Missouri City aims to improve its Animal Services by installing new technology at the animal shelter, updating policies and procedures, hiring a shelter manager, and contracting a licensed veterinarian, city officials announced during a press conference March 21.

The city initiated efforts to revamp its animal shelter policies and procedures after encountering several controversial issues in December, involving inconsistent hours of operation, unapproved medications and unauthorized drug and testing administration by volunteers.

City employees have consulted with representatives from state agencies, including Texas Health and Human Services and the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and with neighboring cities to identify policy and code violations and to perform benchmark analyses on animal services.

“I then instructed staff to install shelter cameras to ensure safety of all in the shelter, as well as installing new shelter software,” City Manager Anthony Snipes said.

The software offers tools to track and report on animals that pass through the city’s custody and assists staff and volunteers with task management, according a city press release.

“We also began to coordinate new social media outreach initiatives to advertise both adoptable pets of the week and assist those who need it reuniting with their owners,” Snipes said.

City officials are in the process of hiring a manager to enforce rules, policies and procedures; manage adoptions; and direct shelter employees and volunteers in daily tasks, he said.

Changes are also underway for the city’s municipal volunteer program, which applies to departments beyond Animal Services.

“Volunteers are now required to go through an annual reapplication process and will now have a designated volunteer liaison to whom they will report,” Snipes said.

Public Works Director Shashi Kumar said a new standard operating procedures manual was created to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of staff and volunteers on a day-to-day basis.

“The whole purpose of the standard operating procedures manual is to enhance the level of care, provide compassionate treatment for animals [and] while doing so, adhering to local laws, as well as to laws of the state,” Kumar said.

For example, volunteers are not allowed to administer heartworm tests or medications to animals, he said. Instead, those duties will be performed by a trained animal control officer, veterinarian or veterinary technician, he said.

“We have issued a RFP—a request for proposal—for a contracted veterinarian,” Kumar said. “Once we have that vet on board, he or she is going to visit the facility and do the required testing. Whatever treatment can be done within the facility will be done in-house. If it can’t be done here, [the animal] will be taken to the veterinarian and have those testings done.”

In addition to adopting a new mission statement, City Council also voted March 19 to increase registration and adoption fees to $10-$20 and $70-$85, respectively. Fees depend on whether the animal is a cat or a dog, and whether or not the animal is sterilized.

“In review of our benchmark cities around the region, we found that our rates were very, very low,” he said. “If you look at some of the regional costs, it goes as high as $115, but we believe that [the new rate] puts us in the middle.”

Mayor Allen Owen said City Council supports staff in its vision to provide quality care for the animals in the shelter.

“Although we’re not perfect, we’re committed to work towards excellence and doing good for our citizens and animals of our community, and I can assure you that we do care,” he said.