The Dallas Morning News
By Susan McFarland
5:25 PM on Feb 8, 2023 CST

FRISCO -- Frisco animal advocates made one last push for the City Council to include an animal shelter in the May 6 bond election, but they did not prevail.

Items approved Tuesday night for the ballot include $131.4 million for public safety facilities and equipment; $240 million for street and road improvements; $39 million for a parks operation center/building maintenance facility and a logistics equipment and storage building; $43 million for parks, trails and recreational facilities; and $20 million for a downtown parking garage.

The citizens bond committee presented recommendations to council on Jan. 17. Much like that meeting, Tuesday’s meeting included much discussion about the animal shelter.

City staff have said a shelter will not help the problem; animal advocates disagree. The bond committee was divided over the issue.

City staff and council agreed the topic needs to be addressed separately, with more time to figure out answers to the problem.

Those advocating for the shelter say city leaders told them in the past if they want a shelter, it will need to be on the ballot for voters to decide.

“It just seems like the finish line just keeps moving on us. You told us to be patient … we’ve done everything that you’ve told us to do. We followed your leadership and your advice,” said Frisco’s Pet Project founder Marla Fields.

“You said, ‘Wait for the bond. You have to speak to each member of city council. Come to the winter sessions. Show us the data. Show us the plans. Show that you can do this with a return on investment.’ We did all that.”

Frisco resident Delia McLinden, founder of Archangel Animal Network, said her nonprofit, which partners with Texas municipalities to help avoid euthanization of animals, has sent nearly 4,000 dogs on rescue transports since 2019.

“Why do we do this? The only reason is because of the crisis here in Texas that we have and the dire need that exists,” McLinden told council. “Frisco is a progressive, growing, nationally-recognized city and we have a chance to make a real impact on this issue. There is no city that I know of Frisco’s size that doesn’t have its own animal shelter.

More than 20 people voiced support of the animal shelter during the meeting—13 speakers and nine names that were submitted for the record.

Frisco assistant police chief Billy Clay then walked the council through priorities and said the police department, which oversees animal services, has three priorities—reuniting animals with owners, education and promoting adoption events.

“I think we do all of these pretty well,” Clay said. “When we looked at our reunification numbers against cities that have shelters, our numbers being over 40% reunification is higher than cites that have shelters. We feel like at this point in time that’s not what is needed for our city.”

The council vote on the bond package was unanimous, with council members Laura Rummel and Brian Livingston requesting a note be added to the record they support an animal shelter. Mayor Jeff Cheney suggested a city council work session be scheduled to discuss other options for the issue.