The City of Baytown Animal Services and Adoption Center will be closed for renovations beginning January 10 through January 22, 2008. This closure is necessary in order that City staff focus on needed upgrades and improvements to assist in the prevention of disease exposure between animals through the proper installation of mechanisms and/or systems that enhance controls in this area.
Staff has strategically planned this closure during a historically lower animal impound period and will be coordinating with local support groups in order that the affects to the community are as seamless as possible. While the number of animals the facility can house during the renovation period will be limited, there will be no reduction in responses to calls for assistance. Owners wanting to claim their animals will be allowed to do so, on a case by case basis and pet adoptions will be referred to the Houston Humane Society or other local support groups.
The challenges currently being addressed in the City’s Animal Services Program were brought about in November 2006 when the Houston Humane Society chose to terminate the animal responsibility contract it had with the City for many, many years. The animal responsibility contract enabled the City to accommodate larger numbers of unwanted animals at the shelter by transferring difficult to adopt animals to the Humane Society on a fee per animal basis. The Humane Society provided the animals with an additional opportunity for adoption. During FY 2004-2005 the city transferred 2,542 animals to the Houston Human Society and in FY 2005-2006 2,659 were transferred. Since the November 2006 contractual change, the City has been unable to make those transfers and the facilities have needed adjustments and renovations to adequately house the animals for longer periods of time.
In order to address a variety of opportunities, the Animal Control Division was reassigned to the Health Department in October 2007, as the Animal Services Division for the following reasons:
– Transition of the Division from a perception of ‘animal control’ to a more customer oriented ‘animal service’ operation;
– Reorganization of the Division to provide an appropriate level of consistent management allowing for a more efficient and effective service delivery;
– Improve the coordination of Environmental and Public Health concerns and issues that impact the Division; and
– Establish a commitment to the revitalization of the program to a level that is expected by Baytown citizens and deserved by the animals.
Since October 2007, many of the goals stated have been accomplished. The expected closure of the facility for renovations on January 10 through January 22 will provide necessary improvements to address the Environmental and Public Health concerns. The renovations also demonstrate a commitment to the revitalization of the Animal Services program to a level that is expected by our citizens and deserved by the animals.
For additional information contact the City of Baytown Health Department, (281) 420-5384.