EDINBURG — The city’s temporary holding facility for stray animals will close as part of the new agreement with the Palm Valley Animal Center, essentially ending the humane euthanization of animals the city could not return to owners.
EDINBURG — The city’s temporary holding facility for stray animals will close as part of the new agreement with the Palm Valley Animal Center, essentially ending the humane euthanization of animals the city could not return to owners.
City council members agreed rather quickly Tuesday evening to amend the contract with the shelter after a slew of supporters showed support for the nonprofit shelter’s proposed changes.
Council members were originally supposed to discuss the issue behind closed doors, but they took the matter up in public after hearing from a supporter, who said there is a national push for no-kill shelters among the growing population.
“The top cities that especially millennials want to go to, are cities that are really stepping up their efforts in terms of no kill animal shelters,” Bryon Jay Lewis said.
Lewis also emphasized the organization’s $5 million investment within the city and the economic impact the construction of the Laurie P. Andrews PAWS Center has had on the area. PAWS is part of the nonprofit and takes animals in for adoption after being processed at PVAC.
The city will now pay $141,000 per year — no matter how many animals the shelter receives from the animal control department or from residents in Edinburg. Under the previous terms, the shelter would take any animals the city would bring, but would refer residents to the city’s holding facility.
“All animals from animal control will come directly to PVAC and all citizens or residents of Edinburg will come directly to us,” PVAC Executive Director Tim Ousley said Wednesday. “They will not be going to the Edinburg municipal holding facility.”
At that facility, animals that were not taken to PCAV or reunited with their owner likely faced humane euthanization, he said. Officials at PVAC estimate about 2,000 animals were euthanized in Edinburg last year.
“Now they will have the opportunity for adoption or rescue and of course still to be returned to their owner,” Ousley said.
The amended contract is expected to be signed in the coming days and will take effect immediately. Animals from the city’s holding center will also be transferred into the custody of PVAC, where they will undergo a series of tests and treatments, including vaccinations, spaying and neutering, microchipping and other services.
“Simply put, (our mission) is to save every life that we can — every companion animal that we possibly can,” Ousley said.
Staff is prepared and excited for the new tenants.
“We’re ready to receive whatever they have now,” Ousley said.
Palm Valley Animal Center:
2,617: Total animals brought in, identified as residents of Edinburg in 2016
562: Total animals brought in by Edinburg Animal Control during 2016 (85 were under quarantine)
33,609: Total animals handled across Hidalgo County in 2016. (28,000 were dogs and cats)
Source: Palm Valley Animal Center
