Humane Society discusses new facility and Uvalde County’s stray dog problem

“You have a stray dog problem,” Kelley Kimble said to the Uvalde County Commissioners.

“I’ve hoped you all have heard the great news in that Chip and Jill Briscoe and their family donated 1.5 million dollars to the Humane Society towards building a new shelter. That is going to happen.”

Associate Judge Kelley Kimble speaks on Behalf of the Humane Society of Uvalde

 We already own an acre of land located on North Camp street that was donated by Louis Capt. about 6 years ago,” Kelley Kimble said.

“I visited with Sheriff Nolasco last week and he reminded me that anytime we start talking about animal control in the county it’s like this giant Pandora’s Box with 14 different rabbits. I do not intend to open that box today,” Kimble said. 

  Kimble discussed the Flights to Forever Program where stray animals are transported to New York.  She stated in 2021, 772 animals were transported to New York with 470 being from Uvalde County outside of the Uvalde City limits. In 2022 through the end of October, of the 669 stray animals taken to New York, 425 came from Uvalde County. “You have a stray dog problem,” Kimble said.

  Construction Briscoe Animal Resource Center of Uvalde will be located on North Camp Street. Ground breaking to occur Spring 2023. The planned facility will include space for the City of Uvalde Animal Control, Office Space, and HSU shelter space as well as expansion bays. Kimble told the Commissioners the plans were not set in stone. 

  She also added that HSU was planning on changing its organization’s name to the Briscoe Animal Resource Center Of Uvalde or BARC. 

  She referenced a conversation she had with Sheriff Nolasco and stated the Sheriff’s Department gets daily calls about stray dogs.”

  If someone from the county calls the Sheriff’s department saying ‘I have an injured animal in my front yard. What can I do?’ We don’t have an answer.” I think I do,” Kimble said.

 We could offer those 18 kennels to you for two things: The first is a per diem basis for the County’s use. 

 On the second item, Kimble stated the County currently allocated $2500 a year towards spay/neuter vouchers through the Humane Society of Uvalde. She implied more that can be done.

 Kimble also asked the court to consider enacting a new county ordinance that would provide that Humane Society of Uvalde and the Flights to Forever 1o days for the animal’s owner to claim the lost animal. Currently under common law an owner of an animal has 6 months to claim a lost animal. 

 In responding to County Judge Bill Mitchell, Kimble said, “I’m asking for help.”