current state of animal care
• 95.4% agree Kyle needs a new animal care facility
• 73.5% rated the project as a 5 out of 5 in importance for local government investment

“I really want to see this project become one that we’re really proud of here in the city of Kyle, because I think it’s well deserved,” council member Miguel Zuniga said. “I think our residents are behind it. You saw the unanimous support for it.”

What’s next

Based on early assessments, Jackson & Ryan Architects estimate the new shelter will need about 21,000 square feet, though this could change depending on the site. The space would support adoption services, proper isolation and veterinary care areas, and community resources.

Council member Michael Tobias asked how larger animals, such as livestock, would be accommodated. In response, city staff said Hays County would assist with those needs, and current plans include a four-stall barn to handle such cases.

Next steps for the project include:

• Evaluating potential sites (requiring approximately 2–4 acres)
• Completing an operational and financial feasibility report
• Estimating staffing needs and construction costs

It remains undecided whether Hays County will partner with the project. According to Assistant City Manager Jesse Elizondo, a potential partnership would not delay the project’s timeline but may require expanding the shelter’s planned size to meet broader county needs. Staff said they are preparing for both possibilities—with or without a county partnership.

Conversations with the county were suggested by city council officials.

The background

Starting Sept. 30, 2026, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter will stop providing services to surrounding communities, shifting regional responsibilities to Hays County. The shelter will then serve only the city of San Marcos, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The change follows years of capacity challenges driven by Hays County’s fast-growing population. Cities like Kyle are now working to establish alternative solutions ahead of the 2026 deadline.