CONVERSE – The City of Converse is making room for strays, lost, and surrendered animals within city limits by operating its first-ever service for animal care.
- Building approved in 2015 bond
- Can house 100 animals
- Converse animals used to be housed in Live Oak
The Converse Animal Care Facility opened in August after voters approved the building as part of $20 million bond package in 2015. Animal Care Manager Chad Ensign says the need for the facility, which houses up to a hundred cats and dogs, was crucial.
"There was just a growing need as the city grows, the population grows. There (are) more animals, so to keep animals from roaming, causing potential animal-related incidents, or diseases from spreading, it was needed to bring those animals in," said Ensign.
Since 2000, the city contracted with the City of Live Oak to house their animals. For $75 per month and animal, Live Oak Animal Care and Control housed, cared, and fed each one brought into their facility if room was available.
Since the Live Oak Police Department has had control of the facility, Lt. Matt Malone says overcrowding hasn’t been an issue. That’s despite there only being 50 cages for animals and also contracting with Balcones Heights to house their strays and surrenders too. Now he says it isn’t problem at all.
“Obviously without [Converse] bringing them in, it did open up spaces, gave us more room,” said Malone.
As for what’s next, Ensign says he wants to build up the network for the Converse facility. He believes once things get going, the operation will become smoother.
“I think once we put out that what our culture is here of being here to help I think that is going to go a long ways long-term,” he said.
To learn more about the facility, visit their website here.