Animal shelter passes state inspection

The city’s animal shelter is out of the doghouse with state health inspectors who found the facility in compliance last week.

The Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center off FM 511 received a “positive yes” score on 35 general inspection areas, the city reported.

A previous state inspection found multiple violations, including overcrowding, mold and unclean conditions in and around the animal cages. The facility continued to operate on a probationary period to address the infractions listed by inspectors with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control that visited here in September.

A follow-up inspection was conducted late last week, which shelter veterinarian Sherri L. Wooding described as “good news” in a prepared statement issued by the city.

“We passed with flying colors because we are probably one of the best facilities in the (Rio Grande) Valley,” Wooding said. “The public may rest assured that the animals are living in the best conditions possible.”

Poor and cramped conditions were caused in part by an unexpected moratorium on euthanizing healthy animals. In June, the City Commission approved the 90-day ban that left many strays in the street and the shelter at capacity, or more.

Joe Hinojosa, assistant director for the city’s environmental health department, said that the shelter attempted to operate within the confines of the moratorium but had to yield to the state’s mandates and concerns for animals and the public.

Once the moratorium was lifted and the issues at the shelter addressed, “I never had any doubt that we would pass,” Hinojosa said.

Among the violations in the state’s original report were overcrowding, insufficient drainage for the disposal of animal waste, inadequate protection for animals from the elements and mold on ceiling tiles. Inspectors found that animal cages were too small, cat cages were overcrowded and food was not kept clean in small pens or enclosures housing multiple animals.

Upon re-inspection, the state rated the facility “satisfactory.”

The shelter is built to hold 62 dogs and 55 cats with an area for eight puppies and quarantine space for 28 animals. After three days in the shelter, ownership transfers to the city and animals may be euthanized to make room for new intakes.

According to the shelter, close to 1,000 animals can arrive there in a month, including dogs, cats, raccoons, bats and possums. About 85 percent or more are euthanized while a small portion is adopted or claimed by their owners.