The San Angelo Animal Shelter will close its outside drop-off kennels, effective this Friday, May 15. The surrender of animals will continue to be accepted during the shelter’s normal business hours.

The move to close the kennels is meant to prevent repeat and irresponsible surrenders of pets and litters, including those by non-residents of Tom Green County, said James Flores, assistant director of the Neighborhood and Family Services Department.

it is illegal to leave an animal at the shelter without staff assistance. Violators will be prosecuted

Guilt-free surrenders of strays, lost and unhealthy animals will be accepted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. The shelter, 3142 U.S. Highway 67 North, is closed on Sundays.

Flores noted it is illegal to leave an animal at the shelter without staff assistance. Violators will be prosecuted, he said. Surveillance cameras have been installed to police such activity. People who surrender healthy pets will no longer be eligible to adopt animals from the shelter.

“The move to close the drop-off kennels is meant to underscore the need for responsible pet ownership,” Flores said. “Pets shouldn’t be surrendered simply because they pose an inconvenience. That decision should come only after a lot of deliberation – and with the understanding that the owner won’t be allowed to adopt another animal from the shelter.”

The change is one of many Flores has instituted at the animal shelter in recent months in an effort to improve the facility’s performance. Among those, no adoptable animal has been euthanized in the past 30 days and reputable rescue groups are now allowed to adopt unsterilized pets, with the agreement that the group will spay or neuter the animal.

The San Angelo Animal Shelter will close its outside drop-off kennels, effective Friday, May 15. The surrender of animals will continue to be accepted during the shelter’s normal business hours.The move to close the kennels is meant to prevent repeat and irresponsible surrenders of pets and litters, including those by non-residents of Tom Green County, said James Flores, assistant director of the Neighborhood and Family Services Department. Guilt-free surrenders of strays, lost and unhealthy animals will be accepted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. The shelter, 3142 U.S. Highway 67 North, is closed on Sundays.

People who surrender healthy pets will no longer be eligible to adopt animals from the shelter.

Flores noted it is illegal to leave an animal at the shelter without staff assistance. Violators will be prosecuted, he said. Surveillance cameras have been installed to police such activity. People who surrender healthy pets will no longer be eligible to adopt animals from the shelter.

“The move to close the drop-off kennels is meant to underscore the need for responsible pet ownership,” Flores said. “Pets shouldn’t be surrendered simply because they pose an inconvenience. That decision should come only after a lot of deliberation – and with the understanding that the owner won’t be allowed to adopt another animal from the shelter.”

The change is one of many Flores has instituted at the animal shelter in recent months in an effort to improve the facility’s performance. Among those, no adoptable animal has been euthanized in the past 30 days and reputable rescue groups are now allowed to adopt unsterilized pets, with the agreement the group will spay or neuter the animal.

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