A Kingwood-based animal rescue will be working with Harris County’s animal shelter to provide care to found pets while they wait to be retrieved by their owners or put up for adoption, thanks to a contract approved by Harris County commissioners on Oct. 29.

About the program

Under Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and Animal Control Regulations, Harris County’s animal shelter—Harris County Pets—is required to hold unclaimed dogs or cats for three days to give their owner a chance to claim them, according to Oct. 29 meeting documents. After the three-day waiting period, the animal can be put up for adoption or sold.

On Oct. 29, Harris County commissioners approved an agreement between This is Houston Rescue and Harris County Veterinary Public Health via the court’s consent agenda, which consists of multiple items voted on in one motion. According to meeting documents, the Oct. 29 agreement will:

• Allow This is Houston Rescue to take temporary custody of animals to provide “acute, urgent” veterinary care during the three-day waiting period
• Be of no cost to Harris County
• Be implemented beginning Oct. 29

The agreement is expected to help the “already crowded” county shelter with capacity issues, and give found pets access to veterinary care that might not be available at the shelter, according to the meeting documents.

Put in perspective

Harris County’s animal shelter has a history of battling overcrowding, as previously reported by Community Impact. In May, Harris County’s animal shelter saw a surplus of at least 300 animals, totaling at least 690 animals in the shelter.