Citizens of Hardin County Texas & Animal crisis welfare demands

It has come to the attentions of the citizens of Hardin County Texas, and all its incorporated area towns, that the city animal center of city Silsbee has not addressed or resolved for years, the animal over populations issues, nor has the city shown the ability to manage any aspect of the animal control responsibilities.

No systems of protection from harm for the animals in the city of Silsbee Texas, that were picked up by city animal control. No proper record keeping of any activity regarding animals coming in or out, vet cares, and/or euthanasia, not any adoptions information. Negligence such as this is completely unacceptable.

Citizens of the entire Hardin County area are calling for a county animal facility instead of a city facility, Due to the city of Silsbee over many years has proven unworthy of the responsibilities of animals. Citizens are calling for the removal of all present parties involved in the neglect and managements of our city animal center. Intentions of the citizens is to create and build a County Facility for the animal control needs, with a more efficiently, transparent management program.

We, the citizens, are urging the incorporated Hardin County to unite and apply for emergency grants to build a new facility to accommodate the animal crisis populations. Stray animals have become uncontrollable and problematic. Too many animals are loose, neglected, sick and in need of pick up. Animals are often hit by vehicles or dumped in nearby rural areas of towns, outside of the city limits (but still in the county). There is no relief for the over populations of loose dogs and cats in rural livestock areas. Kindhearted citizens take have taken animals in to care and are finding themselves overwhelmed and financially strained.

The City of Silsbee animal control budgets that has been allotted is insufficient and unacceptable.

The city facility recently shut down due to the criminal behavior of the animal control officer shooting dogs and dumping them in creeks and open land., citizens now strongly believe that a County managed animal facility will be the solution to the ongoing negligence that has taken place in the Silsbee animal center.

Citizens are urging the County facility to be allowed to receive public donations, that past been denied, and allow legitimate rescuers to pull animals for the placement of adoptions or transported to other facilities willing to take them. Citizens also note that by allowing rescuers to take photos of the animals as well as having media exposure to greatly increase the number of adoptions from our facility. Silsbee animal center has not permitted or allowed this.

CITIZENS ARE CALLING FOR:
1. Routine inspections for the biocontrol, assessing animals in medical needs, and animals need of humane euthanasia.
2. All animals will have access to veterinary care
3. Spay and neuter programs to ensure that animals are sterilized before they are eligible for adoptions
4. Cats are too be included for all these services, as they have been denied for years. This denial has led to overpopulation of cat colonies, disease and illnesses to personal pets.

CITIZENS WILL NO LONGER STAND FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. killing of animals without justification
2. dismissing citizens voices in the regards to animal welfare
3. non-transparency, hidden information & incapable management
4. Denying animals brought in from Hardin County areas outside the city limits
5. being denied the right to donate to the animals in care of the facility.
6. being denied access to the facility to view the animals for possible adoption or reuniting animals with their owners.
7. Not having a designated quarantine area
8. Prevention of expansions needs for growth in our towns and population.

Citizens urging and seeking the incorporated Hardin County towns to unite and apply for emergency grants and various other grants available for the construction of the county (not City) facility, plus available grant programs for spay/neuter. These grants are available through animal organizations and government. This is a state of emergency and huge burden to the citizens in Hardin County Texas and Citizens are demanding a resolution to this serious problem. 6 Holding Kennels of the present facility does not in any way manage for the population estimated 60,000 citizens.