Garland Mayor takes steps to end gassing and improve Garland's animal shelter

Garland Mayor Ron Jones won a  victory yesterday when the City announced that Garland Animal Services will end the use of a gas chamber to euthanize most homeless animals by the end of the year.  This decision comes in the wake of public pressure, protests at City Hall and increased media coverage of the issue.  Mayor Jones, who ran on a platform of change recently formalized Garland's Animal Shelter Advisory Board, a previously "informal" board which has existed for many years unknown to most City Council Members, and which consists of only 4 members, at least 2 of whom live outside theCity of Garland.  The Mayor further insisted the Board be recognized on the City of Garland website's list of Boards & Commissions and included on the application form for citizens to serve on Boards & Commissions, and opened up the Board's meetings to the public. Mayor Jones also successfully increased the number of Commissioners from 4 to 6, although residencey requirements and term limits have not yet been addressed.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate the Mayor and Garland animal shelter staff may consider implementing a much-needed volunteer program aimed at increasing the number of animals adopted and providing public education, and may also discuss expanding the shelter staff's efforts to work with local breed rescue groups to transfer animals out of the shelter and into their care rather than euthanize them.

But the existing Animal Shelter Advisory Board members remain silent and the majority of Garland's elected officials on the City Council still oppose changes at the shelter.  Many have refused to address the issue of gassing despite pressure from the public and unflattering news reports. The few Council Members who have spoken out claimed that euthanizing the shelter's unwanted pets using lethal injection, the method preferred by the AVMA and used by vets in private practice to help end the lives of family pets suffering terminal illnesses, would be too hard on the shelter staff.  But apparently the shelter staff, led by Mayor Jones, made the decision to follow the lead of their peers in shelters across the Metroplex and support ending the gassing of most animals -  while the Council steadfastly refused to take up the matter. 

This is an issue that is far from over.  Will the shelter continue using a gas chamber to kill stray and feral cats and unwanted wildlife?  Who will ensure that the wrong form of euthanasia isn't used when it is well documented this has happened in the past?  Who will serve on the newly expanded Animal Shelter Advisory Board - animal welfare professionals who can guide the shelter in a new, more progressive direction or the retired city staff members favored by many on the Council?  Will the City Council now step up and lead their City and their shelter in a new direction, or continue at odds with their own animal control officers, shelter management, public sentiment, and even the Mayor himself?

There are still concerns that need to be addressed but Mayor Jones has begun to lead his City down a path of change that will allow the citizens of Garland to be proud of their shelter, their animal services staff, and their City.

For more info: Garland's Animal Shelter can gas pets,but should they?, Garland, gassing and one Councilman's claim about the AVMA, The Dallas Morning News gives Garland residents a chance to be heard.