Keller -
Keller resident Todd Conner realized how cramped the city's animal shelter is while trying to pick out a new family pet with his 2-year old daughter, Taylor. "I would expect it to be larger and to have more space," said Conner.
The decades-old facility, tucked away behind the police department, is very small. There is a tiny room to house the cats and a single room for dogs.
Lt. Brenda Slovak, who operates the facility, says the city does need a new, expanded shelter. However, Slovak isn't sure that taxpayers are ready to foot the bill for the upgrade, which she says could top more than $2 million. "When you tell the city council that you need that much money for a new facility, there is some sticker shock in an economy like this," says Slovak.
Animal advocate and longtime Keller resident Larry Erdman says the shelter is an embarrassment. "Keller is a wealthy city. We have a new library and we are being told that there is no money to build a new shelter," he says.
Erdman, who formed Citizens 4 Keller Animals, says the antiquated shelter has no place to quarantine sick animals and does not allow for dogs to run outside. But shelter officials say the shelter has passed all state inspections.
Keller isn't alone in trying to figure out how to deal with stray animals. Cities like Roanoke, Colleyville, Westlake and Southlake are all struggling with how to care for strays without breaking the bank.
Some of the smaller cities are now farming out animal services to larger cities with bigger facilities, like the one in North Richland Hills. But, officials say, even outsourcing animal services can be expensive.
Keller officials disagree with advocates who say the animals are suffering. Authorities say the adoption rate is up. "We are up 430%," says Slovak.
But Erdman believes the city can do better. He plans to circulate a petition urging the city to outsource animal services. "It will be cheaper than building a new shelter and the animals will get the care they need," says Erdman.
The decades-old facility, tucked away behind the police department, is very small. There is a tiny room to house the cats and a single room for dogs.
Lt. Brenda Slovak, who operates the facility, says the city does need a new, expanded shelter. However, Slovak isn't sure that taxpayers are ready to foot the bill for the upgrade, which she says could top more than $2 million. "When you tell the city council that you need that much money for a new facility, there is some sticker shock in an economy like this," says Slovak.
Animal advocate and longtime Keller resident Larry Erdman says the shelter is an embarrassment. "Keller is a wealthy city. We have a new library and we are being told that there is no money to build a new shelter," he says.
Erdman, who formed Citizens 4 Keller Animals, says the antiquated shelter has no place to quarantine sick animals and does not allow for dogs to run outside. But shelter officials say the shelter has passed all state inspections.
Keller isn't alone in trying to figure out how to deal with stray animals. Cities like Roanoke, Colleyville, Westlake and Southlake are all struggling with how to care for strays without breaking the bank.
Some of the smaller cities are now farming out animal services to larger cities with bigger facilities, like the one in North Richland Hills. But, officials say, even outsourcing animal services can be expensive.
Keller officials disagree with advocates who say the animals are suffering. Authorities say the adoption rate is up. "We are up 430%," says Slovak.
But Erdman believes the city can do better. He plans to circulate a petition urging the city to outsource animal services. "It will be cheaper than building a new shelter and the animals will get the care they need," says Erdman.
