The Animal Services division receives donations from residents, non-residents, and businesses throughout the year.  City policy requires any donation exceeding $250 be formally accepted by City Council.  Animal Services has received five donations, which are listed below and are being recommended for acceptance.

• Animal Services has an adoption partnership with PetSmart located at 16758 Southwest Freeway, which provides an opportunity for the City to display adoptable animals in the community on a daily basis, Through the PetSmart adoption partnership, the City receives $10 per adoption and has received $1,240.00 from PetSmart.  The City has received a total of $5,950.00 through the adoption partnership with PetSmart.

• Rajan Hingoraney a long time supporter of the shelter has made another generous donation of $500.00 to help the animals at the shelter.
• Julianna Hastreiter, a 14 year old animal loving high school student, made and sold fleece blankets and t-shirts to raise money for the shelter. She raised $720.00 to benefit the animals.

Budget Amendment

The Animal Shelter was recently expanded due to annexation.  The expansion allowed the City to house cats in Whiskerville, which is the temporary building that was relocated from Mayfield Park.  The existing building now houses dogs and has been named Barksburg.  Animal Services donations were utilized to create the theme rooms in both buildings to make the shelter more inviting to potential adopters.  In addition, we utilized donation funds for veterinary expenses that are above and beyond our normal scope of services such as leg amputations, tumor removals, extreme dental and orthopedic surgeries. As a result of these activities, a budget amendment in the amount of $21,000 is requested in order to appropriate animal service donation funds that have been received.

Be Kind To Animals Week

Be Kind to Animals Week was observed by thousands of animal shelters across the country last week. It  commemorates the role animals play in our lives, promotes ways to continue to treat them humanely, and encourages others to do the same. 

To commemorate Be Kind to Animals Week, Animal Services would like to acknowledge the contributions made by the following animal lovers: our Volunteer of the year, Cheryl Harris, the Animal Advisory Board members and the Hensley Award Winner for their daily commitment to the principals of Be Kind to Animals Week and the City of Sugar Land.

In honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, Animal Services created the Hensley Award in 2014, which will be presented annually to a community member or group.  The award is named after Jenny Hensley, who is the City’s part-time Kennel Tech and first award recipient.  Jenny Hensley shows compassion and kindness to all animals and goes above and beyond the scope of her duties.  Jenny often cares for orphaned neonates (infant animals) at home, which requires around the clock care including bottle feeding.  She routinely takes special needs animals home to provide each with additional love and attention.

This year the Hensley Award is being presented to someone who already has been mentioned this evening, Ms. Julianna Hastreiter. This young animal lover knew that we did not take volunteers until they were 14 years of age, however, she asked when she was 13 if she could take the orientation so she would be ready as soon as she turned 14. Her love of animals shines through in her commitment and the time she spent conducting the fundraiser to benefit the animals at the shelter. She has also planned other events that were unfortunately halted due to animal rules and weather but it did not stop her from trying. We hope she will carry this compassion for animals well into the future, sharing and educating others through her acts of kindness.

The Environmental and Neighborhood Services recommends that the City Council accept the Animal Services donations in the amount of $2,460.00 and amend the budget to reflect $21,000 in additional expenditures for the Animal Services operating budget and requests that the City Council recognize the Hensley Award recipient for her contributions towards the principals of Be Kind to Animals Week.