28-02-2025
Animal Services director gives insight in wake of policy change
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A policy that was implemented at the San Angelo Animal Shelter on Feb. 26 will change the way the shelter handles stray intake and remove barriers for residents to relinquish their pet.
Concho Valley Homepage staff spoke with San Angelo Animal Services Director Morgan Chegwidden to better understand this new policy change and its effects moving forward.
'We said if there is going to be a point if this facility is going to euthanize happy, healthy dogs, it is going to be after we have exhausted every resource available, including an outcry to the public, that if the community shows up and says, 'Look, we've done all we can, we cannot help any more,' our partners are done, everybody is tapped out, and then I have to euthanize a healthy pet, then that would be, it was going to be fully transparent,' she said. 'Everyone would know we are euthanizing for capacity because we were full and we tried and we advocated and there was no one for this dog.'
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While no dogs have been euthanized for capacity at the facility since 2015, Chegwidden explained that this could be changing as soon as today, Feb. 27, because of the new policy change. A recommendation for this decision has not been given to the animal shelter from the task force that was recently created tp prioritize public safety, health and animal welfare.
This policy, which Concho Valley PAWS said will increase the number of euthanasias, was shared with the animal shelter on Feb. 25 by the City of San Angelo management. The San Angelo Animal Shelter then implemented the policy on Feb. 26.
Chegwidden confirmed that dogs surrendered by their owner could be euthanized upon arrival, and stray dogs that do not have a collar or a microchip can be euthanized after 72 hours.
She further explained that shelter staff will potentially have to start discriminating against dog breeds as they will have to start assessing adoptability on intake.
'One thing that's been important to us and to Concho Valley PAWS, if I can speak on their behalf, we don't make decisions about medical care or investment in an animal based on breed,' Chegwidden said. 'We assess the individual animal.
'Under this new policy, we are probably going to have to because {the shelter} are going to have to assess adaptability and if we are euthanizing pets for space and we are at capacity and I've got a lady coming into owner surrender five dogs, I might have to decide if every single dog on the premises is healthy and happy, we are going to have to pick adaptability and a dog that is less adoptable will be euthanized over a husky, a German shepherd, a shitzu,' Chegwidden continued.
Animal Services relaxes dog intake policies
With the possibility of dogs being relinquished by their owner more frequently and more strays being picked up, the shelter and Concho Valley PAWS' ability to advocate for an animal could soon be obsolete. This would take away a dog's last chance at being seen by someone who could save them.
'That's really hard for me. That's really hard for us as a team,' Chegwidden said.
Because of this quick turnaround that has now been implemented, Concho Valley PAWS' ability to asses a medical case and raise money to help save a dog in need could also be hindered.
Chegwidden shared that while Concho Valley PAWS might be caring for the animal and working for the dog to receive medical care, it is still being sheltered at the animal shelter, therefore making the dog a potential pick to be euthanized to make space for incoming dogs.
The previous policy required pet owners to undergo counseling and be put on a waitlist to enter the shelter. While it is no longer a requirement, San Angelo Animal Services is still offering these services.
Residents will see a change in euthanasia lists. The daily lost and found report that San Angelo Animal Services publishes on Facebook will now act as the euthanasia list as any dog can be euthanized at any time.
While there is currently a euthanasia list with a deadline set for March 1, Chegwidden assured that these dogs would be given until the decided date.
'We still are just kind of juggling, implementing this practice, so our heads are a bit spinning and we are trying to work through it, but what I hope is San Angelo hears our call for action,' Chegwidden said.
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