Weatherford Animal Shelter Advisory Committee – Regular Session – September 3, 2026

The Animal Shelter Advisory Committee met in regular session on 2026-09-03 (Thursday, September 3, 2026) in the Weatherford City Hall Council Chambers. The agenda listed a 2:00 p.m. start; the chair called the meeting to order and adjourned at 2:37 p.m. Eric Shumar chaired the meeting. All members were present except Dawn Brooks (referred to as "Don Brooks" in the transcript). The committee approved the July minutes, received staff reports on shelter operations, events, and success stories, and set December 3, 2026 as the next meeting date. No citizens spoke during public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of July 15, 2026 minutes – Jenni Day moved to approve the minutes of the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee meeting held July 15, 2026; Dr. Kathryn Garofalo seconded. The motion passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None. No speaker cards were submitted, and no citizen comments were made on non-agenda items.

Staff Reports & Discussion Items

• Shelter operations update (Levi Leal, Shelter Manager) – Leal introduced several new staff members, including animal control officers, an animal care technician, an outreach engagement officer, and an animal care specialist. He reported on the August Whisker Wednesday TNR event, during which 118 feral cats were fixed, and noted the program is endorsed by the ASPCA and the Humane Society as an effective, humane way to stabilize free-roaming cat populations. A TNR cat named Kevin was reunited with its owner after a microchip scan. Leal also recognized staff member Monica with the shelter's coin award for going above and beyond.
• Monthly statistics – Leal reported a 95% live release rate, up from 90% last year, and 25 adoptions in the current month. He also cited comparisons of 214 adoptions to 160, 57 returns-to-owner to 81, and 28 euthanasias to 64. He attributed improved outcomes in part to fewer owner surrenders, allowing the shelter to hold animals longer and find appropriate placements.
• Pet Academy – Funded with a Petco grant at $2 per adoption, the program provides post-adoption support and resources for adopters and owner-surrender situations. Leal shared a sample interaction for a dog named Fig Newton, showing how the service relieves pressure on shelter staff.
• Volunteers and staff recognition – Leal thanked volunteers Rachel, Savannah, and Juliana for their summer help with events, dog walking, artwork, and social media. He also recognized Officer Joe Davis, who retired after 21.5 years of service, including prior service as a U.S. Marine.
• Shelter remodel Phase II – Staff reported that a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a design-build contractor was open. September 29 was identified as an RFQ milestone and October 9 as the submittal deadline. Planned work includes a new adoption building, a new intake building, a remodeled cat building, relocating the livestock barn, a dog park, and additional parking. Staff plan to bring a not-to-exceed amount to City Council and hope to move forward within the next year.
• Events update – Leal recapped the Weatherford Public Library story time event and the recent Clear the Shelter event, which produced nine dog adoptions, thirteen cat adoptions, and 164 visitors. Staff and board members discussed that Clear the Shelter has become a month-long August event with declining turnout; board members expressed support for exploring a spring adoption event in cooler weather. The next major event is Trunk Retreat on October 24, 2026, to coincide with downtown Weatherford's candy crawl.
• Animal success story – Leal shared an email from a family who adopted a dog named Charlie from the shelter, describing the joy the dog brought to their home and the impact of shelter adoptions on both animals and families.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the July 15, 2026 meeting minutes.
• Scheduled the next regular meeting for Thursday, December 3, 2026.
• The committee expressed support for exploring a spring adoption event as a replacement or supplement to Clear the Shelter.
• No other formal votes or action items were taken.
• The meeting adjourned at 2:37 p.m.