Protesters seek more resources at shelter

Questions about probe of medicine donated for animals

Activists lobbying for more resources for the Missouri City animal shelter have accused city officials of retaliating by seeking a state investigation of certain donated medicines.

Mayor Allen Owen recently called for the state health department to investigate after donated medicines were found to contain “alleged controlled substances” and expired overthe-counter medications.

After the mayor’s request was announced, protesters gathered outside City Hall holding signs that read “Let our volunteers volunteer” and “The animals need their medicines.” During a Dec. 18 City Council meeting, officials faced a standing-room-only crowd that included dozens of angry animal shelter volunteers.

“I don’t understand the city’s endgame,” volunteer Valerie Tollman said. “Do you want to go back to four years ago when animals with treatable illnesses were euthanized? Do you really want to see animals killed because your ego is bruised?”

Several speakers said city officials seized the medicine in retaliation against those who have spoken out against elect-

ed officials on social media and in the community. Others criticized officials’ unwillingness to increase funding for the animal shelter.

“The city wastes so much money on other silly nonsense,” resident Bruce Saborowski said.

Officials denied their action was retaliatory.

“The city’s intent in requesting a state investigation is not punitive, but an opportunity to educate both staff and volunteers for the betterment of animals throughout our community,” City Manager Anthony Snipes said in a news release.

Volunteers launched an email campaign a few weeks ago to lobby Owen and the council to hire a part-time staffer to answer phones and greet people who came to the shelter to adopt a homeless pet. The facility is open by appointment only, and volunteers say phone calls to the shelter often go unanswered.

City officials said the city’s budget is strained by Hurricane Harvey repairs and other expenditures.

“At some point, we may need to do that, but right now we don’t have the money,” Owen said during a Dec. 4 council workshop.

City officials declined to comment on details such as the nature of the alleged controlled substances, saying the investigation was still ongoing.