SPCA Expresses Concerns about Animal Shelter

TYLER — The SPCA of East Texas is expressing concerns about a proposed new city of Tyler animal shelter. According to KETK, currently the city is in partnership with the SPCA but plans to go in its own direction. “And we invite them into our project, but we feel like that it’s such an important project that the city really needs to be in the driver’s seat on this one,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. After privately meeting with the city manager for two years about the idea, SPCA President Deborah Dobbs is uneasy about their decision. “Our concern is that the city is starting over with needs assessments, and feasibility studies and architects when we’ve actually sought out some of the experts in the field across the country and paid for them to do this,” said Dobbs.

However, McDaniel believes the city is going the right way. “I think we reached kind of an impasse on terms of what they were asking us to do in light of what we had already done on the property,” said McDaniel. A 30-day contract will allow the city to make final decisions, and evaluate the possibilities of partnerships and properties. “At the end of the day, whatever happens, we want the animals to get a shelter,” said Dobbs.

The Tyler City Council Wednesday authorized the city manager to negotiate for the purchase of property at 4218 Chandler Highway to be used for a future animal care facility. �We are pleased to take this step toward Tyler opening its own Animal Care Facility,� said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. �We have historically contracted with the private sector to provide this service for our community. However, it is no longer�practical to do so.� The capital project was approved by the Half-Cent Board and City Council as a budget item in August. You can go to the news tab at http://www.cityoftyler.org read more on the city’s plans.