County taps White to run troubled animal shelter

[caption id="attachment_135552" align="alignright" width="220"] Michael White[/caption]

The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is under new direction as of Feb. 16, when Dr. Michael White started his role as director.

White has 30 years of private practice experience in veterinary medicine and 11 years in the veterinary public health field. Previously, White served as director of the veterinary public health division of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. 

“Right now the [shelter] needs leadership,” White said. “My biggest passion is the shelter animals. I want to save as many as I can, but at the same time you can’t overcrowd the shelter and possibly cause disease to spread.”

Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Clark, who was given the authority to hire the director by the Commissioners Court, said White was the most experienced candidate for the position.

“The deciding factor was that he loves animals, had heard about the shelter and some of the problems we were having, and he lives in Montgomery County,” Clark said. “He is a guy [who] I think will rise to the challenge.”

The court decided to replace the shelter’s previous operator, Care Corporation, following public complaints about the shelter’s management from volunteers and stakeholders. Care Corporation’s contract was rescinded in November.

Veterinarians Aubrey Ross and Diarra Blue operated the shelter since January 2015 after purchasing Care Corporations from founder Tim Holifield—a former Montgomery County Precinct 3 constable.

White said he hopes to unify stakeholders with his leadership.

“There was a lot of controversy with the previous [operator], and there were issues with the volunteers,” White said. “I hope I can bring people together.”