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Gun Barrel City leaders voted June 27 to enter a contract with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake for animal shelter services. The facility is open to the public for adoptions five days per week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located at 10200 County Road 2403 in Tool.

GUN BARREL CITY– Gun Barrel City Council approved a short-term contract with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (HSCCL) for animal shelter services June 27 at the regularly scheduled meeting. The contract will initially run for three months with a monthly cost of $4,166. Each month after this time has expired, the contract will automatically renew on a month-to-month basis unless amended or terminated by the city or HSCCL.
“I would just like to point out to everyone what a very difficult decision, what a very difficult topic this is,” said Councilmember Jennifer Jacobs. “There’s a lot of moving parts that, you know, aren’t common knowledge. When I look at everything within HSCCL’s budget, there are a lot of things in there that I don’t typically think about, and so establishing a whole shelter within our city - there’s just a lot of details that go into that that people just don’t - it’s not that easy to just start yesterday with dealing with this. It is a massive problem.”
“At the workshop, I think we really came up with, maybe for the first time, a general strategy we need to be approaching,” said Councilman Kennith Foster. “I’m sure a lot of people will not support having any ordinance that requires registration, chipping or spaying or neutering, but from the city’s perspective, this is something we’re going to have to take a look at very strongly… I think the council has finally come together with the general concept of what we need to do.”
The contract states that HSCCL will accept an average of 10 animals per month from the city and that overages will lead to a fee of $416 per animal. These cannot be owner surrenders unless city agents determine the surrendered animal has been abused and HSCCL has approved taking the animal. All other animals delivered to HSCCL must be lost, stray, sick or injured.
For the first 72 hours an animal is in the custody of HSCCL, owners will be able to reclaim the animal, provided sufficient proof of ownership is shown and there are no further reasons to deny the animal’s return. After this period, owners, both new and prior, will have to adopt the animal. Readoption of pets after the 72-hour hold will be subject to a reclaim fee, and animals must be vaccinated for rabies before returning home.
“Yes, it’s expensive, but I think I think as far as the council goes, it’s time to bite the bullet,” Foster said, “let’s move forward on this.”
“I hope everyone understands that I don’t think anyone up here takes this lightly. It’s not an easy decision,” said Jacobs.
The contract was approved with Councilwoman April Burns in opposition.
In other business, council members:
• Approved consent agenda items including reports of minutes of April 12 and 18 meetings, April and May financials, code enforcement, court, EDC April and May financials, EDC May meeting minutes, fire, interim city manager, permits and inspections, police, dispatch and animal control and streets and park maintenance.
• Proclaimed July as Fair Housing Month in the city, urging all citizens to become aware of and support fair housing laws.
• Approved agreement with Straydog Inc. to hold adoption events within the city.
• Approved holding an election for Resolution 2023-005 at the next special election in November.
• Amended Rita Evans’ term as Mayor Pro Tem to a one-year term.