Commissioners Court Proclaims February Spay/Neuter Awareness Month In Hays County

Staff Reports

On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a proclamation declaring February Spay/Neuter Awareness Month in Hays County.

According to the proclamation, the regional animal shelter reported there were 4,242 animals impounded in Fiscal Year 2020, of which over 34 percent, 1,449 animals, were from hays County.

Sixty-five percent of U.S. households own pets while millions of animals are left homeless, living on the streets, or housed in shelters.

The proclamation calls on the community to help reduce the number of animals in shelters by participating in the spay and neuter initiatives to reduce the number of animals able to reproduce and add to the current overpopulation problem.

In other news, the commissioner court approved the execution of a resolution and submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, General Victim Assistance program.

The grant application is to provide funding for personnel to provide services and assistance directly to the victims of crime to speed their recovery and aid them through the criminal justice process.

According to the agenda, there is a 20% match requirement from the county. The total project cost is estimated at $54,868.74 with $10,973.75 in matching funds.

Wes Mau said the Family Justice Center is a place where not just crime victims but other people can go to receive various types of services including getting a protective order, an exam, and more.

“Currently, the criminal justice component of that is staffed by a rotation of individuals from the various agencies that are supporting it,” Mau said.

Mau said the grant will be used to hire an individual who would be at the facility full-time and help with current issues as time delays caused by his staff’s travel time.

A second agenda item for a grant submission with the same language was approved as well for the Hays County Victim Assistance Coordinator.