SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
OCTOBER 2007 – MARCH 2008
Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter
1855 SE Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626
512-943-3322 www.wilcopets.org
A Time for New Beginnings!
The first six months of Fiscal Year 2007-2008 was a time of transition and stabilization.
New management was in place and all staff positions were filled. Policies and standard
operating guidelines were revised, written and approved. Relationships with other
organizations were established and/or renewed in an effort to save as many lives as
possible. These relationships allow off-site adoptions to occur four times a week in four
different locations. Since December our adoptions have virtually doubled. Organizations
such as the Humane Society and PawMatch come to the shelter regularly to rescue animals,
which allows us to free up space for the daily arrivals. An attitude change in the staff
toward searching for alternatives to save lives instead of euthanasia was instilled and the
euthanasia rate has been decreasing steadily. Staff attends bi-weekly staff meetings and
training. The entire staff has also been amazing in their efforts to care for the animals and
the facility. Special attention has been given to the data entry and most of the information
that is entered having to do with jurisdictional issues is rechecked by Linda, the
administrative supervisor. In addition, animal control officers attended training on shelter
policies and data entry held by Ethel, the shelter manager. Monthly promotions and events
bring more potential adopters to the shelter. A contract veterinarian performs spay/neuter
surgeries at the shelter twice a week which allows us to send all adopted animals home
altered and alter ones waiting adoption so they can leave with their new family the same
day. The Advisory Committee was formed and is meeting regularly.
There are many challenges facing us. The busiest time of the year for dog and cat intake is
just beginning. Space will be at a premium and staff will have to work even harder at
finding solutions for the dogs and cats in lieu of euthanasia. Allocation of staff time will be
a creative task juggling the vacation requests. However, we are committed and ready to do
the best we can with the resources we have.
My vision for the future of Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and Williamson
County is to save every healthy and behaviorally sound
companion animal and to save all dogs and cats that are
medically treatable and can be behaviorally rehabilitated.
To realize this vision, short term and long term goals
need to be established and put into place. These goals
will be presented in a five year plan. Implementation
and achieving these goals will take a commitment from
staff, community, and board members.
My first few months as director for the shelter has been
a wonderful experience and very rewarding, and I look
forward to the challenges yet to come and to realizing
the goals and the vision.
Cheryl Schneider
Accomplishments/Activities
Since October 1, 2007, the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter has been involved in
numerous events to promote the shelter, and staff has worked hard and achieved some
fabulous accomplishments.
A Volunteer Orientation class has been implemented and is held the 1st Thursday of
each month.
WCRAS supports the Trap-Neuter-Return programs in the
community and hosts a TNR and cat trapping class the 2nd
Thursday of each month.
A shelter animal that is available for adoption is featured
on Fox 7 News as “Pet of the Week” the 4th Friday of every
month.
Presentations were made to the City Councils of Round
Rock, Cedar Park, and Hutto.
Off-site adoptions were held at the Copper Ridge Antique Mall during the Christmas
season, at Wal-Mart, and at Commissioner Long’s open house in Cedar Park.
The shelter participated in the PACT event in Georgetown San Gabriel Park and led in
the number of adoptions during the event.
Several events occurred at the shelter such as
Pet Pictures with Santa, Howl-o-ween Party
and Costume Contest, and the 1st Annual
Shelter Birthday Party.
The shelter participated in promoting Spay
Day USA by holding its own Free Spay Day
in February for feral or owned cats of low
income families.
Monthly promotions with decreased
adoption fees are held to increase the number
of adoptions and attract visitors to the shelter.
The shelter
was promoted at Hutto’s Town Hall meeting.
The Policy Manual was revised, re-written, and
approved; and Standard Operating Guidelines were
developed, completing the manual.
The shelter began using an off-site adoption group that
transports animals to four different sites, four days a
week adopting our animals, doubling the number of
adoptions per month.
WCRAS contracts with a veterinarian who performs in house spay/neuter surgeries on
adopted and adoptable animals twice a week.
The Shelter Advisory Board was formed and is meeting regularly.
Staff has been stable with little turnover since October. Regular staff meetings have been
held to discuss shelter events, policies and procedures, as well as issues that may arise.
Goals
Reduce euthanasia to only behaviorally aggressive animals or sick/injured animals
with a poor prognosis for recovery by increasing adoptions, transferring more animals
to rescue groups and humane organizations, and utilizing foster homes.
Offer free spay/neuter clinics once a month for feral cats or animals of low income
families.
Continue to increase volunteer participation in shelter
activities.
Host low cost vaccination and mircochipping clinics
once a month.
Increase the hours open to the public to facilitate
adoptions and customer service.
Partner with obedience trainers and animal
behavioralists to sponsor classes at the shelter.
Offer assistance by phone to families with animal issues to decrease the number of pet
surrenders to the shelter.
Develop a disaster response team that is highly trained and response ready.
Increase marketing opportunities.
Recruit a volunteer to coordinate the volunteers, marketing efforts and community
outreach.
October – March
Dog and Cat Statistics
Cats
Dogs
Total
444
127
567
147
23
246
16
58
692
Stray
Owner Surrender
ACO Agency
Adopted
Reclaimed
Transferred
Other
Fostered
Euthanized
Total
266
330
1300
595
442
352
5
29
492
Stray
Owner Surrender
ACO Agency
Adopted
Reclaimed
Transferred
Other
Fostered
Euthanized
Outgoing Dogs
Outgoing Cats
160
300
140
250
120
200
100
Adopted
Reclaim
Transfer
Euthanized
150
Adopted
Reclaim
Transfer
Euthanized
80
60
100
40
50
20
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Months
Month
Cat Intake
Oct 2007 – Mar 2008
Dog Intake
Oct 2007 – Mar 2008
330
17%
127
11%
567
50%
444
39%
266
14%
Owner surrender
Stray
Animal Control
Owner Surrender
Stray
Animal Control
1300
69%
1138 Cats
1896 Dogs
CATS & DOGS
Taken In
Adopted
Reclaimed
Total
3034
742
465
Transferred
Other
Euthanized
598
21
1184
Dog & Cat Intake
Oct 2007 – Mar 2008
800
700
600
500
Dogs
Cats
Dogs & Cats
400
300
200
100
0
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
3034 Dogs & Cats
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are very important to achieving
many of our goals and realizing our vision.
Since October, the shelter has offered the
Volunteer Orientation Class the first Thursday
of each month. We’ve had 120 interested
persons go through the class and subsequently
volunteered at the shelter 559.5 hours. In
addition, several of the volunteers foster
animals in their homes as well as assist at offsite events. Each month we find more
enthusiastic volunteers and we are looking
forward to the day when there are always
volunteers visible at the shelter during public
hours.
Gary Hawes, 1st Volunteer of the Month
We are currently working with a group of students from St. Edward’s University who are
assisting with volunteer marketing, converting the orientation class into a power point
presentation, and other activities involving the recruitment of volunteers.
We have instituted a “reward” program, as well as a “Volunteer of the Month”. In
September we will be hosting a volunteer potluck dinner to show our appreciation to
those who have spent time at the shelter volunteering their time and talents.
Number of New Volunteers
2007/2008
Number of Volunteer Hours Worked
2007/2008
40
180
Mar, 35
Feb, 24
25
15
Oct
Nov
Dec
Oct, 18
Jan
Dec, 16
Nov, 14
Jan, 13
80
Jan, 87.5
Oct, 75.75
Dec, 67.5
60
Jan
Mar
20
0
Dec
Feb
Nov, 47.5
40
5
Oct
Nov
100
Feb
Mar
10
Feb, 124
120
Hours
Number of New Volunteers
140
30
20
Mar, 157.25
160
35
0
1
1
Month
Month
Mission:
The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is a
collaborative effort between Williamson County and the cities
of Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, and Hutto. It provides a
safe environment for the lost, abandoned, and homeless
animals of these jurisdictions and places them in a good home
whenever possible.
 To achieve a low euthanasia rate among shelter
animals
 To guarantee a good home to every healthy and
behaviorally sound companion animal
 To save all dogs and cats that can be medically
treated and behaviorally rehabilitated and do not pose
a public health and safety risk
1855 SE Inner Loop
Georgetown, Texas 78626
(512) 943-3322
www.wilcopets.org
Governing Board
David Kautz, Round Rock Assistant City Manager, Chairperson
Jose Madrigal, Cedar Park Assistant City Manager
Scott Wall, Leander Assistant City Manager
Joni Clark, Hutto Assistant City Manager
Valerie Covey, Williamson County Commissioner
Advisory Board
Dr. Ilse Black, DVM
Kimberly Russo, ACO
Michael French, Chairperson
Mary Erlandson
Christine Martinez, Secretary
Veterinarian
County/Municipal Official
Person Involved in Operation of Shelter
Member of a Welfare Organization
Resident of Participation Jurisdiction
Management Staff
Cheryl Schneider
Linda Gunter
Ethel Spence
Director of Animal Services
Administrative Supervisor
Kennel Manager