Advocates hail vote in Wimberley

Animal right advocates were praising a unanimous vote by the Wimberley City Council last week encouraging the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter to take steps to become a “no-kill” facility.

The no-kill resolution requests a pledge to shelter reforms and a commitment by the city of San Marcos leadership and the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter to actively work towards a 90 percent live outcome rate, which would be phased in over time.

The resolution states that the city of Wimberley will provide support and resources to help SMRAS achieve no-kill status. At this time, the stated live outcome goal for SMRAS is only 70 percent. “The city of San Marcos and Hays County must issue no-kill resolutions to show they’re working towards 90 percent live outcome. It will allow the shelter to seek grants that they’re not currently eligible for, and is a crucial step to getting more donations, fosters and volunteers to support their work,” Sharri Boyett, a volunteer with the Hays County Animal Advocates, said.

The vote “is an important step for us. It gets us closer to our goal of no-kill,” said Kate Shaw, who gave a presentation on the resolution. “This resolution is an important piece of the puzzle, which is to build awareness and community support throughout Hays County for more resources and volunteers for the SMRAS. Wimberley was the first to vote this in, but I don’t think the other communities are far behind.”

The two volunteers characterized Wimberley as “a compassionate community of animal lovers.” The Wimberley Adoption Group & Rescue, they pointed out, has a team of volunteers which saves many dogs, prevenging those from ever entering the shelter, and they also rescue dogs from the shelter. Wimberley is also home to community cat volunteers who trap, feed and fix cats, and their Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Moreman highlights photos of adoptable dogs at the Chamber offices.

Barbara Foss, president of WAG Rescue, submitted written comments voicing WAG’s full support of the no-kill resolution. “We believe that every healthy and treatable animal should be saved.”

The Hays County Animal Advocates is a collective of organizations and individuals with a shared purpose of eliminating the killing of sheltered companion animals. They encourage residents who want to get involved to visit their website, for more information and to volunteer, foster or adopt at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, 750 River Road, San Marcos, TX 78666.