Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Article Image Alt Text

The $240,047.55 renovations will bring much-needed upgrades to the shelter that will improve the health, safety and viability of rescued pets, shelter staff, volunteers and potential adopters. Daily Record file photo

Renovations to begin at regional animal shelter

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Starting next week, construction at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter will begin. The $240,047.55 renovations will bring much-needed upgrades to the shelter that will improve the health, safety and viability of rescued pets, shelter staff, volunteers and potential adopters.

In order to begin renovations kennel space needed to be cleared. SMRAS’s goal was to find homes for 35 dogs, with eight of them at an increased risk of euthanasia if alternative housing was not secured by Friday. All of the dogs have been cleared out thanks to those who rescued and adopted as well as organizations that helped including Austin Pets Alive and PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.

A statement for the City of San Marcos mentioned, “Staff sent an urgent plea via email on Tuesday, Oct. 19 for established rescue partners to come forward and assist with clearing enough kennels to begin the first phase of improvements.”

According to Sherri Boyett, Hays County Appointed Animal Advocate Advisor, the importance of updating and informing the community is crucial in regards to shelter.

“You have to have a continual community outreach. You have to have a growing, ever-growing public relations campaign,” Boyett said. The shelter is a city-run facility that serves as a county resource to house animals, making it easy for space to fill up.

“We earnestly request that everyone urges the City of San Marcos to maintain a Rescue Network Facebook group with current photos and biographies,” Boyett said. “We earnestly request that the cities of Kyle, Buda and all Hays County, each Communications Department and all media issue weekly posts and print for the shelter animals.”

The city-issued statement went on to say, “The ultimate goal is to do what’s best for every pet that comes into the shelter’s care, but it is a community effort to reduce the number of stray and homeless pets by spaying/neutering and microchipping. Now more than ever, we need everyone across the county to step up and support SMRAS by fostering, adopting, or donating.”

There is no set date as to when renovations will be completed. The SMRAS staff is working to fill the vacant Shelter Manager position along with others, making the help of county residents is crucial.

“You need to be planning, you need to have adequate staff and adequate funding as this community grows,” Boyett said while voicing support for the SMRAS.

For a list of adoptable animals or any additional information, visit sanmarcostx.gov/208/San-Marcos-Regional-Animal-Shelter. County residents can also join the Hays County Animal Advocates group on Facebook.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666