CITY ANNOUNCES LIMITED HOURS FOR SHELTER
Anyone thinking about adopting a pet for Christmas for the Brenham Animal Shelter needs to do so before 2 pm Saturday.
The City of Brenham Pet Adoption and Care Center has announced limited operating hours December 24th thru January 16th as new policies and procedures are put in place for 2018.
In a press release, sent out by the city after 10:00 p.m., Friday night, city official claim the hours, ”…along with development of a new volunteer program - will enable the center to run more efficiently for the animals, and for the taxpayers of the City.”
Wende Ragonis, Brenham’s Director of Community Services, says, “the limited hours for pet adoption will not require volunteers, as additional staffing resources are being put in place.”
The facility will be open at the following times for adoptions:
- Wednesday December 27 - Saturday December 30 - Adoption Hours 10am-2pm
- Wednesday January 3 - Saturday January 6 - Adoption Hours 10am-2pm
- Wednesday January 10 - Saturday January 13 - Adoption Hours 10am-2pm
The Adoption Center will reopen Tuesday January 16th for normal hours.
Ragonis says, “during this time of limited hours, staff will receive training regarding new policies and procedures, and the process of hiring a new Animal Services Manager to oversee the operation for the community will continue.”
Saturday morning, Ragonis added that she, “understands and respects the sensitivity of this subject, but this season is a good time for City staff to work on several improvements including new procedures and protocols. With guidance from our consultant, the City is looking at industry standards and best practices to ensure that animals in our care are properly nurtured.“
“There are many passionate stakeholders that care and love animals including the sub-committee of Council assigned to assess and evaluate this operation. All are eager to make positive change, so 2018 can be a great new beginning for the Care Center. “
A link to the adoptable animals can be found on the city website at CityofBrenham.org
Funny, the supervisor was so unqualified yet the shelter ran better with him than it did before him, or after him.
Well, I hope things improve soon for shelter. Hopefully this training helps things. Changes don’t happen overnight or on their own, folks.
@ Michelle – If you really want to improve a shelter, you do not lock out hard working volunteers. These are the people that commit their blood, sweat and tears. It is time the city properly address the shelter before the state steps in. FYI: The interim shelter director is a vast improvement over the prior director.
Well it’s typical cowards of the city of Brenham to wait till then to send the email. They should be ashamed of themselves and I hope the new manager comes in and does a overhaul and gets rid of the buddy system.
Someone should contact Ted Oberg at Channel 13. This is the kind of story he would love.
Can someone post the email here?
The shelter euthanized a dog that someone had spent their own money talking care of to ensure the dog was adopted. They (shelter staff) then tried to cover up the euthanasia. Why on earth is it up to three people that barely have any experience deciding what dogs die? The shelter is not even at capacity and they are euthanizing? This is insane. It is time to hold EVERYONE accountable for their actions. Vote them out for gross negligence.
I am a volunteer and have a FB page Called Washington County Adoptable Animals! I have been volunteering about 2 to 3 hours per day not only walking 15 to 20 dogs per day but loving the dogs and learning about each one daily! In the course of a month or more I know each ones likes and dislikes and temperamnets like the back of my hand ! I spend many hours taking videos and pics and sharing the dogs on my FB site! Results have been unbelievable with 330 followers and rescue groups all over the state many dogs were adopted because of my videos and knowledge(all of which I do for free every day) I was told by the Wende Ragonis in an email that the volunteer program was shut down for they had a crew and didnt need us while they redo rules and regulations. And that No more social
Media was allowed! All the networking done has helped adoptions happen and success has been amazing!!! Instead of getting a thank you for all you have done for us we got the we dont need you helping we have a crew helping us walk dogs for 3 weeks!!!
It takes more than paid crew to walk dogs! It takes loving caring volunteers like me who love them, networking pics and videos! them I know them inside and out! To be told not to come back
For at least 3 weeks has broken my heart and made me feel unappreciated! Wow I was expecting at least a Thank you for all the hours I have put in and For all the love you have shown the animals?? And even cleaning kennels when it wasnt my job but paid personnel, but not a Dont come in we dont need you!?!! And dont network or share pics or videos on any dogs that you know about?? If it weren’t for me none of the 6 dogs adopted last week would have had forever homes!!! Feeling sad and broken ?
Way 2 go Windy! Just a wasted space and tax payers money going to waste!!!!!!!!!!
You let the free workers go so you can hire 30, 40 thousand dollar salary workers so they can fit the lunch and dinner bills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please fire all non citizens who want to help out our community, FAST or I’ll call Ted myself or wait let me ask The IT guy first or the city planning committee…
I am a volunteer who goes to the shelter daily 2 to 3 hours every day! This is the rescue I have been working with to help Julie Dodson(founder) network the Brenham Shelter dogs! We have been so successful with social networking and have over 325 people just on my page alone (washington County Adoptable Animals) not counting all of the other rescues we link to help us share! This includes True Blue as well as numerous rescues across the state of Texas! Networking is the most important thing that we can do to help a dog who is in a shelter find a forever home! Due to the shelter request as of yesterday, We are suspended in taking videos and pics on this page for 3 weeks due to us volunteers being told by the city of Brenham that the volunteer program at the shelter is being suspended due to a new shelter leader coming in and new rules and regulations and a new volunteer program in the works
So for now we wait patiently till we are allowed back in so that I can continue to love on and learn each personality on the new dogs brought in so I can share once again on my page! For now I will share Dodson dogs that need homes as well as True Blue rescue and other rescues in Texas close to Brenham
When the Brenham shelter okay’s it I will once again do what I do best and love on each one of the dogs at the shelter and help with networking them on my page all of which I do completely voluntary ❤️ Not only do I walk dogs(which anybody can do) I love on them, learn about them spend time with them and take videos and pics and network on my FB page! I had 6 people in 2 weeks who saw my videos and came and adopted because of my hard work!!! I know each dog and there personality and matched up several potential adopters to a perfect dog that would fit there family! I even did laminated BIO’S about each dog so that the shelter wmployees could read about each one to recomend a perfect dog instead of guessing! I would buy treats daily to give them with my own money and never once was thanked for nything I did for the shelter but told to not come back since they suspended the volunteer program??? Well you can put anybody in there to walk dogs but nobody like me!!! Who knows them like the back of my hand who loves them and makes sure they have coats and a warm bed to lay on when its freezing outside! I have been told I should have been volunteer of the year for all I have done but now 3 weeks and no access after working and networking at least 10’dogs who got adopted because of my videos and pics and hard work!! This breaks my heart . Totally confused???? I may not ever be allowed back in because of this reply but I gave it my all here and am feeling defeated and broken and unappreciated.
Number one volunteer 12 plus hours per week while running 3 businesses
I am a volunteer who goes to the shelter daily 2 to 3 hours every day! This is the rescue I have been working with to help Julie Dodson(founder) network the Brenham Shelter dogs! We have been so successful with social networking and have over 325 people just on my page alone (washington County Adoptable Animals) not counting all of the other rescues we link to help us share! This includes True Blue as well as numerous rescues across the state of Texas! Networking is the most important thing that we can do to help a dog who is in a shelter find a forever home! Due to the shelter request as of yesterday, We are suspended in taking videos and pics on this page for 3 weeks due to us volunteers being told by the city of Brenham that the volunteer program at the shelter is being suspended due to a new shelter leader coming in and new rules and regulations and a new volunteer program in the works
So for now we wait patiently till we are allowed back in so that I can continue to love on and learn each personality on the new dogs brought in so I can share once again on my page! For now I will share Dodson dogs that need homes as well as True Blue rescue and other rescues in Texas close to Brenham
When the Brenham shelter okay’s it I will once again do what I do best and love on each one of the dogs at the shelter and help with networking them on my page all of which I do completely voluntary ❤️ Not only do I walk dogs(which anybody can do) I love on them, learn about them spend time with them and take videos and pics and network on my FB page! I had 6 people in 2 weeks who saw my videos and came and adopted because of my hard work!!! I know each dog and there personality and matched up several potential adopters to a perfect dog that would fit there family! I even did laminated BIO’S about each dog so that the shelter wmployees could read about each one to recomend a perfect dog instead of guessing! I would buy treats daily to give them with my own money and never once was thanked for nything I did for the shelter but told to not come back since they suspended the volunteer program??? Well you can put anybody in there to walk dogs but nobody like me!!! Who knows them like the back of my hand who loves them and makes sure they have coats and a warm bed to lay on when its freezing outside! I have been told I should have been volunteer of the year for all I have done but now 3 weeks and no access after working and networking at least 10’dogs who got adopted because of my videos and pics and hard work!! This breaks my heart . Totally confused???? I may not ever be allowed back in because of this reply but I gave it my all here and am feeling defeated and broken
I am so sorry Doreen, I can’t understand why they would stop you from taking care of the dogs. Not only is it sad for you but it’s sad for the dogs too. They’ll miss you. I cannot understand how closing the doors and keeping volunteers out is helpful to anyone!
No volunteers! Up to the usual behind closed doors operations out of the public eye. Unless the Brenham PD is taken out of our animal shelter operations completely, very little will change. The biggest change must be at council level to effect real change at our shelter.
Lots of luck on the City Council doing the right thing.
I am shocked and disheartened to see the decision to close the doors and stop the volunteers from sharing information about the animals on social media.
I have been actively involved in rescue for over 30 years, 20 of those in Brenham. I have a degree in animal science, have worked in shelters in Western NY and have watched shelters go from high kill to no-kill. I thought that Brenham Animal Service was finally taking a step in that direction and was ready to offer my support.
While making these decisions I would recommend that everyone become educated about what No-kill is, why No-kill is beneficial for our community and shelter and how we can achieve No-Kill in Brenham. When looking over some of this information I want you to notice the common thread of community support through foster homes and rescue groups, and how media and networking are the key.
MAKE NOTE:
There are roughly 2.6 million dogs and cats killed in U.S. shelters annually because they lack a home, but as many as 30 million Americans add a new animal to their households every year. We do not have a “pet overpopulation” problem; we have a market share challenge. When shelters compete for the market share of homes and keep animals alive long enough to find those homes, shelter animals are saved rather than killed.
Further information:
What is No-Kill:
https://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/
Austin’s No-Kill and how it has been helpful for the city:
http://kxan.com/2017/10/19/new-study-austins-no-kill-policy-has-157-million-economic-impact/
How Austin Achieved No-Kill status. This presentation is from a lawyer
http://www.maddiesfund.org/no-kill-political-advocacy.htm
The importance of transparency and statistics
https://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/statistics.html
I am certain that in our caring community along the support of our local rescue volunteer base and our low cost spay neuter clinic we can achieve No-Kill in Brenham, TX. True Blue Animal Rescue and our ability to network and our knowledge about how to use social media to help our animals find homes will help us achieve this goal within a three year period. Making this decision to shut out volunteers and become secretive about the animals in the shelter is a step in the wrong direction.
I beg you not to shut the door on your caring volunteers and their efforts to find homes for all of our animals. Not, your animals OUR animals!
Melanie DeAeth
President & Foster Home
True Blue Animal Rescue
http://www.t-bar.org
Yes, Melanie. ALL of us who have given so much of our time, money and hearts to help these animals are shocked and disheartened. After spending over four hours at the shelter Friday walking dogs, taking pictures and videos, sharing and posting them so that these dogs can have a chance at a forever home, what a shock to find out via email at 10 pm Friday night that “volunteers will not be allowed in the Care Center, nor will volunteers be allowed to post information about the Care Center’s animals.” Volunteer efforts are what have gotten so many of these dogs adopted in a short period. Volunteers have taken the great majority of the pictures and videos that have gotten dogs adopted or pulled by rescues, as well as the great majority of the pictures used by the City to post on Petfinder.com. Volunteers knowledgeable about the dogs’ personalities have helped match them with appropriate adopters. Every animal adopted out or networked to a rescue is a life saved and a saving of Brenham taxpayers’ dollars. Volunteers have also helped get the animals out for exercise and socialization.
It is now two months since the unqualified supervisor left the shelter, and there is still not a proper replacement. The other personnel on site, with the exception of one, are not experienced in the positions they hold. So, there is much concern and a huge question mark about exactly who is going to be providing the “training regarding new policies and procedures” during this period of limited hours and exclusion of volunteers. And who will be insuring that the animals have proper and adequate care and are proactively shared to try to find adopters? Will the paid professional consultant be there onsite during this entire time instructing these personnel, insuring proper care and promoting adoptions? The animals are not a swimming pool, library, ball field or some other inanimate object. The animals are the ones who suffer from the decisions of those who have not seen their plight behind the closed doors to the kennel aisles. Protocol and red tape appear to be a greater concern than the welfare of these living beings. Excluding knowledgeable, caring volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help the animals does not mesh with a proclamation of concern for the animals’ care and welfare. This email to us from the City, with no forewarning or explanation, at 10 pm on the Friday before Christmas, was a stunner beyond all. I will pray for the animals, and for empathy for those who are entrusted with their care. And I pray that others who are equally concerned will let their voices be heard as well.
I agree, and animals won’t stop coming in over the holidays so what’s the alternative? A lot of animals get homes over the holidays because people are on vacation and it gives the families time to acclimate the new pet to their home. It makes no sense shut out volunteers and stall adoptions.
#herewegoagain… A bunch of blah, blah, blah! Let’s just ask one of the three IT guys or how about a lottery pick. Heck let’s just play Fantasy Pets of Brenham & adopt a team!!! How do this people sleep at night oh, probably pretty good because they are really good speakers being the screen!! It shouldn’t take a year to get this minor problem solved!!