Officials Report on Conditions at Klein Animal Shelter

JACKSONVILLE � State officials have released a detailed report of Klein Animal Shelter conditions following concerns brought to their attention at the Jacksonville facility. That’s according to our news partner KETK. In the unofficial quarantine facility inspection, presented by Dr. Melinda Hergert and Angela Hopkins, officials said the shelter passed the “Q inspection” on January 14 but “failed miserably” on the impoundment of animals. Inspectors say they found two dead dogs and two injured dogs in the compound. One of the animals, a Schnauzer, was discovered lying in its own feces, according to the report.

Dr. Hergert said the state decided to investigate Klein after learning from a local code enforcement officer that no one was present to watch the animals. According to the document, upon entering the building, Hergert smelled a strong smell of animal waste. While walking through the cat display room, inspectors reportedly found cages full with cats and litter boxes full of stool and urine. The doctor also detailed what’s termed an overflow of waste inside the cages. “There was not enough room for some of these dogs in primary enclosure,” according to the report. “There were so many feces in most cages that it was running out the bottom of the cage or had even been smeared on cage doors b/c the animals could not avoid stepping in their own waste.”

Soon after, shelter director Angela Wallace informed the inspectors of a dead dog in a nearby cage, the document says. According to officials, there appeared to be dried blood on the cage’s floor containing a female with puppies and one of the puppies was not alive. In another cage, inspectors reportedly came across a dog with fractures. Also nearby, a dog was lying in its own filth, according to the report. Henry, a dog taken to Texas A&M for surgery, is said to have been found with a broken back. Wallace said the animal had been tagged for a rescue to pick up and had been brought by Tyler Animal Control.

At this point, Hergert contacted the Jacksonville Police Department because of animal cruelty taking place at the Klein Animal Shelter, due to animals being denied veterinary care, according to the document. Shortly after the call, Hopkins alerted the doctor to a second deceased dog that was “ice cold.” The shelter’s director was then arrested by police officers for assault, cruelty to animal and illegal euthanasia.

It was reported last week that the city of Jacksonville is planning to reopen the shelter. the Jacksonville Police Department says the city is in the process of renovating the facility and hopes to have it up and running within a month. The building has already been inspected twice. The new shelter, however, will only house strays caught within city limits and animals surrendered by local residents. The Klein shelter had been accepting animals from Smith County, Cherokee County and the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville PD stated the city will not routinely euthanize animals to make space for other strays.