Our New Farmers Branch, Texas Animal Shelter
by Judy Hacker of Texas Cause for Paws

It took two years — two years of hard work and dedication to the "cause" to cross the finish line...but we did it!

What started as a chance meeting with a stray dog ended up with a newly-built facility in our town. The process was slow and frustrating at times, but through dedication and a willingness to do what it takes, our ultimate goal was realized. While each situation will call for different tactics, here's what we did to get a new animal shelter built in Farmers Branch, TX.

One summer day in 2005, a beautiful dog strolled into our yard in Farmers Branch, TX. He came up to me, and I immediately knew — as we all do — this boy was lost! We put him into our fenced area and called the Farmers Branch Animal Shelter to ask for help. This was my first dealing with the shelter; actually, I didn't know we even had a shelter.

After talking with the gentleman in charge of the shelter, my husband and I set off to find it. Upon our arrival, we were surprised by not only the location of the shelter — hidden away with only one barely-visible sign pointing to its location — but also the age of the facility. The shelter apparently was not aging well after 43 years, and it had assumed a very low spot on the Farmers Branch City Council's priority list.

I requested that the shelter employee contact us if the dog was not claimed. Space was very limited, and the shelter employee told us that there would be a good chance he would be calling soon, as they euthanize animals when space becomes a problem. Sure enough, the call came just a few days later. I was able to gain a spot at the local SPCA for this young male black Labrador, so his story had a happy ending. I feared many were not so lucky.

Soon after, I called the then-City Manager of Farmers Branch and asked who to contact about improving our shelter. Coincidentally, the City Council was meeting in the next couple of days, and I felt that I needed to be there to speak about the conditions of the animal shelter. Before the meeting, I contacted several of my neighbors and asked them to write a letter expressing their concern with the shelter's condition. They responded initially by writing six letters. I then took the letters to the Manager's office for approval so that I could present it to the Council the next evening.

Judging from my neighbors' response to my request, I began to think in terms of exposure and numbers. If the citizens of our city thought we should have a new, updated shelter, then maybe the Council would agree. I set out to write a petition that would later hold 780 names of local residents.

I also contacted the Farmers Branch Women's Club, who allowed me to speak to their group. I relayed to them the deplorable condition of the shelter, including the shelter's age, limited space, lack of air conditioning, among other issues. I asked for signatures from the ladies for my petition, and if they would be willing to take the petition to other clubs, neighbors, etc. A couple of ladies responded, one of whom would later become a very active volunteer for our effort.

Now that things were beginning to take shape, I felt a name was in order, and Texas Cause for Paws was born. (We subsequently discovered that we chose a name that was being used by a larger, national organization, but we decided to stick with our choice). In efforts of furthering our exposure, we had t-shirts printed with our name and logo that we wore when asking for signatures and when we adopted out pets. We thoroughly organized our off-site adoptions, and wore branded aprons and matching bandanas that read "Adopt Me". I also pursued establishing a partnership with a large pet store in Farmers Branch. My feeling was that the harder we worked — the more visible we were — the more the City Council would appreciate our efforts and see that we simply were not going away. We had to prove that we were here for the long run.

Attending City Council meetings and securing speaking slots became very effective as well. Eventually, the city improved ventilation and air conditioning in the shelter, resurfaced the floors, and accepted a donated washer and dryer (I placed an advertisement asking for the donation). Several Council members eventually became very attentive to our efforts. One Council member allowed me to use his name in backing our petition. Every opportunity for speaking we had, we were available. Every opportunity for community exposure, we capitalized on.

As our number of adopted animals was increasing, I felt that the next step was to address the root of the problem. Farmers Branch did not have an ordinance that mandated the spaying and neutering of our sheltered animals! Without an ordinance, we were just turning circles around ourselves. Additionally, I felt that we as a city needed to adopt the method of microchipping. How many "stray" animals were we housing, feeding, and attempting to adopt out that were actually just lost pets? I contacted our Environmental Manager and expressed the need for such a city ordinance (as many other cities have), requiring in the process of adoption the spaying and neutering of the animals, along with the insertion of a microchip. (The process of microchipping is pain-free for the pet. A small processing chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted in the skin behind the neck. In most cases the pet does not even acknowledge the chip being administered to it. In order to focus more attention to this procedure, I became certified in microchipping, enabling me to offer the service at our off-site adoptions. Because of our emphasis on this vital practice, microchipping also became part of the adoption package at the shelter and was included in the adoption fee.)

After several conversations, tons of paperwork, and a great deal of speaking in front of the Council, a new ordinance was drawn up. This ordinance would require all adopted pets to be spayed and neutered, unless registered with the city to do otherwise. Additionally, the new pet guardians who wished to pay the breeding fee and be registered with the city could then have their pets tracked if lost. This would cut down on the "puppy mills" and over-breeding in general. The adoption fee was also raised to cover the expenses for spaying/neutering, rabies shots, and microchipping.

As the summer progressed, so did the number of animals at the shelter. I went to several of the local businesses in Farmers Branch and gained permission to hold our off-site adoptions in their parking lots. Many also agreed to post our flyers of sheltered animals bi-weekly. These off-sites were very successful. We were able to sign up new volunteers, as well as educate the public of our need for a new shelter. I contacted our local newspapers and was able to gain free advertisement placement for adopted animals after they learned of our needs at the shelter. By this time, our organization was quite well-known by the Council and many of our local merchants. Council members would often stop by our off-site adoptions to see how things were going. They still do!

The city eventually agreed to allow adoptions during our seasonal celebrations in our downtown Historical Park. This was a huge plus, for now we were able to reach all of the surrounding areas, along with signing up more volunteers and getting information about other rescue groups. Each volunteer we had brought to the table different ways of contributing to the effort. Teachers, nurses, homemakers, community leaders, and local area newspapers all stepped up to help.

By this time, our organization was so ever-present that we were known for what we stood for and complimented on what we had accomplished. Other groups through the years had formed, but were unable to succeed in getting a new shelter. What made our efforts different (and successful!), I feel, was the way we approached the City Council: we were always positive, and we continuously relayed how we were looking out not only for the animals, but also for the residents of Farmers Branch. With all of the publicity we were able to generate — including the petition — the Council could not easily dismiss our efforts because of lack of public concern. City shelters, I feel, are in some degree a reflection on the city itself. Our city stepped up to the plate when the citizens requested a change. The voice is in numbers!

The request for a new shelter was finally granted in June, 2007. Our next hurdle was finding a satisfactory location. Attending Council study sessions and independently gathering information about different areas kept our organization "in the conversation." We maximized our voices as citizens, and the city was now listening.

The new site was approved by the Council on November 6th, 2007 (which also happened to be my anniversary!). When the location was voted on and passed, I simply could not help but loudly blurt out "Yeah!" Perhaps it was not part of the formal procedure, but it was my very heart-felt emotion, and the Council members could not suppress their smiles.

Later that day, I sent thank-you cards to all the Council members, expressing how much our organization appreciated their support and follow-through... and to let them know that it was a wonderful anniversary gift. That night, my husband Tom and I went to the new shelter site and celebrated together the "victory" and our anniversary!

Designs are now being drawn up for the new shelter, along with all of the other decisions that accompany building a new facility. Delays are always inevitable when dealing with a city government; but the biggest delay — approving a new shelter to be built — is now behind us. Our city is moving forward, and our hope is that the shelter will be in full operation by Summer, 2008. It will be a state-of-the-art facility, very visible, and surrounded by parks. It was all worth it!

As with any worthwhile project, delays, disappointments, disagreements, and discouraging moments all play a part. Yet the main focus must always be front and present. If you stick with the project despite the negative aspects of dealing with so many people (and the government!), the outcome will be positive. Projects such as these are not personal, and members/volunteers should not take them personally. Projects are ideas put into motion; anything worth accomplishing is worth working for. One person receiving a negative response is not a "no" to the entire project. The trick is to keep going forward.

As we have continued on this journey, our organization has made many friends, teamed up with many other rescue groups, saved many animals' lives, and above all learned much more about ourselves than we could have imagined.

The purpose for my writing this article is not to say how easy it was or how hard I worked. It is to say that when you see a need and are committed to enacting change, your dedication and enthusiasm is contagious and will spurn others to join you in your goal. Staying focused, constantly reminding yourself why you are involved with this, and flat-out perseverance will enable you to at least have a chance at making change. There are many people willing to lend their support to a community issue: the key is simply awareness. The oft-quoted saying "you can make a difference" is, well... true! It does not take a specially-gifted person. It just takes one person's initiative.

I want to extend a sincere "thank you" to all of our volunteers, City Council members, local merchants, veterinarians, shelter employees, and anyone and everyone who has played some part in this effort. A special thanks goes to my family, along with my husband who cheered me on and maintained an understanding of the time it takes to work towards a sorely-needed change in our community.

Judi Hacker
Texas Cause for Paws
Farmers Branch, TX